An update from Berkeley

1 Jul '07 5:52 pm

Hi, Mark-

What gorgeous pictures of the aloe, opuntia and other flowers! I wish MY opuntia would bloom; I've now had it 3 years and nary a flower! Your aloe flowers resemble yellow Kniphofias quite a bit, don't they? And I loved that "Flutterby" rose. What a cheery, flouncy flower! Does it have much perfume?

I also really liked your views of the garden taken "through" other plants - really adds depth, doesn't it?

Seeing your picture of the Salvia reminded me that I seem to have lost my similarly-flowering Penstemon "Sour Grapes". There's not a sign of it this year. I guess it bloomed itself to death last summer, but a friend told me that she has a tiny plant that must have been a cutting of it, so in a couple of years, I just may get a bit of it back! Sharing is a good thing (Thank you, Martha Stewart!).

All the best,

gordonf

3 Jul '07 4:31 am

I agree with you about the similarity between aloe and knifophia flowers, both favorites of mine. On of my goals in photographing the garden is to give as a good an idea as possible what it is like to be there. Then the trick becomes to take a wide enough shot without loosing important details. So shooting the garden from between plants gives you some of each if you can get good focus. You're the second person to have mentioned "Sour Grapes" pentstemmon. How many stars do you give it? Does it grow exceptionally tall for its kind? Sounds like a "good thing" indeed.

3 Jul '07 9:33 am

I have just finished admiring Gordon's garden and plants, and here I am in this new ...garden tour!! Mark!! What a splendid light in your garden!! Not only I loved the garden corners, but all the plant captures, especially those of the pink Gerbera, the Flutterbye Rose, and the Cactus blooms (Opuntia)! Really extraordinary captures, with the playful light on the lovely blooms!

3 Jul '07 9:55 am

I just checked and saw that you are on line too. That means it is a quarter until midnight for you (assuming a 9 hour difference). I'm glad you liked the photos.

You know I almost didn't take that Flutterbye picture. It tends to put out big sprays of blooms something like Sally Holmes but stiffer. This spray of flowers was growing in the most awkward location, wedged between a couple major branches and metal grid of the arch. The flowers were in such peak color I thought I'd try to take a picture centered between but leaving out the large canes and arch. The late afternoon light was pretty strong and coming in at a fairly low angle so I think some of the shadows in that photo are the result of the metal grid. I suspect the light seems more intense photographically because of the contrast with the darker shadows. I often shoot in morning or late afternoon light just because that is when I get to it.

I'm so glad you enjoyed them. You are so attuned to the beauty of plants and gardens and expressive of your happiness that it is a pleasure to find ones you'll like.

3 Jul '07 10:20 am

Mark, I'd give "Sour Grapes" lots of stars! I loved it, even though where I had it I think it was straining for more sun, so it grew about 3 feet tall! Last year it bloomed all summer (at least 3 months), which is why I wondered whether it had bloomed itself to death! In a couplke of years, I plan to get some cuttings of the little one that hitch-hiked to my friend's garden with another plant, so I'll have it again. But then it'll go in the front garden with lots more sunshine!

Cheers!

gordonf

3 Jul '07 11:42 am

I know that pentstemmon is a major garden plant but I'm only getting around now to trying it. If my first two pioneeers do well I'll look for Sour Grapes next then. Nice to be able to tap you for your knowledge with it.

3 Jul '07 6:43 pm

Hi, Mark-

While I really liked "Sour Grapes", what I'd really like to get is a good red penstemon! I tried one once that did very well the first year but didn't return the second. Somehow, it seems to be hard to find red ones here, although the British and American gardening magazines seem to be full of them. Maybe they're just a bit too tender for here; anyway, I'll keep looking for one! But, in any case, I'd recommend "Sour Grapes" to anyone! It has huge individual flowers!

All the best,

gordonf

4 Jul '07 3:31 am

Thanks for the reply to my question. I loved the story of how you came to have the dierama. I also loved the site you included. I did a quick scan, but will return to it when I have more time to explore. Beautiful garden!

I actually got the fever for dierama from Jack Holloway, who had a picture of his on his thread last year. I thought it would be so charming growing on my new rose berm and gracefully arching over the curved bench. His is white, so I wanted a white one, but your pink is lovely too. I definitely plan to order some for next year.

Loved all your new pictures as well. Now I need to get busy and download some photos that have been languishing in my camera for over a week now.

4 Jul '07 12:30 pm

I'm glad you got to check out the Harland Hand garden, or at least pictures of his work on Ted Kippings' garden. That is the garden that made me want to create a naturalistic looking garden but one with exotic plants.

I'll look forward to seeing what you have lurking in that camera.

13 Jul '07 4:34 pm

I took just a few before we went on vacation so I thought I'd share some now. (Sorry to keep you waiting so long. I may have to stop weeding and pruning long enough to sweep up so I can take some more soon. I've been planting out new things and moving old ones around. Mostly I've been mending a fence, organizing my new tool shed and installing some night lights - so a lot of non-plant garden tasks. Which reminds me I need to put a new roof on the old garden shed and the new tool shed soon, as well as finish the pond and put in some windows looking out at the garden from my office area. Much to do!

An update from Berkeley

Aloes and Opuntias

Glad you liked them, Gordon.

One more beautiful garden display!!

Hi Liza, do you know what time it is?

Sour Grapes

Thanks Gordon.

Penstemon

Hi Mark, I see you are online right now.

Hi Faith didn't see you were on line too.

First garden pictures of July.