Monday, March 30, 2009

Purple weekend planting



I should have been pulling weeds and harvesting the last of the kale and spinach, but I took a quick trip to the nursery instead. I came back with two new purple flowers, both of which are supposed to be fairly heat and drought-tolerant once established.

I planted the three sentimental blue balloon flowers (Platycodon Sentimental Blue) near the front porch steps and the three hybrid verbenas (Verbena Donalena tm Lavender Grace) by the santolina near the front sidewalk. Aren’t they pretty?


balloon flower


hybrid verbena

6 comments:

NotSoAngryRedHead said...

I know this isn't at all what you posted about, but is that santolina next to the verbena? It's huge!

Iris said...

It is santolina, actually two of them. They are pretty big now. I like how they keep their shape and don't get leggy.

I've had those two for several years, but I also have five others that are still only 6" in diameter.

TexasDeb said...

Iris - do you have any ajuga reptans in your yard? Mine have the loveliest deep purple blooms just now and I think of you every time I see them.

(I realize some find ajuga invasive but the deer keep mine at bay and they are some of the only shade lovers I can get going on that slope so...)

Iris said...

TexasDeb,

I don't have any ajuga reptans, but I just looked it up online and it's very pretty!

Unfortunately, one site claimed that it was poisonous (when ingested) for humans and animals, so I don't think I can trust my dog and cat with it.

Annie in Austin said...

Hi Iris,

I've got a couple of different Balloonflower/Platycodon varieties, including several plants that were seedlings brought from IL nearly 10 years ago that lived in deck containers for years. So they are pretty tough!

But the plants you've just put in are from a nursery - that's why they're in bloom now. After they're established the Platycodon go completely dormant in winter...have to remember where they are so I don't forget and try to plant something else on top of them. My plants are still invisible, but will soon send up new stems & leaves. Keep popping off the spent blooms and you'll keep them blooming for a long time.

Annie at the Transplantable Rose

Iris said...

Thanks for all the info, Annie!