This week we are very busy in the garden preparing it for summer. Even though the calendar will turn to spring soon we are due to hit 90F/32C by Monday and that means summer weather. Our spring is typically short because our winter weather is spring-like compared to many parts of the country.
Spring foliage is special for the fresh green color of newly emerging foliage like this fig tree. The fig is a breva fig formed on old wood which usually falls off as the new crop forms on new stems.
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Earlier this year I moved two planters from the deck to the front of the garage where they've been empty for a while. This week I planted two False Agave 'Flamingo Glow' in them for the summer. Eventually I'd like to find some taller planters for this spot but these work well for now and certainly are better than the very small ones I had here for a while.
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I'm not sure why these plants are called 'Flamingo Glow' but they might get a violet tint like many variegated plants. We'll see what happens. The Nolina texana I purchased on my recent trip to Austin were added so the soft foliage will eventually drape over the front. These face southeast and will get plenty of sun while being shaded from the harshest late afternoon death rays.
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False agaves are borderline hardy in my zone so I may need to move them in during the winter months which are a long way away now.
That's it for March 2013 Foliage Follow-up. Be sure to head over Digging to see photos from Pam's trip to the San Antonio Botanical Gardens and foliage from lots of other garden bloggers too.
I had never heard of False Agave. It's pretty.
ReplyDeleteBut, if it's iffy for you, it would freeze for sure here.
We have a lot of new growth doing well here....especially the weeds...lol
It is warming up fast. Wonder what that means for summer.
Have a great weekend. It's weeding, weeding, and more weeding, for here...again.
That's the thing about warm climates, the weeds grow all year!
DeleteWe are building new beds but it's already too hot to transplant. Fortunately we'll cool off a bit later in the week.
Those look wonderful there Shirley! Good choice. I like those a lot - never seen them before.
ReplyDeleteIt's more of a tropical plant, but I decided to give it a try after seeing them and some due consideration.
DeleteYour planters look great. I really like the variegation on the False Agave. I'm envious of your fig tree. I would love to plant one in my yard.
ReplyDeleteWe planted the fig when we first moved in nearly 20 years ago. I had to have one to remind me of my grandparents garden.
DeleteI had a 'Flamingo Glow' for awhile (till it objected to container life) and it did get a pink blush in cooler weather. Nice plants!
ReplyDeleteThanks Loree, I'm hoping the large container and dry summers will help keep it around for a while.
DeleteThose pots look great in their new spot! I wish I could send you some rain in exchange for some of your heat. One of my first plants here was a fig in a pot, but it died on me. I'm trying to decide whether to try again. The foliage is interesting, but I probably won't eat the fruit.
ReplyDeleteFigs are a bit more hardy in ground. Not sure why you wouldn't like the fruit because the taste of a fresh fig is so special.
DeleteA violet glow would just be icing... those Flamingoes are already really pretty! Love the fig, too. Mine is downstairs in a pot, and needs to come upstairs into more light asap. (I just noticed that it's about as far along as yours is outside! Yikes.)
ReplyDeleteFigs indoors reminds me of how often I am amazed by the lengths we gardeners go to for our plants.
DeleteThose False Agaves look great in those two pots. It will be interesting to see if they develop that violet tint later on. Love the bright green new growth on your Fig tree too. We're still getting 32 deg C days now, and it's beginning Autumn for us. Fingers crossed the mercury drops a little lower soon!!
ReplyDeleteFall is so wonderful when you've been through a hot, tropical summer. I look forward to seeing all your great fall blooms.
DeleteI'm into those garage door containers...very nice. That's something I saw in San Diego, and it needs more use elsewhere, though without SD's 2-3 season climate, not easy. Your points on not having any or much winter are a perfect compliment to here, where a garden takes time to start over each spring. I hope w/ your Monday 90F, more mild and warm/humid return a while...and you get more rain.
ReplyDeleteThere was just something about the spot by the garage that called out for containers. I thought about just sticking opuntia in there for ease but these false agaves have had my eye for a while now.
DeleteThe false agaves in the planters look great. Love the fig foliage, too. Figs have such great leaves! I'm still waiting for mine to leaf out.
ReplyDeleteThere are so many good reasons to have figs in the garden.
DeleteI'll be watching your variegated false agaves with interest. They are quite attractive. I'm trying a Beschorneria septentrionalis from Peckerwood Garden in my own garden. It actually prefers some shade and a little more water than I'm used to giving, but so far so good. I'm hoping for a bloom this year.
ReplyDeleteThat's a beautiful plant with a fantastic bloom. I hope you get a bloom from it this year.
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