plant photo: 015

crassula is a diverse and extensive genus of succulent plants, with about 350 species.   in my top 5 faves for summer 2017, crassula ovata "money maker" is doing nicely indoors but thrives out on the patio.  hang in there money maker... we have 3 1/2 months to go before you find your sunny spot outside.

plant photo: 014

senna didymobotrya is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name, popcorn senna or popcorn plant.  it truly smells like popcorn, grows super tall (6 feet), blooms all summer, attracts butterflies and pollinators.

plant photo: 013

asclepias tuberosa - butterfly weed.  HousePet backyard winner: Summer 2017

plant photo: 012

Back in October, I had a quick 2-day visit to Minneapolis. My garden-loving friend, Mary, gave me quite the tour of public gardens all over the city. We discovered Hairy Balls on that tour - certainly a plant highlight - and I'm so happy to have snapped a few photos. Seriously, Hairy Balls!

Asclepias physocarpa (Gomphocarpus physocarpus) milkweed has several common names like Swan plant, Balloon plant, Oscar milkweed, Hairy Balls, and Family Jewels. Absolutely coming to the HousePet backyard in 2018!

Is that a DWR catalog photo with an arrangement of Hairy Balls on a Saarinen dining table?  YES!

plant photo: 009

plectranthus: cerveza n' lime.  soft, fuzzy foliage with fresh citrus aroma.  what's not to love?  perfect in pots and box planters all summer long.  a few plants come inside during the winter months for clippings when my floral arrangements need some green.  a must have plant.

radio playing songs by Bedhead... was feeling the 90's this morning.

plant photo: 008

the blues... echeveria giant blue... blue lacy... blue italian greyhound.

plant photo: 007

senecio kilimanjaro.  this plant is a summer fave in my backyard.  it's perfect in potted arrangements and hanging baskets and there's usually a good sized solo pot of kilimanjaro somewhere by the pool.  in the fall, i make tons of cut-offs and get them rooting in water.  today they were used in a cute, floral arrangement.

plant photo: 006

staghorn fern.  I rescued this one from Menards about 4 or 5 years ago... somehow they let their plants die slowly on their sales floor but on that day, this staghorn was the most promising of the bunch.  so sad that I only could bring one home.  platycerium is a genus of about 18 fern species in the polypod family, polypodiaceae.  ferns in this genus are widely known as staghorn or elkhorn ferns due to their uniquely shaped fronds.

plant photo: 005

not exactly sure what this one is.  an echeveria of some sort?  it's branchy and tree-like and i absolutely love it.

plant photo: 004

kalanchoe thyrsiflora:  paddle plant

plant photo: 003

crassula is a genus of succulent plants containing about 1480 accepted species.  i have several types of this genus and believe this one to be crassula rupestri.  my name for this plant is the hulk.

plant photo: 002

agave americana blue (i call this plant the shark)

plant photo: 001

pencil cactus.  new years eve party hat.

hang

 

We made some hanging baskets out of a couple of old planters we were no longer using. Some stainless steel (multi-stranded) wire worked perfectly to hang them with a modern look.  A fresh coat of spray paint and a nice bunch of succulents brought these light weight, fiberglass containers back to life. 

These containers were purchased at Joann's about 4 or 5 years ago.

spring has sprung

 

colors of summer

green trick, parrot's beak, succulents, and orange

The title of this post looks a lot like my shopping list when I went to my favorite garden centers last weekend... with the exception of green trick which I was excited to find.  So unexpected!  Things are finally coming together in the backyard. 

1.  green trick dianthus    2.  parrot's beak lotus berthelotii   3.  succulents and jades    4.  heimalis begonia solenia orange    5.  sedum garden    6. tropicanna gold canna - canna indica 'Mactro'

hair

Blooming now in our backyard!

Genus:	Allium
Variety	Hair
Type:	Deciduous
Soil Type:	Well-drained but fertile, add grit on heavy soils
Site:	Full sun or partial shade
Height:	H. 80-90cm
Spacing:	Plant 15cm deep, 30cm apart.
Hardiness:	Hardy
Care tips:	Remember these are very perennial so plant them somewhere permanent. Removing the tatty foliage doesn't appear to affect the bulbs.
Flowers:	June - July
For the vase:	Add a drop of bleach to the water to minimise the oniony smell or change the water regularly. They will look good for up to 2 weeks without rearranging

willow

weeping curly locks willow tree (Salix caprea) in our backyard. 
best. tree. ever.