General growing and maintenance guidelines. Your plants and how to care for them…
These deep, lush violas are my favourite variety of the season. I bought this plant from Colette at Urban Harvest. They weren’t cheap, but they were worth it. They seem to be healthier than my other violas with very dark green leaves and lots of flowers that keep coming.
I generally don’t grow violas from seed since they’re so affordable, but am going to try to save these and see what I get next year.
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This plant was another gift from Barry, a gardener who lives just around the block. I finally got a chance to visit Barry’s garden yesterday and all I can say about that is, WOW. Literally every single inch of Barry’s garden is well considered.
One of the highlights of his garden, among many, is a collection of agaves. I have a special place in my heart for agaves — they’re incredibly interesting plants from an ethnobotanic standpoint, although I suspect they also hold a grass is greener appeal with this Northern gardener.
I have to admit that I am a little bit intimidated by this special agave gift. Now I understand why people are sometimes overwhelmed when I give them a plant. There’s pressure to do well by a gift plant, especially when it’s an unusual variety!
Must not kill the extra special agave. Gah!
More agave photos: in Cuba, in Austin, in San Francisco
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I grew this potato variety, ‘Purple Peruvian’ in a big trash can out on the roof last year. Unfortunately, you’ll have to wait until spring 2010 to see a picture of that… or read about it for that matter.
Anybookpublishingtakestoolong, it’s a pretty little fingerling variety with purple flowers that grows well in containers. I can only guess that this is because it is small to begin with and it is difficult to grow anything much larger than new potatoes in containers. In short, if you’re looking for a variety to grow, try this one. I like that it’s purple inside as well as out and makes purplish mashed potatoes.
I fully intended to grow a different variety this year, but then these sprouted and I was left without a choice. Well, I suppose there is always a choice, but this year’s roof garden is taking form primarily by happenstance and a general going with the flow. I guess you could say that my newly evolving garden kung-fu style is all about being like water, or Bruce Lee, or whatever.
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I took this picture last month on my trip to Pennsylvania. Finding these in bloom was such a joy. I had never seen them in person before!
I don’t know about you, but I find it really difficult to choose a favourite flowering woodland plant — the one I’m looking at is always my favourite at the time. But those gorgeous mottled leaves easily put trout lily somewhere up near the top. The foliage reminds me of Paphiopedilum orchids.
Anyways, definitely one of those life must-sees checked off the list, even if I didn’t know it was on the list until I saw them.
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