Tag Archives: calla lilies

Casualty list

All of my lavender plants are gone…the rosemary bush is on its final legs. Let this be a lesson: xeric plants that don’t like their feet wet MUST have a sandy soil mixture that doesn’t retain water. Perhaps I will need to consider older specimens in the future, as well bigger planters with sufficient drainage.

I noticed that my Devil’s Wine calla is dropping all of its leaves…I suppose that it’s done for it’s summer show. The other callas are following suit. Perhaps it is the planter environment, or perhaps they just don’t get enough sunlight to keep the greenery up. I generally have had longer foliage life when the callas are in a garden setting, but perhaps these callas are a little less hardy here in the south and less suited to a patio environment.

I’ve noticed that one of the ornamental pepper plants have ripening fruit. What started as a rich purple fruit has now ripened to burgundy-red color. With sporadic flowering of the neighboring dianthus, the colors stand out marvelously.

I am not sure why the potted salvia are looking thin and reedy, despite sufficient watering. I am wondering if their potted state just isn’t giving them enough room to grow and spread.

New callas of May

The callas are blooming. First up: Flame. These blooms display brilliant yellow, with a touch of orange or red. I am assuming that as the weeks go on, they will deepen in color per their namesake. As an aside, the single blooming purple flower of my Devil’s Wine calla has barely faded but held its true shape. It’s a testament to how long-lived these calla blooms are!

My Blossom Farm order came in last week, but 2 of the lavender plants I ordered do not appear to be faring very well. I’ve been keeping a close watch on them, but it appears the smallest of the 4 has given up the ghost. I’ve messaged Blossom Farm for assistance…perhaps they are not beyond rescue. I’m just glad that I have one each of the 2 larger specimens, Coconut Ice and White Provence.

I’m not too thrilled with the Bewitched Purple potato vine (which appears to be mislabeled) threatening to take over my planter. While the palmate shape of the leaves are attractive, they are much too large and overshadowing the neighboring plants. I intend to pull it out as soon as I can find a suitable replacement, preferably a petite-leaf purple potato vine, similar to the compact bright green potato vine (which may be a Sweetheart Light Green) in the other planter.

Today is an example of a perfect morning on the patio, cool weather and warm sun. I should invest in a folding patio set. Perhaps I can shop for one this holiday…if the fiance will let me out of bed this weekend. 😀

5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (1) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (2) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (3) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (4) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (5) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (6) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (7) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (8) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (9) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (10) 5/20/2009 On the Patio Again (11)

Luscious calla

More photos of the patio garden. The Devil’s Wine calla lily has risen in blooms and a magnificent deep purple-red flower. It pairs beautifully with the 2 Purple Flash ornamental pepper plants on its flanks. The peppers, incidentally, will not grow taller than 2 feet high. Also featured in this photo string is a shot of the pale leaves from the top of my asahi zuru. I imagine due to the lack of chlorophyll they are not faring too well. Beautiful colors anyway…

3/27/2009 Callas in the Patio Garden (1) 3/27/2009 Callas in the Patio Garden (2) 3/27/2009 Callas in the Patio Garden (3) 3/27/2009 Callas in the Patio Garden (4) 3/27/2009 Callas in the Patio Garden (5) 3/27/2009 Callas in the Patio Garden (6) 3/27/2009 Callas in the Patio Garden (7)

The Patio Garden

I added to the garden this weekend: a white salvia from Plants & Planters; red and white dianthus, yellow and red/orange french marigolds, and yellow potato vine (Sweet Caroline Sweetheart Light Green perhaps) from Cristina’s Flowers; Sweet Caroline Bewitched Purple potato vine (which actually looks like a Caroline Purple) from Lowes, Devil’s Wine Calla Lily and 2 Purple Flash Ornamental Peppers from Home Depot. The troughs are divided between the yellows/reds and the whites/purples plants. I still have two mini troughs that are begging for attention. I am thinking about adding another rosemary shrub to the garden, and I’m contemplating white hostas.

3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (1) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (2) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (3) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (4) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (5) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (6) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (7) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (8) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (9) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (10) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (11) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (12) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (13) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (14) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (15) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (16) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (17) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (18) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (19) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (20) 3/23/2009 March Patio Garden (21)