whatsgrowingtuesday

What’s Growing at The Cottage No. 067

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , , , ,
What’s Growing at The Cottage No. 067

Spiraea also commonly known as Bridal wreaths. These time tested flowering shrubs produce very attractive foliage as well as nice, full vibrant flower heads that last virtually all growing season long. They are a member of the rose family and once established, they are drought tolerant. Most varieties of spiraeas are extremely winter hardy and do not require any special protection. There are about 80 to 100 species (not sure what we have) and all have small leaves and fine, twiggy branches. Ours is starting to bloom right now as this picture was taken today.
 
Published by Amy on: Jan 26, 2016
#garden #gardening #flowerphotography #shrubs #whatsgrowingtuesday #cottagegarden #lomamar #sfbayarea #wherewaterfalls

 

Spirea at Loma Mar cottage

What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 065

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , , , , ,
What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 065

Bacopa (Sutera cordata) has long, cascading stems that smother themselves in tiny, perfect, five-petal flowers from June through October. Flowers are in shades of white, pink, lavender, blue and even coral red. It’s native to the wetter regions of South Africa and likes full to partial shade. The plant must stay moist at all times, as they are originally used to the high humidity.

 
Bacopa is related to the water hyssop (Bacopa monnieri) or the classic Ayurvedic herb you might be very familiar with. The herb has an age-old reputation for being an effective and powerful antioxidant to reduce stress-induced anxiety and enhance cognitive abilities.

 
On a side note. Are you a Nintendo fan? The game ‘pikmin’ is named after Bacopa. Who knew?

 
“We used a variety of innovative and unusual activities to build anticipation for the Nintendo GameCube. Naming a flower after a video game is just one more way Nintendo is ‘seeding’ creative marketing.” – Peter Main, executive vice president, sales and marketing, Nintendo of America.

 
Wow. “Seeding?” Kind of frightening…
 
Published by Amy on: Jan 5, 2016

#bacopa #flowers #herb #gardening #nintendo #cottagegarden #whatsgrowingtuesday #lomamar #sfbayarea #wherewaterfalls

Bacopa growing at Loma Mar vacation cottage

 

What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 064

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , , , ,
What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 064

Few blooms say winter or the holiday’s to me, then Cyclamen. They are part of the Primrose family and native to the eastern Mediterranean climate. Cyclamen naturally bloom in the fall, winter, and spring when the weather turns cool and damp. During the hot, dry summers, Cyclamen become dormant; their foliage yellows and dies back and the plants show no signs of growth. They store energy for the next flowering season in their round tubers. Today, new cultivation methods and varieties offer longer-lasting, hardier and more regular flowering and in a wide range of colors. The plant looks delicate, but cool-weather Cyclamen are actually tough soldiers on the planting fields. So, stand attention when you see one.
 
Published by Amy on: Dec 8, 2015

#cyclamen #winter #flowerphotography #gardening #whatsgrowingtuesday #lomamar #sfbayarea #cottagegarden #wherewaterfalls

Cyclamen growing at Loma Mar vacation cottage

 

What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 063

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , , , ,
What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 063

Lilyturf (Liriope spicata) although neither a true grass nor a lily. This grass-like perennial with clumps of arching, green leaves (we have the variegated) is used in the garden as a ground cover. Spikes of tiny violet-blue flowers appear in late summer. I read that there’s no groundcover known to humankind that’s as successful as liriope. It prevents erosion on even the steepest hillsides, it survives wet or bone dry conditions, and doing all that in full sun or deep shade. You can yank it roughly out of the ground and cram it back into the ground and it won’t complain! It’s also deer proof. Yet, I’m not sure about those banana slugs, I’ll keep you posted.
 
Published by Amy on: Dec 1, 2015

#groundcover #gardening #brownthumb #ornamental #grass #whatsgrowingtuesday #cottagegarden #lomamar #sfbayarea

Lilyturf at Loma Mar, CA cottage garden

 

What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 062

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , , , ,
What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 062

Coleus (Coleus blumei) have some of the most stunningly colored foliage like in your face green, yellow, pink, red, maroon, etc. The variability in patterns is amazing too, with solid colors, splashes, blotches, streaks, flecks, margins and veins. These plants are durable, easy to grow and great for adding color especially in those dark, drab-looking areas. Coleus is a member of the nettle family (with no stingers) but they are also a mint.
 
I read that Coleus were a must have choice for the Victorian gardens back in the day. A technique called ‘carpet gardening’ which consisted of flower beds laid out in elaborate patterns that were meant to be seen from a high window or balcony were used. This became very popular as competitive aristocrats wanted the most unusual specimens in their own gardens. This plant lust ignited what was to be called ‘The Great Coleus Race’ as hybridizers and hobbyists alike hurried to create new varieties to cash in on the craze. The Boston Public Gardens even got in on it with a profile of George Washington in Coleus! I wonder how long it took them to create that?
 
Published by Amy on: Nov 17, 2015

#colors #foliage #annual #gardendesign #plants #cottagegarden #whatsgrowingtuesday #lomamar #wherewaterfalls

Coleus growing at Loma Mar, CA vacation cottage

 

What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 061

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , , ,
What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 061

Peach tree (Prunus persica) literally means “Persian plum,” as it’s closely related to the plum. Early Europeans believed that peaches were native to Persia (present Iran) because Alexander the Great introduced the fruit into Europe after he conquered the Persians. Yet genetic studies suggest peaches originated in China. In 2010 the peach genome was sequenced and it has a diverse genetic history. Peaches were mentioned in Chinese writings as far back as the 10th century BC and were a favored fruit of kings and emperors. The tree is a semi-hardy deciduous woody perennial. We have a semi-dwarf tree (Babcock) that we planted last year. This year it produced two peaches. The one pictured fell off before it fully ripened and the other disappeared. It will be exciting to see more fruit as the tree ages. Plus, our guests will be able to enjoy like the kings and emperors did!
 
Published by Amy on: Nov 10, 2015

#peach #fruit #trees #gardening #cottagegarden #whatsgrowingtuesday #lomamar #wherewaterfalls

Peach tree growing at Loma Mar, CA vacation cottage

 

What’s Growing at The Cottage No. 060

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , , ,
What’s Growing at The Cottage No. 060

Flowering tobacco (Nicotiana). Nicotiana is a member of the tobacco family. And…..yes, it has high concentrations of nicotine but that’s not what it’s grown for. It’s grown for the terrifically fragrant (especially at night) flowers. We have a few by the deck so when sitting out on a summers evening, our guests will get a whiff of the sweet perfume. The flowers begin to appear and bloom in the early summer and will re-bloom all season. It likes full sun. The five pointed florets are trumpet shaped, with red, white, rose, yellow, and lavender colors on slender stems. Different varieties grow from one to ten feet tall. And, you guessed it, when the flowers open up in the late afternoon, the fragrance attracts critters of all sizes into the wee hours.
 
Published by Amy on: Nov 3, 2015

#tobacco #flowers #fragrance #cottagegarden #plants #whatsgrowingtuesday #lomamar #wherewaterfalls

Flowering tobacco growing at Loma Mar, CA vacation cottage

 

What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 058

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , , , ,
What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 058

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a woody, perennial herb with needle-like leaves and a WONDERFUL fragrant. The flowers can be purple, white, blue or pink. It can withstand lack of water for lengthy periods of time making them good candidates for California right now as we’re in a drought. Rosemary can grow quite large and retain attractiveness without much trimming. It’s a prized seasoning in the kitchen and has been used as a natural medicine for a millennium as well. In the Middle Ages, rosemary was associated with wedding ceremonies. The bride would wear a rosemary headpiece and the groom and wedding guests would all wear a sprig of rosemary. Rosemary was thought to be a love charm but maybe because you could woo the other with some culinary delights with it too! Good food, good times and good health all year round with this plant!
 
Published by Amy on: Oct 20, 2015

#rosemary #herbs #culinary #aromatherapy #whatsgrowingtuesday #cottagegarden #lomamar #sfbayarea #wherewaterfalls

Rosemary growing at Loma Mar, CA vacation cottage

 

What’s Growing at The Cottage No. 057

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , , ,
What’s Growing at The Cottage No. 057

Japanese Anemones also known as windflowers. Native to China, Anemones have been cultivated in Japan for centuries. They provide weeks of color from late summer through fall (depending on the variety). They produce masses of 2-3 inch flowers that are held on slender stems and sway delicately in the wind – hence the common name windflower. The flowers range from white to dark pink and purple. The ground cover can spread quickly once established and planted in the right place. Last year, ours didn’t look so good but this year it’s starting to take off. They’re an important late season source of pollen for bees too.
 
Published by Amy on: Oct 13, 2015

#fallflowers #perennial #groundcover #whatsgrowingtuesday #cottagegarden #lomamar #sfbayarea #wherewaterfalls

Japanese Anemones at Loma Mar cottage garden

 

What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 056

Amy Cottage garden , , , , , ,
What’s Growing At The Cottage No. 056

The fuchsia is a beautiful, exotic looking flower with striking two-tone colors. The majority of fuchsia species are native to Central and South America. I’m not sure of the variety we have. Several species can grow at sea level but the highest is F. apetala. It’s found in the mountains of Bolivia and Peru growing up to 13,900 feet above sea level! Very hardy.
 
In March 2011, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra gave an hour-long concert at London’s Cadogan Hall to a packed house of plants, including many tasteful fuchsias. The concert was organized to test the theory that classical music helps plants grow better – which it does. Plants also like you to talk to them too.
 
Published by Amy on: Sep 29, 2015

#fuchsias #flowerphotography #cottagegarden #whatsgrowingtuesday #lomamar #sfbayarea #wherewaterfalls

Fuchsia growing at Loma Mar cottage