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WINNERS AND LOSERS - 2018

2018 WINNERS

Lantana/Calendula Corner: Located in the hottest, driest corner of the yard, surrounded by concrete and watered exclusively by dog pee, was happiest lantana I’ve ever grown. An honorable mention goes to the surrounding calendula, still blooming through Thanksgiving and 5 inches of snow. It doesn’t look good, but it still looks orange, which is impressive. #didntcatchanydogsonmylawn #technicallytheyarepeeingfromthesidewalk

Globe Amaranth (Gomphrena): Grew from seed into large abundant plants. No deadheading needed, each flower lasts for the entire season. Cute and perky. Dries well if you’re into that sort of thing. #balls!

All The Zinnias: As noted earlier, queen zinnias n’ friends mixed together were a cocktail of zinnia goodness. #theweirdoneisastrawflower

Verbena bonariensis: Self seeding, (aka free), these offspring from last year’s plant were growing mostly in the crack between the driveway and the garage slab. Transplanted without complaint they thrived in a desert zone where the hose doesn’t reach, creating a 20’ purple cloud. #nextyeartherewillbehundredsofthem

2018 LOSERS

Honeywort: I was expecting the one on the left, I got the one on the right. I don’t know what its problem was. Too hot? Too sunny? Too shady? Didn’t like eggplant neighbors? #mostdisappointingdisappointment

This Mess: In my defense, I didn’t think about it ahead of time. But for the City Tree Garden I carefully created this red/pink/orange/yellow gradient with the leftover plants from the annual spring shopping frenzy. There were some miscalculations. This photo is from August but it just got more terrible and lopsided and marigoldy until the frost finally put it out of its misery. #stillbetterthanalltheothercitytrees

Lisa Frank Window Boxes: They were supposed to be a tribute to my childhood trapper keeper. It was moderately successful. Some good moments but all the plants refused to be happy at the same time. Considered moving all the good ones to one box for winner photo op, but didn’t. It did better than last year’s Unicorn Swirl boxes, all 3 boxes are now variations on a theme instead of all matching. This amuses me. #theresalwaysnextyear

THE ROSÉ GARDEN

Rosé is having a bit of a moment. Once viewed as a a bit on the trashy side, recent attention from winemakers has rebranded it as a fun girls-night-out type of wine. The new Cosmo. In fact, I even had the pleasure of visiting Rosé Mansion in New York, a delightful Instagram dreamworld which is a story for another time. Back home enjoying a glass in my garden I realized that I had unintentionally cultivated the Rosé Garden.

yum.

While other parts of the garden have assigned colors/themes and a collection of compliant perennials, the pots, window boxes, and one bed in center of the backyard are exclusively annuals. Something new every year. Inspired by the newly available Queen Lime Orange and its lovely friend Zinderella peach, I decided to plant all the Queens. Queen Lime Red, Queen Lime Blush, even plain ol' Queen Lime. Plus some apricots and senorita pinks. Salmon four o'clocks. Pink Surprise calendula. All the Apricot/Peach and Silvery Rose strawflowers. The intention was a pinkish/peachish/blushist/salmonish/yellowish/limeish gradient, all mixed up together. It was pretty successful. The four o'clocks just need to be constantly cut back so they don't crush everyone else. Realizing that they were the timely color of Rosé - with hints of grapes and chardonnay and even a bit of merlot - felt like such a victory. Subconscious trend prediction. The Rosé Garden was meant to be.

the standouts: queen lime blush that appears to be glowing from the lavender center, and possibly a zinderella peach with perfect heart-shaped petals edged with a delicate blush pink.

MY GARDEN - POST SEASON WRAP UP


2016 WINNERS

Hyacinth Bean Vine: Grows from seed without a fuss, purple pod gradient, and olive rainbow leaves? Yes, yes, and yes. Next year: Yes. Morning glories, your days are numbered. From now on the porch railing is all beans all the time.

This Tiny Boxwood: One trim and it stayed the same size and perfect shape all season. Next year: Yes. Keep showing the other shrubs how it's done, little boxwood!

Twisty Weed by Tree: No one knows what you are or where you came from but a unique sculptural piece. Smells like pee, otherwise would have been a secret weapon for arrangements. Next year: Yes, if it decides to return. Multiples will make it look more intentional.

Jazzy Mix Zinnias: Wide range of interesting flower designs, like little floral spirographs. Don't look too zinnia-y. Next year: Yes, but combined with something other than marigolds to showcase the color range. Maybe something blue.

2016 LOSERS

Weigela: Beautiful burgundy at the nursery, once planted you realize this is exactly the color of mulch. Invisible shrubs. Turns into a naked stick-y mess in the winter that needs to be cut back hard to even have leaves, so it never blooms. Next year: Reluctant Yes. Too much effort required to remove them, most likely will be ignored for the rest of time. 

Cactus Mix Zinnias: Lack of cactus mix zinnias attributed to repeated bunny attacks. Next year: Yes. Further research with bunz-be-gone products required.

Lotus Vine: One flower all season. One! Next year: Maybe. It's ugliness and weird claw shaped flowers are strangely alluring. Nice silver foliage.

Weed that Looks Like a Giant Dandelion at Edge of Lawn: Refused to make perfect round puffballs this year for me to spray with hairspray and add to hip arrangements. Got mowed as punishment. Next year: Maybe. Imperfect unharvested puffballs threw lots of seeds, perhaps a more choice spot will yield better results.