@DebbieC, that sago palm was not put in by me. Its my strip, but somebody else planted that thing. I was thinking about removing it, but its gotten too big now and I don't want to pay someone to do it. Its all a matter of perspective, of course. I'm just tired and bored with palm trees of all descriptions, plumeria, birds of paradise, yadda yadda yadda. That's why I deliberately look for plants that I'm not seeing around the neighborhood, just for the change-up.

@CarolHB, It is funny how we always want what is not natural and easy for our climate. I would love to see a nice Palm outside my window, a Bird of Paradise on my patio and other what we call tropicals all around.

You are sooo right. I want hostas and peonies. I actually have two hostas, brand new, and plan to find out next spring that they are annuals. Then I'll go get two more.

I'm in Florida...I want lilacs and weeping willows!!! And chipmunks!

Funny thing about sago's here though, they are being decimated by some bug or something and are dying off in droves! Huge, old ones and new ones...they are dissappearing at an alarming rate and they are an ancient plant having been around since the time of the dinosaurs from what I understand!

You want a sago? Bring your shovel.

Potted up my first ever clematis and hostas this morning.


The clematis is a ligusticifolia 'Western White Clematis', blooms in midsummer, whenever that may be around here. Didn't know what I would do with it until I found that trellis, which is not pretending to be a leaning tower anymore.

Hosta 'Patriot' in situ. Probably hostas will be annuals here because of the not-so-cold winter, even tho anything below 60* is freezing according to us.


'Patriot' close-up. I love this, could just sit and look at it all day long.


Hosta 'Dream Queen' waiting for companions, which is the reason for the MT nursery pot place-holders. Not sure this one will repeat next year, too ho-hum.

So, my morning work is finished, and so is my Miracle-Gro.

Carol I love your 'Patriot'. And what a great idea to plant hostas in containers. Not sure why I never thought of that.
I have a couple of new hostas that I will use in containers.

Thanks, Lynn. I plant everything in containers because I live on leased land and don't make gifts to landlords. Also, because I'm way too old to be digging around in solid clay/concrete soil. And I love the flexibility as I have a very low boredom threshold. I saw a blue-ish hosta over at HD which I think I may have to get.

Can't wait to see it Carol.

Well, I didn't get the blueish hosta because they were all gone, so I got other stuff instead.


This is phormium 'duet', lantana 'new gold', petunias and calibrachoas. I think the petunias are already trying to get rid of the calis so they may be moved to their very own home.

Loropetalum 'razzleberri', alternanthera 'purple knight', and creeping wire vine.


I just moved this licorice plant into this group, but I'm not sure about it. What does every/anybody else think? I think I'd rather move the elysum magellicum over there but couldn't face the breakdown and rebuild (yet).

Love the spillers in the combos. And the container with the purple petunias is so eye catching. Love it.

Beautiful combinations, Carol. I love all the purple you use in your containers, especially the purple petunias with gold - really pretty!

Thank you, Ibis. I can't take full credit, tho. The original design I based it on is by Sydney Eddison, published in FGs Container Gardening mag in, I think, 2004. I can find the deets if anybody wants to know. Mrs. Eddison used a yucca, the lantana, purple heart and licorice plant. By the time the petunias are finished I'm hoping to have the fan flower (scaevola) that I want so the whole thing will be perrenial, or evergreen. Actually entirely evergreen since none of those will do more than slow down a bit during winter here. The fan flower and lantana may not bloom for a few weeks but they don't die back.

We had a low temp night last night 39* and it will be 39* tonight. I need to cover my Aloe and Echeveria.

39* in May? I really can't relate to that.

Carol I grew up in Southern California just a few miles from where you live.
I remember nearly freeze to death in the winter. It would get way down into the 50's. Makes me shiver just thinking about it.

So, Lynn, to escape the cold in SoCal you moved to Oregon? Well, rain has its virtues, doesn't it? This winter we did get down to under 35* a couple times at night. That was a tad scary with fall planted seedlings sitting around out there. I think 60* is cold enough for anybody.

It did snow once in City Terrace about 1947 or 8.
Moved to the Pacific Northwest in 1966 so we could afford to own land. We bought an old homestead farm. Never regretted the move. But did have to rethink what plants to use.
I now find 60° weather beautiful gardening weather now.

I bet you do. But its beautiful up there, isn't it? My brother and SIL live in OR and its just great to look at.

I think I finally have this group in decent shape colorwise. Noticed a tad of grooming is required, but we shoot 'em when they're there, right?



Wider view of area:



Why are the enlargements coming out so huge? Should I ask at site talk? Probably.