Re: Purple, Black, Lime Green & Grey Leaved Plants mixed with orange flowers & berries On Feb 21, 2005, at 2:29 PM, Reid Family wrote: Linda, It sounds as if you have a good start on some combinations, there.  I'm not sure why you want 5 gallons, just bec

I LOVE that fish bit.  It IS so Native American!  I agree that ceremonies are fun and part of the personality that grows in a garden.  I have something odd I have been doing for a few years in my garden that makes it feel connected to me by more than sweat and blood.  A friend of mine brought me a lovely piece of white quartz about 6 inches across when I was first beginning my garden 8 years ago, so I put it somewhere I would see it, and think of her when I do.  Then I found these large old fishing weights from my father-in-law's gear, so I put one in my front flower bed with the gardenias to remind my of him (he passed away about 13 years ago.)  Then my brother-in-law passed away(from cancer), and six months later his oldest son(from a car accident).  They were also both salmon fishermen in Half Moon Bay, so from their gear, I added two more of the large fishing weights.  Now my mother-in-law has passed away in October (in her sleep in bed, thankfully), and I have brought home one of her rustic painted metal garden angels and planted it not far from the 3 Reid boys, as I call my weight "ornaments."  They may just be lead balls to someone else, but to me they recall the robust spirit of these men who are my husband's blood, and the angel makes me feel as though my lovely mother-in-law, truly an angel to me, is still watching over me!
 
Any other sentimental gardeners out there?  At my last house I named the lilacs after my children! :-)
 
Karrie Reid
Folsom Foothill Gardener
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 2:43 PM
Subject: Re: Purple, Black, Lime Green & Grey Leaved Plants mixed with orange flowers & berries On Feb 21, 2005, at 2:29 PM, Reid Family wrote: Linda, It sounds as if you have a good start on some combinations, there.  I'm not sure why you want 5 gallons, just because it is by your front door. Within 1 year, or two at most, the 1 gallon plants will be just as large, will have required less effort to put in, and will have a better root system that is more thoroughly integrated into the soil you have present.  Not to mention the cost savings...  The only time I ever buy 5 gallons is if it is a tree, or is simply unavailable in a 1 gallon.   Karrie Reid Folsom Foothill Gardener   ----- Original Message ----- From: Linda Starr To: medit-plants@ucdavis.edu Sent: Monday, February 21, 2005 9:05 AM Subject: Purple, Black, Lime Green & Grey Leaved Plants mixed with orange flowers & berries Hello All,   I finally have my front yard dug up and am just about ready to replant with some of those orange flowered or berried recommendations from all of you.  I want to mix in some purple, black, lime green and grey leaved plants - these must be heat and sun loving.  I was thinking of Cordyline 'Baueri' but am unsure of where to get this one.  Also a purple variety of Cotineus coggyri, Phormium (bronze), Artemesia 'Powis Castle' and Convolvulus cneorum to name a few.  I know there must be a lime green Euphorbia variety.  Maybe a couple of grasses could be incorporated such as Muhlenbergia capillaris - I had this one or one similar at my last residence and the seed heads reminded me of fairy wands. I think a visit to Sierra Azul or some other nursery with unusual plants is in order.  Since this landscaped section is surrounding my front door, I want to get as many 5 gallon sized plants as I can  Can anyone recommend some nurseries in California that might be worth a buying trip for some larger plants?   Thank you.   Linda Starr Springville Gardens

I agree. This was a breath of fresh air!
My only disagreement is a small one. I'm 82 and haven't got the time left to watch a tree grow, so I buy the biggest one I can afford, plant it in a BIG hole and break up the root ball somewhat to liberate the roots that have been confined in the plastic pot. I also have a ridiculous procedure of tossing in a fish. It should be fresh caught but I have to settle for a cheap package of frozen fish at the supermarket. Perhaps I got it from my 10% Native American background. But it couldn't hurt! Besides, ceremonies are fun! ---Chas---
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I'm not sure why you want 5 gallons, just because it is by your front door. Within 1 year, or two at most, the 1 gallon plants will be just as large, will have required less effort to put in, and will have a better root system that is more thoroughly integrated into the soil you have present.  Not to mention the cost savings...  The only time I ever buy 5 gallons is if it is a tree, or is simply unavailable in a 1 gallon.
 

Karrie Reid
Folsom Foothill Gardener
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