Pretty flowers and vase, I've got a similar one with a brown glaze. I've just written a book on lavender, the research was utterly fascinating. Lavandula dentata is delightful. I've pinched two cuttings in a garden which are growing well. So much looking forward to seeing your new garden. How is winter like in Arizona? Best wishes, Annette
Thank you so much, Annette. Lavenders are some of my favorite plants, so I'm very grateful they grow well here. I would love to see your book; where is it available?
Winter can vary drastically across Arizona, so I'm learning what it's like here: a few frosty nights every week at present, though I know the temperatures can drop quite a bit further. It will warm back up during the day, however. Big temperature swings between night and day are typical because of the low humidity. It will take some learning to plant for this! But that is what desert gardening is all about--definitely an adventure! ;-) Warm greetings!
When I was in Namaqualand seeing all those varied succulent made me want to create a desert garden. All those amazing shapes and textures! My book will be out next month, only in German I'm afraid so not much good to you. It'll be available on Amazon and in all bookshops. Maybe you can do a post one day which features the landscape around you - I'm so curious :)
I don't know Lavender dentata, and L. stoechas is only sold as a summer container plant here. Your little vase is ideal for showing off a handful of small flowers. Wonderful to have so many in January too! When do you think your last possible frost will be? Ours is the end of May!
Thank you, Cathy! The average date for last frost seems to be mid-April here, but I suspect it varies wildly year-to-year. All reports say winters are usually quite mild, but occasionally drop well below freezing. It will take some learning! I am planting some English lavender seeds too so as to have some hardier types.
I love the carnations, Amy. My neighbour and I were commenting on the wonderful scent from my garden one day, and assuming it was the two large rose bushes. Then we realised it was from a tiny carnation plant!I hope they all grow and bloom and bring you great joy!
Thank you, Lynda. That carnation filled the truck and then the back patio with its fragrance as soon as I brought it home. I can imagine it would easily be equal to two rose bushes! Hopefully it will prove good to grow here. Fingers crossed anyway!
I particularly like the pink shades in your vase today and I am pleased to read that you were able to track down some of that useful lavender locally. It really is a voyage of discovery seeing what wil grow in your garden and how it resoinds to your local weather. Have you and your sister got separate parts of the garden to work in, or does she just focus on pots?
Thank you, Cathy. Yes, gardening is always an adventure, especially when beginning in a new spot. My sis was starting to plant on the north side of the house, where there is a sheltered area, but we're discussing whether it's really going to be a more challenging microclimate than we thought. Her containers are out on the main east-facing patio. At some point I need to make a map of the planting areas!
I love the Eremophila! I've had limited success with plants in this genus for reasons I can't explain but I'm ready to try another if I can find my own 'Outback Cupid'. I'm glad you found some plants to add cheer to your January garden. I've had a Lavandula dentata in my north-side dry garden for years and it's one tough plant. It blooms almost year-round. My only problem with it is that it got too big for its spot. I cut it back harder than is advisable about a month ago and, while it's soldiering on, it no longer looks its best so I may try starting it again from cuttings. You're right that it's very hard to find in garden centers.
It's curious because I didn't meet a single Eremophila that didn't grow well in Phoenix. They seemed to thrive in full desert conditions. I'm seeing different reports on how cold hardy they are, but I'm going to give them a good try as it seems likely these will be hardy at least to USDA Z9a.
You're so right about the size of Lavendula dentata. I was laughing at the tag when I read it's supposed to get 18-24 inches tall and about 18 inches wide. I've planted mine for about a three foot spread as that's what I remember and this one shows no signs of being a dwarf or even a particularly compact selection.
I hope yours bounces back from the trimming. They do get woody and difficult, don't they?!
Pretty flowers and vase, I've got a similar one with a brown glaze. I've just written a book on lavender, the research was utterly fascinating. Lavandula dentata is delightful. I've pinched two cuttings in a garden which are growing well. So much looking forward to seeing your new garden. How is winter like in Arizona? Best wishes, Annette
Thank you so much, Annette. Lavenders are some of my favorite plants, so I'm very grateful they grow well here. I would love to see your book; where is it available?
Winter can vary drastically across Arizona, so I'm learning what it's like here: a few frosty nights every week at present, though I know the temperatures can drop quite a bit further. It will warm back up during the day, however. Big temperature swings between night and day are typical because of the low humidity. It will take some learning to plant for this! But that is what desert gardening is all about--definitely an adventure! ;-) Warm greetings!
When I was in Namaqualand seeing all those varied succulent made me want to create a desert garden. All those amazing shapes and textures! My book will be out next month, only in German I'm afraid so not much good to you. It'll be available on Amazon and in all bookshops. Maybe you can do a post one day which features the landscape around you - I'm so curious :)
I don't know Lavender dentata, and L. stoechas is only sold as a summer container plant here. Your little vase is ideal for showing off a handful of small flowers. Wonderful to have so many in January too! When do you think your last possible frost will be? Ours is the end of May!
Thank you, Cathy! The average date for last frost seems to be mid-April here, but I suspect it varies wildly year-to-year. All reports say winters are usually quite mild, but occasionally drop well below freezing. It will take some learning! I am planting some English lavender seeds too so as to have some hardier types.
I love the carnations, Amy. My neighbour and I were commenting on the wonderful scent from my garden one day, and assuming it was the two large rose bushes. Then we realised it was from a tiny carnation plant!I hope they all grow and bloom and bring you great joy!
Thank you, Lynda. That carnation filled the truck and then the back patio with its fragrance as soon as I brought it home. I can imagine it would easily be equal to two rose bushes! Hopefully it will prove good to grow here. Fingers crossed anyway!
I particularly like the pink shades in your vase today and I am pleased to read that you were able to track down some of that useful lavender locally. It really is a voyage of discovery seeing what wil grow in your garden and how it resoinds to your local weather. Have you and your sister got separate parts of the garden to work in, or does she just focus on pots?
Thank you, Cathy. Yes, gardening is always an adventure, especially when beginning in a new spot. My sis was starting to plant on the north side of the house, where there is a sheltered area, but we're discussing whether it's really going to be a more challenging microclimate than we thought. Her containers are out on the main east-facing patio. At some point I need to make a map of the planting areas!
I love the Eremophila! I've had limited success with plants in this genus for reasons I can't explain but I'm ready to try another if I can find my own 'Outback Cupid'. I'm glad you found some plants to add cheer to your January garden. I've had a Lavandula dentata in my north-side dry garden for years and it's one tough plant. It blooms almost year-round. My only problem with it is that it got too big for its spot. I cut it back harder than is advisable about a month ago and, while it's soldiering on, it no longer looks its best so I may try starting it again from cuttings. You're right that it's very hard to find in garden centers.
It's curious because I didn't meet a single Eremophila that didn't grow well in Phoenix. They seemed to thrive in full desert conditions. I'm seeing different reports on how cold hardy they are, but I'm going to give them a good try as it seems likely these will be hardy at least to USDA Z9a.
You're so right about the size of Lavendula dentata. I was laughing at the tag when I read it's supposed to get 18-24 inches tall and about 18 inches wide. I've planted mine for about a three foot spread as that's what I remember and this one shows no signs of being a dwarf or even a particularly compact selection.
I hope yours bounces back from the trimming. They do get woody and difficult, don't they?!