A Reliable Stunner : Coleus

What plant likes sun or shade - is Fast Growing - Easy to Grow - Adds a visual POP to planters or beds?

the answer  :  Coleus
(Solenostemon scutellarioides )

'Sedona' Coleus - Planting by Melanie Granger

Coleus is a versatile foliage plant that is always at your service, no special requirements other than water and maybe a little pinching as the season progresses... and it thrives in part shade!

What's not to love?

It is an exuberant houseplant, a summertime dazzler and a fabuloso filler plant suitable for any and all applications...

It looks especially wonderful in pots. Place several together like this:

Inky Fingers Coleus, Chartreuse Sweet Potato Vine and others - by Melanie Granger

or in a low, wide mouth planter with ferns:

Or you can plant it in shady plant bed alongside the perennial Ladies Mantle ( alchemilla mollis):

Alabama Sunset Coleus with Ladies Mantle

Or you plant it beneath larger plants - as I did below with a weeping blue atlas cedar.

Coleus sports a wide range of leaf types, colors, and color patterns....Below is one of my faves - Coleus 'Kiwi Fern' - same leaf type as 'Inky Fingers' shown above.

Coleus Kiwi fern - courtesy HMA plants

Coleus plants are tender perennials. They do best in temperatures above 55 degrees F. And remember to pinch off the Flower buds as soon as they develop so they keep producing beautiful leaves......

I love the pink leaf varieties. They make a  luscious blend:

My favorite pink coleus is Pink Chaos. This 18 inch high plant has long weeping leaves of iridescent pink, mint green and cream. It can tolerate some sun although a location with morning sun and afternoon shade is best.

Look at Proven Winners website for more info

I planted it in a flower bed along with double impatiens, angelonia, euphorbia 'Diamond Frost':

Jan Johnsen  - Design

and it looks great in pots with grasses and flowers as well (photo from Proven Winners) :

There are so many types of coleus that you can plant a vibrant coleus garden in a rainbow of colors in that shady corner of yours....a great site to see photos of many coleus varieties is HMAplants.

Amazing Color in a Longwood Garden - lavender, purple, and more

Those of us who love color (me! me!) can’t resist the urge to include all the hues on the color wheel in their garden.

 

wow - look at that picnic table! at Stone Meadow Kennel...love it.

 

Color certainly adds a dramatic punch to a garden

but it can also result in a visual cacophony. 

 

 

courtesy : Timber Press

 

Longwood Gardens, in Kennett Square, Pa addressed this dilemma in their 600 foot long ‘Flower Garden Walk’. 

 

Along this broad brick walk is a mix of annual and perennial flowers, spring bulbs, woody shrubs and ornamental grasses showcasing one individual color followed by another. 

 

As you stroll, you experience the full impact of each color of the rainbow, one at a time. 

 

At the start is a grand sweep of lavender, purple and blue

courtesy: historicfloralgardens.blogspot 

 

which melds into soft pinks and reds then changes to oranges and warm yellows,

 

 

Ultimately ending in white.

 

Some of the plants in this garden :

• butterfly-bush 
• Golden oriental arborvitae,
•  panicle hydrangea (Hydrangea paniculata 'Unique'),
• purple smoke-bush (Cotinus coggygria 'Velvet Cloak'),

plus thousands of ever-changing bulbs, annuals, biennials and perennials from April through October.

This fun approach can be used in any garden –

a long curving flower bed can begin with white wax begonias extending through pink ones and ending with red begonias.

For a great 'color in your garden' book look at this one and be sure ot check out another great review by Allen Becker- garden Guru on this page:



Stars of a Fall Garden - Fountain Grasses - Red Head, 'Prince', 'Princess' and Karley Rose

Sedum, Salvia and Dwarf Pennisetum

In fall, fountain grasses are a stand out.

And there are so many to choose from!

Fountain grass (Pennisetum sp.) is a graceful, DEER RESISTANT and sun loving ornamental grass with feathery plumes that persist into fall.

Its relatively small size makes it a great plant for containers, rock gardens, borders, massing or as a specimen.     Once established, they tolerate heat, humidity and full sun.

Johnsen Landscapes & Pools

Of course with all this wonderfulness there is a down side - certain fountain grasses are considered invasive, not all, but some.

 There is a lot of discussion on which varieties are invasive with people saying,  'This species is OK but that one isn't'. 

Some people, to be safe, don't buy any. I would counsel you to look in your area to see which ones are no nos.

Nonetheless, the dwarf fountain grass is a must for a sunny fall garden. Greenwood Nursery describes why this is so:

"Strolling in the garden in the fall and early winter,

after the grasses turn their great yellow fall color,

there is a calming effect when the slight winter breezes

create a gentle rustle in the spent grasses."

Here are some fountain grasses that make for a spectacular autumn landscape:

Pennisetum alopecuroides 'Red Head'

from Great Garden Plants website

 
A early-blooming cultivar of hardy fountain grass, Red Head begins blooming at summer's end and continues into late fall.

The plants grow to 3 - 4 feet high and wide which is a great size for a border or as a specimen.


 They have deep purple buds that mature to long lasting smoky-purple plumes, fully 8 inches long. And like all hardy Pennisetums, the blooms dry on the plant and make nice winter accents, catching the falling snow and rustling in the breeze. Zones 5-9. 

Prune back in early spring.

Looks great with Feather Reed Grass, Blue Mist Shrub (Caryopteris), Asters, Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), Oriental Lily (Lilium ), Sedum and annual flowers.

Pennisetum purpureum  'Princess Molly' PPAF (Princess Molly Dwarf Fountain Grass)

This warm season pennisetum hybrid, from Dr. Wayne Hannah at the University of Georgia, is a dwarf plant that grows only 14 -20" tall with unique foliage.

The olive green leaves are bordered with purple, and highlighted with a dark black-purple stripe down the leaf center. Pennisetum 'Molly' is a great red purple accent plant for the summer and fall garden. It works well in smaller landscapes. Plants will not flower except in total frost-free areas. ANNUAL except in Zones: 8-10

'Prince' Pennisetum purpureum (USPP18,509)

from Proven Winners website

Another warm season ornamental grass is the semi dwarf 'Prince' Pennisetum which showcases purple foliage that intensifies in summer heat. At 5- 6 ft tall, it is the perfect highlight in the back of a border or large container.

ANNUAL except in zones 8 - 11

 

Pennisetum purpureum Princess (PP 17,728)

The warm season fountain grass 'Princess' does not bloom but its deep purple foliage is stunning in combination with summer-blooming perennials. It is 2' - 3' tall. Plant it in a mixed border with asters and hardy mums to finish the season with a flourish. 

A Proven Winners® variety. ANNUAL except in in Zones 8-11

Pennisetum orientale Karley Rose

Oriental fountain grass is a hardy, small bunch grass with a beautiful inflorescence that is unusually long lasting. 

Pennisetum 'Karley Rose' is 24" to 36" tall and provides 5 months of color, texture, motion in a sunny site.

 The heavy rose-pink blooms literally glow when lit from behind by early morning or late afternoon sun.

The pink flowers make perfect companion to Coneflowers, Knock Out Roses and Sedums. This fountain grass is not invasive and self-seeds only sparingly in the garden. 

Zones 5 - 9. Prune back in early spring.

DAFFODIL PLANTING - Remembrance of 9/11/01 by a Community in New York

There is no more fitting to place to honor and remember those that were lost than in a garden....

it reminds us that 
life goes on, in all Nature's wondrous 
forms...

I Heard an Angel

by William Blake

I heard an Angel singing

When the day was springing,

"Mercy, Pity, Peace

Is the world's release."

 

 

Eleven years ago I suggested to my village, Croton on Hudson, NY, that we plant daffodils to commemorate those who perished on September 11, 2001. 

And so every year the people of Croton of all ages come out and plant daffodils in public areas. 

 

Daffodil Planting

Village of Croton-on-Hudson

The Croton Conservation Advisory Council invites you to join 
the 11thannual Daffodil planting 

on October 13, 2012 
at DUCK POND, Croton..

9am to 12 pm. Rain or shine

INTERIOR DESIGNE : A FASCINATING HOBBY AND AN EXCITING CARRIER

100 DECORATING IDEAS

BIG IDEAS FOR SMALL ROOMS

INTERIOR DESIGN : A FASCINATING HOBBY AND AN EXCITING CARRIER. 

Interior design is an exciting career, and it is also a fascinating avocation, providing a lifetime of personal, aesthetic, and intellectual fulfi llment. A single issue of a cutting-edge residential design magazine recently demonstrated that even those who do not practice interior design as a profession often create interiors worthy of recognition and publication. The magazine’s colored pages featured the work of architects and designers, along with the designs of an illustrator, an account executive, an inventor, a hotel owner, a clothing fabricator, a law student, a housewares retailer, a writer, a contractor, and others. Anyone with a keen interest can become knowledgeable about design and can create interiors of charm and style. Being involved in interior design is a rewarding pursuit that broadens intellectual horizons and deepens aesthetic sensitivity. Interior design is vital, vibrant, and dynamic; it is never static.

 As the world changes, life also changes and design keeps pace. An interior design will never really be “fi nished,” because as life changes, so do we. Styles evolve, our outlook changes, the composition of our families and households alters, careers shift, and our designs adjust to life’s ebb and fl ow. What an exciting thing it is to be fl uent in the language of design, to know the historic roots of the design language, and to understand the new expressions of the language all around us. It is even more exciting to be able to speak the language of design by creating our own interiors. It is truly a rewarding lifelong avocation that is within the reach of all who are willing to invest the time and effort.

In above picture the well-planned space features light, lovely colors and simple, handsome furnishings that give these connecting dining and living rooms a sense of openness and cleanliness. Modest, organized spaces meets the needs of the users or encourages people to enjoy the space and the company of those who share it with them. Design by Hutker Architects/photo © Brian Vanden Brink.

LANGUAGE OF DESIGN.

The late design educator Sherrill Whiton compared studying interior design to learning a foreign language. If the vocabulary and the grammar of a language are mastered, we can adequately express ourselves. Interior design has a vocabulary of materials, styles, forms, details, light, colors, patterns, textures, lines, and mass. The grammar can be compared to design principles of balance, rhythm, emphasis, scale, proportion, unity, variety, and harmony. In the same way that we select words to form sentences according to rules of grammar, we use elements of design to create interiors according to established principles. Like master writers who manipulate the language in interesting new ways, talented designers often break with established rules and expectations to create new trends and tastes.

Interior design can be observed and evaluated in places where we shop, worship, do business, or obtain services such as dining in restaurants. At the Oliver and Bonacini Café & Grill, a contemporary patio space has been added to the existing structure where natural lighting is enjoyed through retractable textile membrane vaults overhead and through commercial French doors. Furniture placement allows many diners to enjoy this sunny space, accessorized with tree trunks and large planters of greenery. Design by Anacleto

Design Associates/photo courtesy of Eventscape, Inc.

Residential and Contract Interior Design :

Although the focus of our interest in interior design is often personal, it certainly need not be limited to our personal home environment. Lifestyles today often dictate that we spend many of our waking hours in working situations, shopping, and dealing with various types of business services. We also spend time eating out, traveling, and staying in hotels. These contract environments should be as well planned as the home environment. The focus of Interiors: An Introduction is general. The concepts discussed apply to both residential and contract interiors. In cases where certain considerations do not apply equally to homes, separate sections with contract considerations are included in the chapters.

What we learn about interior design applies to the places where we shop, eat, stay, or receive public or professional services. After studying interior design, we will view all these places with new eyes. When they function well and are creatively developed, we will feel good about being there. Armed with a new awareness of design, we become amateur critics. Even though we may keep our critiques to ourselves, we find our appreciation and enjoyment increasing with each fresh exposure to design.

In picture above the space was designed to house the objects and furnishings of personal value that are unlike any other home elsewhere. The result is a home that gives its owners a sense of well-being, comfort, and familiarity, as well as good design. Design by McMillan Architects/photo © Brian Vanden Brink