Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Black Is Back!

I don't know if you have noticed but black is the new white in the garden.  I have said many times that I do not like black in my perennial border.

I have color in my border, lots of color when everything is blooming, but not black.  The closest to black is my brown mulch.

Rainbow Knockout

Geranium Max Frei
Beautiful blooms in the spring but blooms very sparingly throughout the summer.

Sport of Geranium Max Frei
It is looser and more sprawling but I let it be where it bloomed.

Well, I have given into a certain extent and have really gone over the top this year with black in my containers.

Dahlia Mystic Illusion is the star with Phantom Petunia, black Moneywart and Tip Top Aeonium

What is that orange gerber daisy doing in the black picture?

I don't know what came into my mind but I just started buying black plants and couldn't stop.

Coleus Sedona with Black Heart Sweet PotatoVine

Black Coral Elephant Ear

Coleus Merlin's Magic
This is a ruffled coleus, can't wait to see what it looks like as it grows larger.

Geranium Bob's Blunder
This is a dark one in the border but not considered black, more of a bronze, blooms all summer into fall.

As I said, I like color in my borders and Stoplight Heucherella really stands out.

Geranium Lancastriense Striatum
This is lovely when it blooms, short cycle, put it where you won't miss it.

Geranium Karmina
I brought this one from my last home, but again it is a short cycle bloomer, leaves turn red in the fall.

Geranium Magnificum
This one was also brought from my last home, did not bloom for many years and then I moved it to a sunnier location.  It is a short cycle bloomer.

Geranium Rozanne
This is a geranium that blooms all summer into fall, getting ready right now, no blooms yet!

Geranium Blue Sunrise
I love this geranium, blooms and weaves in a lighter manner continuously throughout the summer and fall, but lost one of them and no longer carried at the nursery where I purchased them.  This is not a good sign, usually signals a plant that is not always hardy in this area.


What would we do without color as we know it?

Carefree Beauty

Clematis Henryi
I had Miss Bateman on this same trellis but I don't see it this year, think Henryi has taken over.

I think this is General Sikorski, but it seems short for this variety?

Home Run Pink
This rose is a winner so far, growing very well in my garden, gave some of the red ones that I was trialing to my daughter.  I just do not have the room for eight more roses, kept a couple of reds and two pinks.

I have this mystery plant from my neighbor's garden, about three feet tall (laying down right now) with yellow daisy like flowers.  If you know what it is please let me know!