The 'Head'

I had planned to go out in the gardens today and get some pictures of the various shrubs with good fruit for this blog. The weather didn’t exactly cooperate. I’m writing this on Tuesday and so far at 2 in the afternoon we have gone from bitter cold with wind to freezing drizzle, oh yea, there was that brief little snow fury, and later we are to get some wintery mix followed by more freezing drizzle and some sleet. Can you tell I’m just thrilled to the bone? But no sense dwelling on it too long. It will be what it will be and I really have no control though I keep trying. Pity. So instead I am going to tell you about some of our summer annuals for next year. Looking at summery plant porn always makes me feel better. Not warmer, but happier, thus making accepting what I cannot control a bit easier.

Katie and I are trying a new zinnia in ’09. Zinnia marylandica is the scientific name listed though as of yet I don’t know if that is a valid name. It comes in a series called Zahara so the one Katie is using is ‘Zahara Yellow’ and I’m using that one plus ‘Zahara Coral Rose’ and ‘Zahara Scarlet’. There is a white available as well. These are a smaller zinnia similar to the Profusion or Star series but with a larger bloom. Once established they are said to require less water. Since they are from seed they cost less too. Many companies will be offering the seed I’m sure.

Zinnia marylandica or Zahara?

Jim’s using Torenia ‘Yellow Moon’ next year. The yellow and maroon flowers are welcome addition to all the blues available in this genus. I had one in my garden at home and it performed beautifully in a mostly shady situation. It would be great in containers with some plants that picked up that maroon color in the throat.

Torenia ‘Yellow Moon

Only last week I discovered why these are called wishbone flower. If you look closely the pair of stamens is connected at the anthers making them look very much like a wishbone from a chicken or turkey.

Salvias are always an important part of our gardens so I’m interested in Geoff’s selection of Salvia hormium ‘Marble Arch Rose’.  It’s one of those plants now considered an heirloom and not used real often. At nearly 2 feet tall is would also make a good cutflower either fresh or dried.

Salvia hormium ‘Marble Arch Rose’.

I like Patty’s combo of apricot zinnias with dark burgundy ‘Black Velvet’ nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus).  Nasturtiums are beautiful for their foliage alone with those nearly round leaves and mounding habit, except for the climbers of course. And they taste so peppery.

apricot zinnias with dark burgundy ‘Black Velvet’ nasturtium

And you certainly cannot have a garden without coleus. Now don’t forget, the current scientific name for most of the coleus plants we use today is Solenostemon scutellarioides (I always forget that second i).  Chad will be using a coleus called ‘Balcenna’ being sold under the name Henna. It’s all that trademark stuff. According to the breeder it is a Simply Beautiful®, a Made for the Shade, and a Hot Summer Survivors selection. It’s kind of the Meryl Streep of coleus isn’t it? I like the great texture of the leaves but add to that the chartreuse, copper, and burgundy colors in the leaves and my, my, my. You’ve got something there.

Good old Coleus

These are just a few of the plants we will be using in 2009. Expect to see some of the very same plants that we used in 2008 also because our basement is half full of bananas, ensetes, and elephant ears. Okay that is a slight exaggeration. But if you added in all the dahlias and cannas in the root cellar I would be real close. Now, I must get back to finding some more plants. You all do the same.