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Wednesday 1 December 2010

The strength of GRAY in your garden !

This plant has been in my garden a few years .. every year I KNOW what it is after I go through a migraine trying to remember it's name .. I'm sure it is a "veronica" and some how "incarnata" keeps attaching itself to it but I haven't been able to nail it yet .. so , this is the foliage and the candle structured flowers are a beautiful violet blue .. if anyone can identify it for me so my brain cells don't explode over this yearly frustration .. I would appreciate it VERY much !!

All of these pictures were taken just two days ago .. one of our sunny clear NO snow yet days;-)
It was "cool" so this furry Lamb's Ear was looking cozy to me .. it does look soft and appealing !
Gray + "fur" means a tough , "sock it to me and I'll still smile attcha' type of garden plant.
Veering off absolute gray for one moment, with my fantastic purple sage (could substitute for gray in a pinch) is simply amazing .. but I knew that anyways ... wink wink
Fresh and gorgeous at the end of November .. now that is a beauty !
This little beetle thinks it is the best plant to hang out with too !!
Then back to gray and a little fuzzy .. Nanho Blue buddleia .. still putting out new growth, which is kind of scary .. I do worry for it .. but it has stuck it out in my garden for a few years .. so I think it will be just fine .. fingers crossed !
Gray can be a beautiful colour in your garden, especially when most of it is beige and brown ?
This little sedum is one tough customer too .. first year .. placed in a "hell strip" hot , dry, horrible place and it is thriving : )
OK .. I couldn't help this one .. a few bad jokes but we need a sense of humor right now .. right ?
The flower heads literally glow for the camera !
Hey .. we have either "been there, done that, or seen that !" .. Hameln Fountain grass is DONE for the season .. but it still serves for a few giggles now ?
Hang in there kids from the north who get down time now for a few months .. this too shall pass !
Mean while back at the farm ... the seed/plant catalogs keep us COMPANY !!

12 comments:

tina said...

I think the jokes most cute! It sure helps to bring a chuckle or two during the winter. Love the 'tall blond lady'.

Gatsbys Gardens said...

Joy, I think you are right, gray is a good color in the garden. I have some sage, but little else that is gray, need to think of this for next year! I have only received one garden catalog so far.

Eileen

Unknown said...

Gray foliage is so cool in the garden. The contrasting color can a make for some very interesting displays. There is a palm with huge gray fronds called Bismarkia. I have this burning desire to design a garden or a building approach with giant gray Bismarkias and some burgundy colored foliage plant as an understory, maybe Ti plants (Cordiline) that would be so cool I think. Anyways thanks for the nice photos.

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hi Tina girl .. looking out at my VERY gray view here (it rained slushy snow this afternoon .. now that is gray on gray).. I SO NEED some HUMOR here is RIGHT ! wink wink

Hello Eileen girl .. gray plants really are tough ones and put up with a lot .. plus that foil against strongly coloured plants calms them down I find : ) Hey ? just one catalog so far ?? LOL

Hello rees : ) I think your design would be stunning .. there are so many ways to approach colour and structure with plants .. the only thing holding us back are climate zones .. hum ? maybe funding and space are issues too ? hehe
Thanks for dropping by !

Rose said...

I love that purple sage! It makes me just want to reach out and touch those leaves. Seeing your "tall blondes" reminds me I need to make a hair appointment:)

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello Rose girl : ) Yup ! sage is so interesting with that texture and the colours.. I couldn't have a garden without it in patches scattered around .. hey .. I need an appointment too ! haha

Anonymous said...

Gray is a great color for the garden in any season, but I love it at this time of the year especially. You have some great choices in your garden. :)

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello there Racquel girl and thank you : ) Right now it is unbelievably GREEN out there in my garden .. I can't believe my eyes in fact and this is December !!! hehe

Northern Beauty Seeker said...

Your tall blonde does seem to have a "glow on". Tis the season...Lol!

I certainly appreciate the subtler colours now, like the greys and soft greens. Very pretty. :)

Anonymous said...

Gray, huh? I would never think of using gray. I'm so about bright colors, that I can't seem to make adjustments for the lack thereof when flower season turns drab. I'll give it some thought!

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello Ms S and thank you !
The subtle colours seem to come into their "own" with the rest of the garden down for the season .. gray coloured plants are usually tough customers so they last the longest .. it isn't for everyone but I seem to zone in on them : )

Robin girl I really KNOW you are all about COLOUR girl ! LOL .. Hey you haven't caught any sunsets lately have you ? It has been tough trying to wring some colour from this winter sky eh ? .. and give it a wee bit of thought on the gray .. you might just be surprised !

CanadianGardenJoy said...

Hello Ms S and thank you !
The subtle colours seem to come into their "own" with the rest of the garden down for the season .. gray coloured plants are usually tough customers so they last the longest .. it isn't for everyone but I seem to zone in on them : )

Robin girl I really KNOW you are all about COLOUR girl ! LOL .. Hey you haven't caught any sunsets lately have you ? It has been tough trying to wring some colour from this winter sky eh ? .. and give it a wee bit of thought on the gray .. you might just be surprised !