Saturday, February 18, 2012

Planning the garden

Late winter and time to plan this year's garden. I will be trying some new ones this year.
Here are some that I grew last year. Most are available, but some are limited.

Valerie is a heavy-blooming red with purple-green leaves. Strong grower; I was very pleased with this one.
About 5 feet.


Alyse is white with more serrated, pointed petals than Ermine. Bloomed heavily (about 4-5 feet).

Here is Ermine (a little bit taller).


Bejeweled was a very showy cultivar; it really stood out in the garden. (About 4-5 feet.)

Thai Sunray is a tall canna (over 6 ft.) very boldly colored. A beauty, but it needs a background location. Very large heads; blooms freely and is quite sunfast.


Strawberry Delight is a fantastic canna. Heavy blooming, striking color, large blooms. It will be limited.


Belinda continues to be a favorite. Heavy blooming; about 5-6 feet.


Cheyenne is a beautiful apricot (deep) that starts blooming early(5-6 feet).

Pink Futurity has wonderful paddle-shaped leaves (about 3-4 feet tall). It blooms a little later than some.


Henry Cuban put on quite a show last year. This picture was taken on October 11. The color can vary from season to season; it is not quite so dark and orangish as the picture. Leaves are very dark; a nice contrast in the garden (about 4-5 feet). To the right, one can see the unusual leaves of Alberich.


I will have limited quantities of Lunar Light, a yellow about 5 feet tall.


The President is a classic (about 4-5 feet) that never fails to satisfy.


Hotsie Totsie is a wonderful bloomer, with huge heads (shorter at about 3 feet). Luxuriant leaves.



Hope (about 5-6 ft.) is a reliable deep pink; beautiful darker leaves as well.


Aida has very large salmon flower heads (4-5 feet).


Watermelon Blue is heavy blooming, varying in color from rose to salmon, about 6 feet tall. Good grower. Nice blue-green leaves.

La Belle Dame sans Merci has purple overcast leaves with a glowing magenta bloom (about 4-5 feet).



Kismet (about 5 ft.) has deep reddish blooms with quite dark foliage.


Red Futurity (about 4-5 ft.) has an open bright red bloom with very dark foliage.


Alberich bloomed heavily last year. Its leaves are crinkled and a bit twisted (about 4-5 feet). Was lovely yet in October. 


Here are Tropicana and Bengal Tiger. They would be marvelous even without their orangish blooms. Bloom in background is Red Futurity.



Polly Gay is a new red one. It is limited.

Black Knight (about 5 ft.) Velvety red.

Candles is a soft apricot (not a large flower, but very attractive). About 4-5 feet. Lovely contrast with foliage.


Here is one of the gardens on July 23. In foreground is Bejeweled. Thai Sunray towers in back. To left of Bejeweled is Hope, then Belinda. Yellow is Lunar Light. To right is Strawberry Delight. Red next to Thai Sunray is Australia, which has probably the darkest leaves of any canna (lance-like).


Pink Sunburst is only 2-3 feet tall. Beautiful leaves (sun really caught the colors here). Blooms appear larger because of angle of shot.

Here is Bengal Tiger in bloom. To the left of it is blooming Red Futurity and in the back is the dark-leaved Australia, which has a bright red bloom that is not visible here.


Tropical Cocktail has orange-pink blooms with olive foliage. It was a steady bloomer last year. (About 5 feet tall.)


Natalie is a soft yellow that bloomed heavily. About 4 feet tall last year.