Foliage

[Deleted]

More times than most and especially in the last ten years or more, I have become drawn more and more to the foliage of a plant . Showy blooms are nice yes. But give me a lovely variegated plant or one with unusual texture,shape and color to the foliage and I will positively swoon with delight over it.Incorporated into the landscape aesthetically they can transform the dullest little corner into a showy delight. I am particularly drawn to variegation as in the second picture.
Here's a couple of pics of some different types of foliage.

[bixaorellana]

Absolutely gorgeous pictures. I have an agave like the one in the top picture, but not so beautifully mature.

What is that second, absolutely elegant thing?

I've been enamored of foliage for years, as the subtlety and/or variation is endless. Ever since I read a comment of John Brooks that herb gardens are "dowdy", I've been off him, as I feel that's a trite and unimaginative way of looking at the non flowering garden.

[Deleted]

Thanks Bixa,the second picture is of a variegated Crinum,it was huge. I have one, however, has never really performed for me which is unheard of for a crinum in these parts.
Yes,the agave is quite nice,it also was huge. (These were taken in Miami Beach).
Years ago, someone visited my garden and some time afterward, told me that she was disappointed by the lack of flowers,I guess she meant blooms.My garden has layers and layers of different heights,colors and textures of foliage and yes,blooms, but, not all at the same time or big showy bursts of color.

Some people really just don't get it, I'm afraid.
The writer and plantsman Rob Procter out of Denver, Colorado has written some brilliant pieces on the topic.

[bjd]

I remember wandering around a plant nursery with a friend a few years ago. She was looking for plants for her large garden and kept looking at leaves (or foliage, if you prefer). When I asked why, she said "flowers are nice, but they don't last. I want plants that will look nice even when they stop blooming."

[bixaorellana]

Well, you know I venerate Rob Procter.

Any appreciation of nature involves appreciation of the subtle as well as the grand, something all true gardeners "get". When you hear a comment such as that made by the person "disappointed" by Casimira's (fabulous!) garden, you wonder what they see, to miss so much. It's a lack of truly seeing that's depressing.

In Casimira's recent, wonderful (and scantily commented-upon ) report on the Miami Beach Botanical garden, you of course can see showy blooms. But overall, it's the interplay of color, texture, and levels provided by the foliage that creates the real impact.
anyportinastorm.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=pictures&thread=4207&page=1#83036

Bjd, I would love to visit that friend's garden!

[Jazz]

Beautiful photos, Casimira. I am drawn to the first one, with the tiny detail of droplets of water. Quite simply, I love it ‘all’, blooms and foliage. Because of the dense shade that I am now dealing with, I am paying much more attention to leaves and have become fascinated by their colors, textures, shapes and sizes. An incredible exploration of a world that I had paid scant attention to. Robert Dash, in Notes from Madoo writes eloquently about leaves and the incredible palette of greens. It is such a great book. His painter’s eye and eloquence have revealed so much to me about creating a beautiful oasis.
Count me in as a foliage fan.

you, bjd, and bixa must have better cameras than I do...can never seem to achieve the detail and sharpness that you all do in your photos....maybe its me.

[bixaorellana]

Jazz, I have a cheapo camera and unsteady hands, but I can give you one easy tip to get better close-ups:

Step back!

That's right. Many cameras won't capture a good image at less than a couple of feet. Just get further away, make sure the subject is in the cross-hairs, then snap. Afterward, some judicious cropping & maybe fine-tuning the contrast will make it look as though you upgraded your camera.

[Deleted]

The stepping back hint is excellent advice,one I learned from trial and error. I know nothing of the other,how to crop or any altering after importing and uploading. My camera is no great shakes,a 8 mp. I tried out my friends Canon Rebel while in Miami and fell in love with it.
I'm going to pull out my Rob Procter book on Foliage and get some snippets out for us. He is so brilliant and a fabulous photographer as well.
I learned a lot from Dash over the years as well Jazz. He has such a keen eye for color and texture and LIGHT,being a painter as well.

[Jazz]

Jul 7, 2010 20:11:18 GMT bixaorellana said:

Jazz, I have a cheapo camera and unsteady hands, but I can give you one easy tip to get better close-ups:

Step back!

That's right. Many cameras won't capture a good image at less than a couple of feet. Just get further away, make sure the subject is in the cross-hairs, then snap. Afterward, some judicious cropping & maybe fine-tuning the contrast will make it look as though you upgraded your camera.

mmm. I don't want to derail this lovely thread and perhaps will post more on Tech Support and Advice thread. The only thing I have done so far is crop, will try the contrast. Certainly, my photos at this moment are not as good.

I've never head of Rob Procter and will research him. I would love to read snippets and see his photos.

[bjd]

Another option for close-ups is a camera with a macro function.

[Deleted]

Good tip,thanks BJD.

One of my all time favorite foliage plants is Artemisia,there are many varieties of this wonderful herbaceous ornamental,and the aroma from the leaves is heavenly.Strategically woven into a border of flowers and other varying types of foliage of different hues and heights
it's a wonderful plant.
I'm quite fond of the variety,"silver queen",artemesia ludoviciana

[bixaorellana]

That last photo in particular shows how the color and texture of foliage can really oomph up other features in the garden.

This picture could go in the cacti & succulents thread, but I think it's a nice illustration of how those plump little plants work well with other garden favorites, in this case the foliage of iris and commelina.

[Kimby]

And isn't it sweet that it's pushing out a little bloom, too!

Is this an Echeveria, aka Hens and Chicks?

[bixaorellana]

Yes it is, Kimby, although I couldn't tell you which one. I used to have everything labeled, but the last move kinda killed that endeavor. It's a goal.

[Deleted]

Some more cool foliage pics taken this week while out bike riding.


a variegated Ginger. Of all the variegated plants,the yellow and green are my least favorite,however,this particular one,used in the right combination,can be quite stunning.


A variegated Hydrangea,the bloom is very understated(not shown in the pic,but,take my word for it please.)This plant is very shade tolerant,and very useful in darkish corners,or as an understory plant,shrub.Featured here,with another shade tolerant variegated plant,the lovely,variegated vinca,a useful groundcover in some areas.

[bixaorellana]

I distinctly remember the first time I ever saw that particular ginger. I went down on my knees! Still grow it, still love it.

And I know what you mean about the yellow/green variegation in general, which can sometimes look more chlorotic than ornamental.

[bixaorellana]

Here are some of my foliage combinations from my previous garden. What I like about this group of pictures is that I think they show how foliage is certainly the equal of a floral display. The glimpses of flowers enhance the foliage, rather than the other way around.

[Deleted]

Wow,Bixa,I hadn't realized how much of a variety of foliage you had incorporated into your previous garden!!! Stunning examples of how to weave into the landscape the various colors,textures and heights. The picture with the single pale,pale yellow columbine bloom peeping through, in particular,really showcases the foliage.(Personally,I love,love, the columbine leaves colors and dainty lacy look to them).
What in god's name is the name of that plant in the last picture? I can never remember. It's not a ginger as it seems to appear to be, correct?

Oh,and those 'blackie' sweet potato vines,I remember when I first saw them introduced,the dark purple you featured, and the other one,in a chartreuse,I went nuts over.!

[bixaorellana]

I just love the way that a bit of fancy foliage helps showcase other stuff we've sort of taken for granted. Pretend you didn't know anything about plants, then look at the picture with the caladium. The Swedish ivy really holds its own, doesn't it?

That last plant is a Stromanthe sanguinea. If you really want to make yourself crazy with craving, google maranta family of plants.
davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/59470/

[Deleted]

Oh,I love the Dave's Garden link that you posted,it's what my friend Carol from Georgia refers to all the time and told me about it several years ago. I use it alot.

Yes,what would be rather mundane foliage on it's own,such as the Swedish ivy,does stand out quite nicely with the Caladium nestled in there.
I would like to note,that many of these plants,for the cooler climates such as Jazz's, can be used in pots nestled under a tree in the shade,and have a dramatic effect. In the winter months can then be brought inside to a sunroom,or room with nice morning light,protected from the frigid temperatures.
When I gardened one summer up North, a few years ago,many of these semi tropical plants,I used in containers quite a bit.
Thanks for the name of that marantha,I can never somehow recite it off the tip of my tongue.
It does so resemble a ginger in many ways.

[Deleted]

I personally do not care for foliage that does not have at least a hint of green in it. It's purely personal, but green is what symbolizes plant life to me. Those grey or 100% purple leaves do not appeal to me at all. However, colorful highlights are fine.

[Kimby]

"I personally do not care for foliage that does not have at least a hint of green in it."
Is that why you changed back to the frog on the green leaf avatar?

[Deleted]

a splendid combination of color and texture.

[bixaorellana]

Perfect as a piece for piano and violin!

[betsie]

Fabulous combination, Casimira! Those hostas are still in perfect condition -you should see my hosta collection now, reduced to rags by the snails and slugs. I live in a former bog area and we have billions of snails around here, they even come in the house. I must have been mad to plant a hosta bed around the pond.

[Deleted]

Thanks guys! I wish I could take credit for having grown. These plants are in Central Park,NYC. They have an excellent,very impressive plant collection there,tended to by the Central Park Conservancy and their volunteer staff.
I could never grow hostas here that big,and yes,mine too, would be riddled by slug and snail damage.(Although,because I have so many biological controls a la toads and frogs dining on them,my slug and snail population is very minimal).
You gotta get yourself some toads in your garden Betsie!!!

[betsie]

Sept 27, 2010 9:49:45 GMT casimira said:

Thanks guys! I wish I could take credit for having grown. These plants are in Central Park,NYC. They have an excellent,very impressive plant collection there,tended to by the Central Park Conservancy and their volunteer staff.
I could never grow hostas here that big,and yes,mine too, would be riddled by slug and snail damage.(Although,because I have so many biological controls a la toads and frogs dining on them,my slug and snail population is very minimal).
You gotta get yourself some toads in your garden Betsie!!!

I'll have you know that I have a splendid frog pond full of the little beauties and toads aplenty in the compost bins. I also use organic snail pellets. This should give you some idea of how severe the snail problem is in my area.

[bixaorellana]

For what it's worth ... a thriving hosta bed will always be the glory of any garden, but it's awfully nice to have hostas in pots and no battles against the gastropod devastators.

I have a pot of hostas setting on the ledge of the porch. It's really there because of inertia, but will probably remain the way I grow hostas from now on. Looking at the besieged specimens that did get planted in the ground and comparing them to the lush, intact leaves of the ones in the pot is a pretty compelling argument for pot culture.

A nice thing about having a pot of hostas placed at least at waist level is the that the flowers are easier to appreciate and the aroma is closer to nose level.

Taken Dec. 31:

[mickthecactus]

Is that really a Hosta? None of mine have any flowers like that. Looks like a daffodil...

[bixaorellana]

Cross my heart and hope to die!

They're great big flowers, too, and beautifully scented. I have no idea of the type, as I found the plant in an abandoned garden @4 1/2 years ago. Here -- I just went out & took a couple of pictures. The bottom of the bottle is at the 6-inch mark.