Saturday, July 24, 2010

Tropical look landscape in North Silver Spring (Zone 7)

This was planted two years ago and it's coming along nicely. The Banana 'Basjoo' is thriving on this sheltered site. Two Needle Palms, Rhapidophyllum hystrix, are doing well but coming on slowly (one is visible just below the lowest banana leaf). The Crocosmia adds hot colored flowers and Ferns, Mahonias, Callas, and Hostas add lushness and textural diversity.The low shrub at the far right beside the patio is Gardenia 'Chuck Hayes'. In the background a grapevine clambering over a strong 4x4 timber structure screens while it contributes to the atmosphere. I didn't photograph a large clump of Hedychium 'Elizabeth' because the heat (98F at 11:00am) had it drooping. It's coming in nicely as it's gone from 3? shoots two years ago to more than a dozen now. My sons built the pergola but not the patio. I hope that in the future they will be able to take as much satisfaction as I do from revisiting jobs they've installed, or in my case designed!

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