Gifts from a fellow gardener

Today at lunchtime I headed over to a fellow gardener’s house to pick up some cuttings. I love seeing other gardeners’ yards, and hers was just beautiful: meandering mounded beds full of succulents and other drought-tolerant plants, and even a relaxing water feature. Very inspiring. I wish more people would eliminate at least some of their lawns in favor of more interesting and water-saving landscaping. The best we can do is to lead by example.

I’m very happy with what S. gave me, especially since some of these plants are completely new to me.

Rock purslane (Calandrinia grandiflora). This Chilean native forms 1x3 ft. mounds and sends up 2-3 ft. stems with vibrant purple flowers. This plant is new to me, and I will put it outside the fence in the front of the house where it will get plenty of sun all year long. Hardy to 15”F or so.

Another new-to-me succulent: Oscularia deltoides, a South African member of the ice plant family. Forms dense mats that in the spring are covered with pink flowers.

This is an old friend, the jade plant (Crassula ovata). My wife wanted some cuttings to grow in the house. Our outside jade plants are still doing well.

S. also gave me a beautiful abutilon hybrid called Nabob (Abutilon x hybridum ‘Nabob’). This has the potential to grow to 10-12 ft. It will go in a sheltered spot in the back yard near our orange tree. The maroon flowers are particularly beautiful.

And finally a variegated lilyturf (Liriope muscari). I don’t know which cultivar, but it’ll go well with the ‘Silvery Sunproof’ we already have.

The spirit of sharing is very much alive among gardeners, and I will do my part to continue the tradition.