I was totally lazy today and did absolutely nothing in the garden today... except take some photos. The other day, I posted a photo of the Blue Pickerel. Here's the Pink one (which isn't very pink at all... but no complaints). Pink Pickerel ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And two recent purchases. A Kangaroo Paw... didn't know it bloomed! Kangaroo Paw blooms ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) And I got myself this Bottlebrush for Easter. I love how the ends look like fiber-optics. bottlebrush - close ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden ) bottlebrush - new ( photo / image / picture from cherylad's Garden )
I love days when I can just wander around the garden taking photos then get them ready to post and post them. Very productive day to my mind. I had a couple of Kangaroo Paw plants last year but the heat did them in before they had a chance to bloom. How big will the Bottle Brush get?
Thanks Toni... you made me feel better about being lazy today. I love the Kangaroo Paw... everyone who sees it says "what's that?" I'm keeping it in a container even though it "may" be hardy for my zone. My brother had a Bottlebrush in front of their house that reached almost to the eaves! And I've read that they will only get around 2 foot tall. I guess it depends on where they are growing? I 'd be happy if this one got about 5 foot tall and I could keep it pruned to stay that size. Thanks Michael and Deanna!
I have to admit to being a tad jealous of your Bottlebrush Cheryl. I had a beautiful one in my garden but, sadly, our Scottish winters killed it off. I wish I could grow something as exotic as your Kangaroo Paw as it's so unusual and would be a great talking point in the garden.
Kangaroo Paw A few yrs. ago Home Depot had tons of these. Good looking plant. Only problem is that after reading up on the cultural requirements our climate was fatal for it. High humidity and lots of rain. Never tried it.
All of those look quite nice, Cheryl. I have seen those last two growing wild in Australia. They look really good in your garden.
Real nice, Cheryl. I didn't know kangaroo paws grew here. We used them in the flowershop a lot, but I never thought about them being grown here. I think all of ours were imported from S. America. The bottle brush is a very interesting plant, too.
Thank you Sjoerd and Carolyn. For some reason Lowes has had racks and racks of the Kangaroo Paw this year. I got mine from the mark-down rack. I figured it was because they weren't selling. Then the other day... they had gotten more in! I really don't think it'll survive even our zone 9A winter temps, so it will stay in a container. I'm really liking the bottlebrush. The guy at the nursery told me to dead-head it to get more blooms. Seems to be working.
Hi Cheryl, three very impressive blooms,..but the Kangaroo Paw and the Bottlebrush are so eyecatching. About the reading that the Bottlebrush only grows to 2 Ft when your brothers reached the eaves,..it makes you think twice about some of the information on the net being accurate,..and even if accurate at the time of print,..our weather has changed so have our blooms.
