Teeth, seeds, and stripes for Foliage Follow-Up

October 16, 2012


To celebrate foliage on the day after Bloom Day, I’m leading with one of my favorite agaves, ‘Whale’s Tongue’ (Agave ovatifolia). This is a small, new one I planted in the garden I share with my neighbor. Its red teeth echo the red of the Autumn sage (Salvia greggii) flowering in the foreground.


Seedheads are fair game for Foliage Follow-Up too since they aren’t technically flowers anymore. The garlic chives (Allium tuberosum) have all gone to seed, and after I took this photo I cut their heads off to save the seeds and keep them from germinating willy-nilly in my decomposed-granite path.


Stripes and bold yellow color make ‘Color Guard’ yucca a standout in a foliage garden.


Olive green spineless prickly pear (Opuntia) echoes the yucca’s green stripe but offers a contrasting shape.

Join me in posting about your lovely leaves of October for Foliage Follow-Up, a way to remind ourselves of the importance of foliage in the garden. Leave your link to your Foliage Follow-Up post in a comment. I really appreciate it if you’ll also include a link to this post in your own post (sharing link love!). If you can’t post so soon after Bloom Day, no worries. Just leave your link when you get to it.

All material © 2006-2012 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

17 responses to “Teeth, seeds, and stripes for Foliage Follow-Up”

  1. Michael says:

    Hey Pam, gosh i almost forgot 🙂

    here is my foliage follow up for the month 😀

    http://my-patch-of-heaven.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/foliage-follow-up-october.html i hope you enjoy it 🙂

  2. Tina says:

    I enjoy your ‘Color Guard’ yucca–I haven’t been successful with that plant and I especially like the photo of the seed heads of the garlic chives. Here’s my contribution for Foliage Follow-Up: http://mygardenersays.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/native-texas-plant-week-and-foliage-follow-up-october-2012/

  3. Outlaw/Peter says:

    Great foliage as always Pam! I especially like the contrast of your opunta with the Yucca ‘Color Guard.’ Here’s my foliage follow up: http://www.outlawgarden.blogspot.com/2012/10/foliage-follow-up-october-2012.html Happy October everyone!

  4. Wow Pam, that wide shot of your front garden looks great. Everything has really filled out!

    It’s all about the fall color over at danger garden this month! http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2012/10/color-up-for-foliage-follow-up.html

  5. Hi, from just below your Tucson hotel room! I wish I had waited to just post this one from here…talk about foliage porn. But anyway, I like your post on it; I think you hath nailed it with them there color guard yuccers.

    My post – http://desertedge.blogspot.com/2012/10/foliage-follow-up-102012.html

  6. Pam I love the blue green color of your garden…gorgeous desert like foliage that fits perfectly in your climate. That Yucca certainly stands out and contrasts beautifully. My garlic chives have not quite gone completely to seed yet. In a few weeks and then I will also save them or they will spread like crazy.

    Here is my post for the Follow-Up:

    http://gardenseyeview.com/2012/10/15/as-the-blooms-fade/

  7. Alison says:

    Love that Whale’s Tongue with the red Salvia flowers. That’s a contrast I never would have thought of. My post is here: http://bonneylassie.blogspot.com/2012/10/foliage-followup-october-2012.html

  8. Denise says:

    The garden under the oaks is gorgeous. The Euphorb rigida and the yuccas are perfect together, then the broad paddles of opuntia too. Love it, Pam!

    http://agrowingobsession.com/?p=34105

  9. Jason says:

    Never heard of Whale’s Tongue – very nice! And the Yuccas are really striking. My foliage follow up is about my serviceberries.

    http://gardeninacity.wordpress.com/2012/10/16/autumn-brilliance-indeed/

  10. I can’t believe how much (and how beautifully) your big bed under the oaks has filled in! I love ‘Color Guard’ – I see I need a few more to go with my lone representative!

    http://mulchmaid.blogspot.com/2012/10/october-foliage-follow-up-in-northwest.html

  11. ricki says:

    The color Guard against the opuntia is a dynamite combo. Here’s my contribution: http://bannersbyricki.com/archives/2587
    and thanks, as always.

  12. I can see why the Agave is a favorite–not only is the shape fascinating and unique, but the color is also beautiful! I love the view up the path to the house! My foliage follow-up: http://plantpostings.blogspot.com/2012/10/strange-tales-of-sun-sports-and.html And thank you!

  13. Frances says:

    Your foliage is legendary, Pam. Color Guard is a stand out in my garden thanks to you. I would never have given Yucca a chance before. Thanks!

    Love October Foliage Day

  14. Les says:

    We installed a compass garden made from violas and different brassicas today at work. It lacked something to hold it together in the center, so I put in 5 closely spaced Color Guards. They were perfect.

  15. louis says:

    Hey pam! thanks for hosting. my follow-up is late but I thought I would include it anyways. I LOOOOVE your yuccas and agave. Keep the poky dreams alive!

    http://parallel49palms.blogspot.ca/2012/10/fall-shmall-foliage-follow-up.html

  16. I love your ‘Color Guard’ yucca spotted on the hill! Allium tuberosum is one of my favorites also for the fall. I am encouraging it to seed everywhere at the moment.

    my post: http://wifemothergardener.blogspot.com/2012/10/fall-foliage-in-pennsylvania.html

    Thanks for hosting!

  17. Scott Weber says:

    I’m so lame, Pam…beter late than never, right?
    http://www.rhonestreetgardens.com/2012/10/foliage-follow-up-october-2012.html

    Love the Garlic Chive seedheads…I’m never strong enough to dead-head them!