Blue twilight garden
Cobalt blue may be overused in gardens, but I don’t care. It’s such a lovely color to complement the green plants, and it’s so cooling in Austin’s hot climate. Add a little turquoise and robin’s-egg blue to the mix, and it’s even better.
I added more blue, plus a pop of complementary fuchsia, to the blue stucco accent wall this spring. A new blue pot atop the wall, planted with magenta-flowered ice plant and ‘Orange Jubilee’ tecoma, replaces last year’s chartreuse pot planted with yellow-striped ‘Color Guard’ yucca (see below).
Here’s how this area looked last year. I also replaced the yellow-flowered Indian mallow (Abutilon palmeri), which grew too tall for this space, with a smaller and raspberry-flowered autumn sage (Salvia greggii).
Blue and yellow are a classic combo, but it wasn’t working in my overwhelmingly blue-accented garden. I’m enjoying blue and fuchsia (a blue-leaning pink) much more.
What do you think, Cosmo?
Cosmo’s wearing the cone of shame while a painful hot spot on his tail heals. It’s looking much better today, and I’m hopeful he’ll be out of the cone by Monday. It hasn’t kept him from enjoying his favorite things, like jumping up on the curved seat walls and taking in the view.
Another view, as the light fades
From behind the stock-tank pond you get the long view across the narrow back garden. Now that the swimming pool is finally clear again — all that live oak pollen from earlier in the spring really does a number on it, and my husband has spent hours scrubbing and cleaning (a pool, the vacation you never stop paying for) — I think this may be a first-swim weekend.
What are your garden plans this weekend?
I welcome your comments. If you’re reading this in an email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment link at the end of each post.
_______________________
Digging Deeper: News and Upcoming Events
Come see me at Festival of Flowers in San Antonio, May 28, 10:30-11:30 am. Get inspired to save water in your garden during my presentation at San Antonio’s 19th annual Festival of Flowers. I’ll be at the book-signing table after the talk, with copies of both The Water-Saving Garden and Lawn Gone! available for purchase. Tickets to the all-day festival, which includes a plant sale and exchange, speakers, and a flower show, are available at the door: $6 adults; children under 10 free. Free parking.
Do you review? Have you read my new book, The Water-Saving Garden? If you found it helpful or inspirational, please consider leaving a review — even just a sentence or two — on Amazon, Goodreads, or other sites. Online reviews are crucial in getting a book noticed. I really appreciate your help!
All material © 2006-2016 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
The blues do your garden proud, Pam. And Cosmo is photogenic whatever his attire (but I hope he gets sprung from the cone soon).
As to my weekend, I’m laying 3 cubic yards of mulch throughout the garden. Not fun but I hope it will provide my garden another level of protection as summer sets in.
Mulching is one of those un-fun tasks that makes a big difference. Hope it goes quickly, Kris. —Pam
I love the blue! It aptly demonstrates the concept in your latest book about creating the feeling of cool/water.
Is that grayish plant in the shot with Cosmos/the stock tank a purple heartleaf skullcap? I keep saying I’m going to get some but I never seem to see it at nurseries. (I’m sure I’m just walking right past it.) How much sun does it get in your garden?
Thanks as always for beautiful and inspirational photos!
Yes, it’s heartleaf skullcap. It’s a big spreader, and I’d be happy to share the next time I see you, Wendy. It seems to prefer morning sun or dappled shade. It disappears in the summer. —Pam
The blue is beautiful! I hope poor Cosmo gets out of the cone of shame soon. That way, he can enjoy your garden even more. Jumping on your excellent ways with that thing on his head seems dangerous!
I know, I can’t believe he made that jump with the cone on! —Pam
Love that raspberry salvia. Every year I plan to buy it at our Master Gardeners plant sale. But by the time members get to buy they are gone. Looks awesome in front of that blue wall. And I’m with you when it comes to cobalt in the garden
I hope you find one this year, Beth. I found this one at Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery in Cedar Park, if you’re in the vicinity. —Pam
Beautiful!
Thanks, Linda. 🙂 —Pam
That blue wall though! It makes anything pop. Love. And the twilight perspective! It would be one of my favorite times…if I didn’t get carried away by the mosquitos 🙂
It’s getting to be skeeter season, isn’t it? I think they’re going to be bad this year. —Pam
Your symphony of blues has such a calming effect…I’m inspired to invite more blue into my garden. The “cone of shame” has a kind of spacey look that goes with Cosmo’s name.
You’re right, Ricki. Too funny! —Pam