Silver, gold & green ease summer's heat
Awful August ends, and I always feel like dancing a celebratory jig. But in central Texas we know that summer doesn’t truly release its hot, sticky grip until about mid-October. No matter. The arrival of September brings psychological relief, and that’s better than nothing.
Certain plants help get me through summer simply by virtue of not wilting easily or by adding a cool, silver shimmer along their green leaves. Take Jerusalem sage (Phlomis fruticosa), for example. Its nubby, green leaves are edged with eye-cooling white. Minty fresh!
Or how about a frosty pairing of ‘Powis Castle’ artemisia and ‘Sapphire Skies’ Yucca rostrata? Brrr!
‘Powis Castle’ artemisia looks iced over by frost even in the depths of summer. Give it full sun and good drainage, and watch it shine.
Fall isn’t here yet, but it’s hiding just around the corner. ‘Adagio’ miscanthus grass is beginning its fall show by displaying the first toasty browns of autumn, making a silver-and-gold combo with the artemisia.
Another look
More “gold” in the form of empty seedpods on the lyre-leaf sage (Salvia lyrata). I bet I’ll see lots of baby lyrata next spring.
The lower garden in serene green, with a punch of purple heart, as August departs not a minute too soon.
All material © 2006-2010 by Pam Penick for Digging. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.
I love the photographs. Beautiful contrast in foliage texture (Yucca/Artemisia).
Brrr indeed! I can’t tell if it’s from your chilly pictures or the fact that it’s only 66 degrees here today…
Ahhh…lovely silver leaves! That Phlomis is wondeful! I adore Powis Castle…such an easy, care-free and beautiful plant!
Powis Castle has been a favorite of mine for years. Now, since the deer don’t touch it, it’s really high on the list.
The ‘sapphire skies’ is really nice, too.
My daughter was taunting yesterday, with having to wear a jacket in North Dakota. Of course, they’ll have minus 40 or so, before winter is over. It’s all a trade off, I guess.
Just wish we could get some rain, down here in Wimberley Valley.
The silver plants really do add a cooling note — not something I think about when I plant them; but certainly a nice side effect. Maybe that’s a reason for adding more of them to the garden in the areas that start to look bad by August.
Lucky to live, work (mostly) where the gray foliage may be more shriveled up (or alot more shriveled up), but the air is SO dry and it does not grip (or strangle). But as I often say, just feast your eyes on those live oaks!
Very cool photos, literally. Grey foliage does not weather well here at 664. Never had much luck, but love it for contrast and texture too.
The Yucca and Artemisia combination is brilliant, I’ve got to say. Perfection.
What a fun post, Pam! I feel a bit cooler just reading it. No, not really. I’m drenched in sweat after a race round the garden, getting the last few plants into the ground and preparing for a possible hurricane. But you take my point. It’s a lovely idea, and the plant/colour combinations are, as always, spot on and refreshing.
I’ve long admired your garden’s great silver, blue-grays and golds and this post shows them off very nicely…I’ve tried to get Powis to grow here~that drainage requirement again! gail
I was noticing Thursday at Blithewold how the gray foliage made everything feel so cool and it was 95F outside. I must plant a gray garden for those especially hot summer days. Beautiful photos as always and I do love that ornamental pepper with its mirror berries.
I love that silver and gold. I think my favorite plant was the first Jerusalem sage.
Your photos are so enticing they make me want to buy plants I’m pretty certain I don’t really like.