Garden Photo of the Day

Saying Goodbye to Annuals

Today’s photos come from longtime friend of the GPOD Cherry Ong. (If you’ve not seen her garden before, start here or here.)

Thought I’d send some photos from before some of my annuals bit the dust when temperatures reached O°C (32°F) this week. I didn’t expect this early dip in temperature, so I was frantically bringing in as many tender plants as I could before sunset. Of course, when my hubby came home, he declared, “Clearly, you have WAY TOO MANY plants!”

My summer garden exploded with many container gardens—mainly mixes of succulents, annuals, perennials, and small shrubs. Coleus and succulents remain favorites.

Warm regards to all from the Canadian west coast,

Cherry Ong

succulentsThere are so many beautiful succulents that can’t stand a frost. Luckily, they can easily be overwintered indoors if kept dry and given as much light as possible.

mangave hybridA beautiful mangave hybrid. These hybrids between agaves and Manfreda have dramatic coloration and grow much faster than agaves.

Succulents bring so much color and beauty just from their leaves.

variegated aeoniumAn assortment of incredible variegated Aeonium brighter than many flowers!

Aeonium tabuliformeThe incredible succulent Aeonium tabuliforme. It hails from the Canary Islands and can’t tolerate freezing weather, but it is well worth an extra effort to overwinter it indoors.

ColeusColeuses are always standouts in the garden.

This beautiful container features coleus front and center, with yellow creeping Jenny (Lysimachia nummularia ‘Aurea’, Zones 5–9) dripping down beneath.

cannaNow THAT is an annual planter! Huge canna give over-the-top drama and are complemented perfectly by the other annuals.

A coleus frame for a perfect succulent picture

bouquet of succulentsA bouquet of succulents

 

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Comments

  1. User avater
    treasuresmom 10/24/2019

    It is all very lovely but that canna is out of this world.

    1. User avater
      treasuresmom 10/24/2019

      I wanted to add that I typed your name in the search bar & found from 2011 your submission named "A clean slate transformed." That post is an inspiration. I wondered how many of those plants do you still have?

    2. perenniallycrazy 10/24/2019

      Thank you. I still have majority of plants from my original garden in that submission called "A Clean Slate Transformed." My garden was about three years old at the time. The anchor plants are thriving and have reached their mature sizes. I've learned a lot along the way and continue to learn garden care and maintenance as the garden evolves and ages. Some smaller perennials have either bit the dust or not work out so we've made some changes as needed.

  2. User avater
    meander_michaele 10/24/2019

    Hi,Cherry, well, no surprise that your bountiful buffet of beautiful succulents elicited a drool response. How, oh, how did you make the hard choices of which one were hustled inside for the privilege of being over wintered? I probably would have been paralyzed with indecision and end up just standing there in the freezing temps trying to make up my mind. I love all the little colorful accessory items that add a little extra ping and pop to some of the groupings.

    1. perenniallycrazy 10/24/2019

      Thanks Michaele. This year, I thought I would be smart and plan the succulent and tender plant migration (into the house) every weekend but alas the weather foiled my plan so I just went brainless and cleaned and hauled in as many as I could after a workday. Garden ornaments and accessories are always a fun add and I'm always on the lookout for new ones (budget and storage space permitting of course),

  3. User avater
    simplesue 10/24/2019

    Beautiful! Succulants are like little sculptures!

    1. perenniallycrazy 10/24/2019

      Thank you. I wish more of them are hardy in our climate. Hope you are enjoying yours.

  4. btucker9675 10/24/2019

    Never too many plants... well, maybe during the hauling in to safety process! : ) Mine can overwinter in our garage here in North Carolina but the process of hauling in the extra large heavy pots is always fraught. Fortunately, my husband is patient and always helps - maybe since he has actually bought several of the larger ones for me as gifts over the years. Your pot combinations are simply wonderful, so artistic.

    1. perenniallycrazy 10/24/2019

      Thank you. Glad your husband enables your love for plants and the garden too - just like mine! (And we love them to pieces!)

  5. cheryl_c 10/24/2019

    Cherry, you have again wowed us with your plant combinations and with your beautiful photography. Your combinations have a sultry sumptuous feel to them, and are perfect for this time of year. Thanks for sending them in!

    1. perenniallycrazy 10/24/2019

      Thank you for your kind words. Happy Fall!

  6. Meelianthus 10/24/2019

    Hi Cherry ~ Great to see all your beautiful arrangements once again. They are always breath-taking.
    Stay warm!

    1. perenniallycrazy 10/24/2019

      Thanks. Hope all is well with you Linda.

  7. zone3ruby 10/25/2019

    Love seeing your contributions to GPOD. Your succulent arrangements are stunning! Here in Calgary I have a bed of hardy sedum and semps. Next spring I'm going to use these pictures of your containers for inspiration and plant up more tender plants in pots to try overwintering indoors. Thanks Cherry!

    1. perenniallycrazy 10/26/2019

      Thank you Zone3Ruby. Hardy semps and sedums and my favorites! I leave them outside in metal containers all winter long and they do help to soothe my gardening soul through those bleak weathered months. If you have enough space indoors, you'll surely enjoy tender plants as houseplants during the cooler months. I try to keep mine in a container that I can bring in to make the chore easier. I debug the plant with End-All Spray and aerate the soil with chopsticks or a spoon. Enjoy!

  8. User avater
    AshlieDPerron 10/25/2019

    Wow! so beautiful!

  9. perenniallycrazy 10/26/2019

    Thank you.

  10. pattyspencer 10/28/2019

    Beautiful! I have some succulents in the house and have often wondered how they'd like it outside but was afraid that the weather might water them too much. Yours seem to do just fine

  11. user-5117752 11/01/2019

    Once again, the magic touch of Cherry Ong!!! Thank you always for sharing!!!

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