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10 June Favorites

Magnolia 'Kay Parris' With so much going on in the garden in June, it is hard to choose only ten favorites. I challenged myself and have done just that. These are plants that look good around the midway point in June, specifically from June 15-20.  I begin with Magnolia 'Kay Parris'. Believe it or not, having spent the majority of my life in the South, I never grew a magnolia. They are emblematic of the South, where magnificent specimens grace old plantation homes and stately homes in older neighborhoods. I always thought of magnolias as huge trees, not suited to a small garden, but things have changed, and more varieties are now available that are not supposed to grow as large.  We now have two magnolias in our garden, both of which were added recently. When one of the old photinias that line our back property line died, it left a gaping hole. I had been looking at magnolias at the nursery and decided a smaller one might make a good backdrop and create a good privacy s...

Container combination


Coleus "Defiance" and Variegated Plectranthus (Swedish Ivy)


Text and photos by Phillip Oliver, Dirt Therapy

Comments

  1. I love the container. And your pedestal behind it with the ladies!

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  2. Beautiful...I love the combo! Have you been having rain lately? We've had quite a bit and the plants look happy now!

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  3. Love it! I do coleus in containers every year. It is one of my favorite container plants. What are some of your tips on keeping it looking so good? When do you pinch it back/trim it? Yours looks so good, I know that you have to have some tricks up your sleeve!!

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  4. Awesome color - I love that coleus. I am saving it's name so I can add it next year.

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  5. These look great together! Coleus is just the most beautiful summer foliage plant.

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  6. It does catch your eye, beautiful.

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  7. Hi really like these combinations Phillip~You've got texture, color and different leaf shapes! gail

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  8. Yep, I like this combo. The coleus is such a surprising plant. They look so small in spring and then they take to the heat and humidity and grow large giving such a lovely show with just those leaves.

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  9. Simple and elegant, I like it. My coleus isn't doing well this year. I've about given up on that container
    Marnie

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  10. I do love Coleus(es?). The colors (and name) of 'Defiance is so vibrant. I actually sowed some Coleus and they turned out great. The recent rains have made my container with them in it double in size (um, the plants, not the container itself, though it would be nice if it could expand alongside!)

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  11. Granna, we got about 1/2 inch on Monday. Not a lot but it helped.

    Lisa, actually I don't do that much to them except occasionally pinch them back if they start to get too tall. Some years coleus does better than others - last year they didn't do much, this year they are. I don't know how to explain it!

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  12. I love coleus. Your's has an award at http://chickenesque.blogspot.com/2010/07/its-been-long-enough-but-i-got-some.html

    ~Randy

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  13. Really pretty combo. I like how you have it displayed also.I have been following your blog for some time and enjoy your posts.

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  14. Excellent combination. I like Coleus too. Wonderful foliage for great containers.

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  15. Mmmm, pretty. Love your new background BTW.~~Dee

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