Succulents - - a few more to share

Succulents in pot on table in Asian Patio

with view toward Lake Michigan

Succulents are growing in popularity for two simple reasons:  they are beautiful and they are nearly indestructible.  For these reasons, Gardens at Waters East has many different varieties in use throughout the property.  In a recent Blog posting titled Sedum (posted on January 1, 2012), a number of other hardy succulents (sedum) were featured.

Cushion Spurge

In this posting the focus will be for the most part, on those which are not Winter hardy for Gardens at Waters East which is located on the shores of Lake Michigan in Zone 5.  These “not-so-hardy” varieties are brought in for the Winter, then returned to the gardens in Spring.

Topsy Toury - Encheveria

Blue Fingers and more

Hen & Chicks

Succulents come in many varieties, providing the visual interest of striking shapes, textures, and colors.  They have interesting leaf forms and plant shapes, including flat leaves, rosettes, trailing columns of teardrop leaves, even fuzzy covering.

Aeonium

native of North Africa and Canary Islands

Succulents have fleshy water storage organs, storing water in their leaves, stems, or their roots.  These plants have adapted to survive arid conditions throughout the world, from Africa to the dry deserts of North America.

Prickly Pear Cactus

native to midwest USA

Succulents are in use as ointment for burns, anti cancer care, digestive problems, tooth problems, and a variety of other medical cares.  Many of these uses were discovered as scientist studies the use of these plants in more ancient cultures.  As a people, we are learning from the past.

NOTE:  All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden

please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com

Once Around the Sun - - vol.1

January

This series is a photo essay of one year in the life of the Gardens at Waters East.  Each and every photo was taken at the property of the gardens over the course of one year giving an “overview” of the many faces and expressions found at the Gardens at Waters East.  Photos are labeled the month they were taken.  Hope your “year” visiting here today brings you joy from flowers, sun, water, and more.

Enjoy your time – Once Around the Sun.

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Special  Notice:

Five postings of note for 2011 --- check out the Archives

1.  Straits of Mackinac - - January 2, 2011

2.  Monarch Butterfly Feeding Station - - March 1, 2011

3.  Golden Principle of Design - - May 2, 2011

4.  Watershed – Facts & Photos - - July 2, 2011

5.  Cairns - - November 1, 2011.

Plus all the “BLOG SHOTS” throughout the year.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden

please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com

BLOG SHOTS #28

Each month Gardens at Waters East (GAWE) will post a few never before seen photos of “garden life” called - - BLOG SHOTS.  Here are the photos for this posting.

moments in the garden - - enjoy

 Maltese Cross

July

Peony & Phlox

June

Red Poppy in Ribbon Grass

July

Lady's Mantle

with rain drops

Russian Sage, Phlox, Sedum - Autumn Joy

August

Sunrise in July

seen through portholes of the Ferry - Straits of Mackinac

(for history of the Ferry see- posting of January 2, 2011)

Native Sweet Pea

August

Yarrow - Hot Pink

August

Reference Note:  For a complete list of the ten (10) Principles of Design plus the special “Golden Principle of Design” used throughout Gardens at Waters East, check out the archive postings for November 14 – 24, 2010 and May 2, 2011.

NOTE:  All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden

please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com

Succulent - - Sedum

The Gardens at Waters East has a variety of Sedum plants from low ground cover types to small bush types.  There are more than 400 species of these plants.  It takes so very little care to make them happy.  They are not fussy about soil.  They only ask for good drainage.  Sedum are;  drought tolerant succulents that store water in their leaves, easy to propagate, any sunny place makes them happy.  They have great texture, a varied forms, and both a variety of leaf and flower colorations.  Many are easily hardy to Zone 3.  All these qualities can certainly make any gardener planting them happy too!

You may have noticed that today in the world of design, sedum are becoming popular with the “green movement” as a roofing  material because of their qualities of easy care, drought abilities, and insulation.  No doubt the world will be seeing more use of these hardy plants.  Office buildings and many homes in cities large and small have seen a movement in the direction of this environmentally friendly living material.

Since one does not need a “green thumb” with these plants, Gardens at Waters East has used them in a number of the garden room with a sense of “plant them and forget them” attitude.  A great time saver when your garden is large with many other more fussy plants.  That is one of the reasons they are a favorite of this gardener.  That, and the wonderful variety of color, form, texture, etc. that they offer throughout the gardens and throughout the seasons.

Here is a partial list of plants and some photos of sedum living and doing well in the gardens, with so little care in the Gardens at Waters East.

Sedum  spectabile  “Autumn Joy

(now moved to genus – Hylotelephium)

Sedum  spectabile  “Stardust”

Sedum Angelina

Sedum Kamtschaticum Veriegata

Sedum  Dragon’s Blood

Sedum  Alborsedum  “medivariegatum’

Sedum Matrona

 Sedum  Gold Dust

 Sedum  Ellacobianum

 Sedum  Green Oracle

 Sedum  Donkey Tail

       

Plus many more, the names of which are unknown – to me

The following photos were taken in the garden, during the Summer, and during the Winter so as to demonstrate that with these “tough” plants there is interest year round.

NOTE:  All photos use in this posting were taken on the property of Gardens at Waters East.

If you wish to email a message or share photos of your garden

please do that through this Blog site or with an email to:

www.gardensatwaterseast@Yahoo.com