Thursday, May 3, 2007

Foliage Fondness

May marks the official beginning of summers in North India. Although the day lengths have increased but, because of the heat, the actual time spent by me in the garden has come down. Summer annuals are too young to flower and winter annuals are on their way to be one with the soil, meanwhile the foliage plants more then compensate for the temporary absence of flowers. Prudently arranged Foliage plants are a sight to behold. The intricate pattern or the color scheme in the leaves along with their diverse arrangements, the sinuous branches, all of them show how nature can be artistic and beautiful without being ostentatious. Caladium leaves so similar yet so different, one with a sprinkle of colors other looks equally striking with its prominent venation. The crotons-no flowers, still so complete and attractive, managing to hold attention in the colorful pot Buddha belly plant with its multi-lobed leaves make my morning merry like a laughing Buddha with a really big belly! Diffenbachia, adding to the beauty of foliage garden with its leaves. I've heard that its leaves are toxic if chewed and may cause a temporary inability to speak, earning it the sobriquet 'Dumbcane' Disanthus with its beautiful heart shaped leaves. I am waiting for the leaves to change colors with change of season. Chlorophytum comosum or the spider plant- I love the way it self-propagates. It looks much better in a hanging basket, where I am going to put it shortly. With these lovely variegated leaves, the plant is called 'manihar' locally Sanchezia speciosa, an evergreen shrub with such prominent yellow veins. Coming times with ever rising humidity are going to be good for this plant A sine qua non of foliage gardens,this is Money Plant or the Pothos. Contrasting with the soothing green of the money plant is this plant with piquant purple leaves.I don't know its identity and don't even remember where I got it from but it is providing a welcome contrast to my otherwise green garden Flowers epitomize the beauty and complexity of nature and no gainsaying the fact that their presence overwhelms and overshadows everything else growing in the garden but this time their absence made me realize the silent unassuming beauty of foliage plants. Till the summer flowers show up, the green foliage is providing succour to my soul.

17 comments:

Carol Michel said...

I like all the different foliage, too. I think it can actually be more restful to be surrounded by lovely foliage than flowers. My plan for my back patio this year is to do more with foliage, so it will be a place to rest.

Have a good week.

LadyLuz said...

What a wonderful blend of tone, texture and shapes in these plants. I also love the blue pot one of them is in.

(By the way, click on Garden Art on mine, and you'll see more of the cylindrical art-deco mosaiced pot).

Wicked Gardener said...

Nice pictures. What is the climate like where you live? Do you know what the comparable US Zone would be?

Verena said...

May in Austria is normally late spring but summer starts in the end of June and July/August. So you see we are "back" a few months to you :-)!
I like the way you call the spider plant - we call it totally different. When I try to translate it, it would be something like "Green Lily". I have two of them in the house and they grow like crazy.
Lots of greetings, Verena

A wildlife gardener said...

Fabulous foliage plants. As you say, they are a godsend when the flowers have gone.

Yolanda Elizabet Heuzen said...

Dear Green Thumb,

Thank you for all the lovely pictures of all these fab foliage plants. It is so nice to see them grow outside in the garden. Here they only survive indoors.

The spider plant is a firm favorite with my cats, they love munching it. ;-)

TYRA Hallsénius Lindhe said...

Lovely so lovely, foliage are so beautiful and important I would go as far as to say it´s the most important thing in a garden. I always start with the foliage and after that the colour. Thank you for the nice pictures. How is the weather in India Garden?

Andrea's Garden said...

Hello there, so interesting to see your pictures. Many of the foliage plants you show are indoor plants in Europe. Great pictures again! / Andrea

Green thumb said...

Thanx for visit carol. The color green is very soothing to eye and that makes it so restful to be surrounded by foliage. I think I can borrow your idea and do something similar in the portion of lawn I usually sit in.

I have been to your post dear Ladyluz and the mosaiced pot is exquisite.

Welcome to Indiagarden dear Wicked gardener. It is quite hot here with the day tempratures hovering around 40 degrees celsius and nights at around 28-32degree celsius. I don't know the compatible US zone as yet but will let you know as soon as I find out.

Thanx verena, enjoy the spring till it lasts.

Godsend! so true dear W.G, with the kind of weather I have they are really godsend, lending greenery and respect to the garden.

So nice to know dear Yolanda that the whole bliss team loves the spider plant.

Thanx for encouraging words dear Tyra. Yes, its no exaggeration to say that foliage is the most important thing for the garden, they grow with minimum fuss and still look soothingly beautiful.

Welcome again dear Andrea. This scorching summer I hope to keep my cool by looking at European gardens.

Tira said...

As usual your plants are twinned with mine LOL

Deborah Verhoeven said...

Wonderful pictures. You grow similar plants to what I have growing in my garden. I think maybe your climate is similar to Northwest Florida. It gets hot here in summer too, and by May summer is well underway.

Linda said...

Beautiful foilage. Some of the plants you have growing outside are only indoor plants here. Greens are my favourite colours.

Dawn said...

I love all your variegated plants. There is something about white & green together that pops in the garden visually, while still remaining soothing to me. Lovely plants!

Regards,
Dawn

kate said...

On a rather dreary, rainy day here, it is a treat to see the cool, foliage pictures in your blog.

I loved the Buddha belly plant and am hoping that you will post some pictures of the Disanthus changing colours.

What I enjoy is learning about your climate and the seasons ... so different from here, dear Green Thumb!! Enjoy your week... Kate ox

Molly said...

So much fun to see what's growing in a garden half way around the world!

Iowa Gardening Woman said...

All beautiful plants but I LOVE the blue pot!

Anonymous said...

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