Diversity redux and other things.

 I mentioned not having a whole lot of diversity in my area but that was in general. The following pictures are in just one bed, mostly shaded and is packed with little nuances of plants that is just charming.

That is a plumeria overhanging a Xanadu philodendron (one of my favorite plants). Not easy to see just how far that plumeria is hanging over and didn't get a side view of it. Suffice it to say it is a full sun plant and it is planted in a shade garden. Lovely big leaves, but why is it not blooming? Hmmm 😕.

At the front in blue green is Rue, there's mint spilling down in front of that, a little basil plant in the blue pot and on the right a pop of color from a vinca in another pot. This is all happening to the right of the plumeria section. The succulent there looming over the basil is a type of crassula I think (not sure what the grass like leaves are, given the other things could be an bulb?). All of them just hanging out and thriving despite their different characteristics and typical ideal needs.

Again so much going on here! This is behind the Rue and we've got a mini rose in a pit, a hydrangea next to that, ivy, trailing geranium tucked in and under, round glossy leaves of an African Boxwood (not really a boxwood at all and is a succulent) and tucked way at the back and to the left a little looks like celery next to another geranium and that grass like leaf looks like I don't know, daylily or something? Wow. Oh wait, see the branch stem going left to right with a small white flower? That's a spider plant! Up against the wall is a fern, only reason why it hasn't taken over is either it's in a pot or it's been so crowded it doesn't have any chance. Oh yes and then there's the ivy behind the rue and an alocasia (elephant ear) on the left against the wall.

The whole bed with cat for size. Thank you Rocky!

 

 That is one awesome bed of just hodge podge planting but so interesting to look at and see what is tucked in here and there. This is on the east side of another building that is protected by sycamore trees planted in a lawn area behind me as I took the picture. Obviously enough sun for the rose and vinca, the xanadu is absolutely thriving along with the plumeria (despite not flowering) a few kitchen herbs thrown in and it's what someone would call a 'cottage garden'. Not exactly sure of the climbing plant on the right, almost looks like a climbing hydrangea. Maybe?

So this shows what a variety of textures and greens can look like in a bed. Not boring at all and for a plant geek it's kind of like Where's Waldo of plants. I'm sure there's a few I missed because there's so many and likely cowering under larger plants.

And yes I am sure that's a vinca and not an impatien, here is the difference in the flowers:

Catharanthus roseus, aka 'Vinca' The leaves are completely different than Impatiens as well.

Impatiens walleriana aka 'Busy (Bizzie?) Lizzie'

 

To the average person looking at them among all the things colorful they would look like the same plant. Always look for details and leaf differences. Oh and Vinca isn't actually a true name for it though it is similar to the actual vinca that we get a color name from:

Bowles Periwinkle

 Yes indeed this is where we get the color name of periwinkle from. This is a more purple form rather than blue as some other varieties are. Oh and this is a creeper good for shade,  vinca minor to be exact. I remember seeing it covering the banks of a stream under oak trees where I went to college the first time. Beautiful campus at West Valley Community College in Saratoga, CA.

So didn't expect to get sidetracked on a particular flower set but there you go. I need to go out and check my plants to see if they need watering and tucking up.