True Confessions
I confess. I’m selfish.
While I may give you the last cookie, or iron your pants when you are running late, even if I am running late, there are certain times a more base nature rears its ugly head. Like when it comes to plants. There are times when it is very hard for me to share.
Every garden and container I design begins with a shopping trip. Because I am always on the lookout for new and cool plant material when I find it, I scoop it up. While deciding where to use these lovelies they decorate my yard.
And sometimes they never leave!
Take, for example, this beautiful caladium from Monrovia that I scooped up knowing it would be great in the shade.
This one, ‘Burning Heart’ had me at hello. Don’t you love the red with the speckles of pink?
I had never seen this coloration before and had to have it. It is breathtakingly beautiful when backlit by the sun.
I thought of many homes where it would be perfect but none of them seemed as perfect as mine.
Which is why it is now front and center on my patio where I can enjoy it every night at dinner.
Likewise, this abutilon or Flowering Maple. Not sure if this is ‘Red Tiger’ or ‘Biltmore Ballgown’ but regardless of its name, it is show stopping! I have a client whose color aesthetic echoes mine (favors oranges and burgundy) and I knew this abutilon would be perfect. So I purchased it and hung it in my arbor until it was time to do her planting.
Of course, every day I had to walk under it and look up and see those beautiful flowers. It seduced me gradually and after a week or two I knew that it would never be leaving my garden (sigh…sorry Jodi!)
The more I think about it I realize that I am actually not hoarding these plants for myself, I am trialing them for my clients. Heaven forbid I unleash a new plant that does not perform in their garden or container. Talk about unselfish! I guess by me hanging on to the newest coolest plants I am doing something very selfless for my clients.
Please disregard this blog. Apparently I am not as flawed as I first thought.
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