Dreaming of sun, sea, shiny shovels
That’s it, I’m done with the garden. Nothing to do until I venture forth to do a little pruning, and that won’t be for a couple of months. Anything that needed winter protection has it. Tools are all stored away in the shed — after being thoroughly cleaned, sharpened, rubbed down and oiled. At least that’s what gardeners are supposed to do, and it is the right thing. I confess that didn’t happen. By the time I’m ever ready to store tools away, even during the season, I’m the one that needs to be rubbed down and oiled.
My attention has turned to caring for indoor plants. Houseplants, of course, and that includes all the ones I’ve hauled into the garage for winter. The garage, or plant storage facility, is stocked with what, to the casual observer, would appear to be dead or dying plants. Some might be, but most are heading into a dormant state in the cool and dark, at around 8C — any place that is cool and dark will also work.
These are all shrubs and perennials that wouldn’t survive in the garden. Not all survive, but then they wouldn’t outdoors. Some I have great success with. One lantana is on its eighth sojourn, growing larger every year, and a couple of salvias are on their third or fourth.
On its second year is a Duranta erecta ‘Gold Edge.’ It’s a lovely foliage plant with gold and green leaves that’s sold in spring as a small annual, and annual it is in this climate as it’s a tropical plant that won’t survive north of Key West. It does have flowers, although I’ve yet to see any, which isn’t a concern as it’s the foliage that makes it such an attractive plant.
Sadly, it’s become an invasive pest in countries such as Australia, South Africa, and even on Pacific islands where it can grow as high as a beach hut ... a beach hut on a white sand beach beside an azure sea, fronds of palm trees wafting in a warm evening breeze. Oops, wandered off there after a glance outside.
Back to the cool, damp garage. The beauty of storing plants like Duranta over winter is they reveal more of their true potential, instead of being tossed on the compost heap at the end of summer. I’ve had the most success with plants from the garden that have developed woody stems by the end of summer. Even plants like fuchsia do this and I’ve managed to grow one into a small shrub. For the first time, I’m trying to save a plumbago (leadwort) and another foliage shrub, also sold as an annual. It’s Acalypha wilkesiana, with the common name copperleaf or Jacob’s coat.
Like the duranta, it’s only hardy as far north as southern Florida, which isn’t surprising as it’s native to Fiji — in the South Pacific, you know, where it would be nice to be right now, sitting beside a beach hut. It does produce flowers, both male and female on the same plant, however, they’re barely noticeable. The foliage, though, is exceptional, a mottled coppery green with red splashes.
These plants don’t have to be kept in a dormant state. I could keep them in front of a sunny window, much as one would with a bougainvillea, but it’s already crowded with houseplants and cuttings from annuals. What I really need is a large heated greenhouse or massive conservatory.
Instead, I’ll continue to pack the garage and reluctantly scrape ice off the car’s windshield. The things I do for plants. They come before my comfort and they’re a good excuse for having no time to polish spades and shovels before winter sets in.