I’m wishing I had planted more Cotoneaster horizontals variegata, as it is turning into a nice spreading ground cover.
The two-tone leaves give it a silvery look, and you can even spot the occasional red berry in there.
Ozthamnus ‘Sussex Silver’ adds another shimmery element. It presents a pruning challenge, getting scruffy after blooming. So far, I’m finding it worth the trouble and R enjoys wielding his loppers in its direction.
One of several successful bargains from Means, this Deodora cedar (sorry, that’s all I know) brings a golden glow to Delusional Drive.
Wintergreen, Gaultheria procumbens, is filling in nicely for another ground cover. The red berries are tasty, too.
Only a few leaves remain on the mislabeled Viburnum, but they glow to make up for it.
Ditto for Hydrangea quercifolia.
Pam over at Digging has more foliar fun in store, as she does every month for Foliage Follow Up.
Delusional Drive — ha ha! The silvers and reds are quite pretty against all the greens. I also like the look of that weeping fir or spruce.
Pam~I knew you would get the joke. Not exactly sure, but I think that’s a weeping Norway spruce.
You have some marvelous foliage to show off. When i first saw your Cotoneaster I thought it was that Hebe called ‘Quicksilver.’ They have a similar habit and look.
Alison~I love ‘Quicksilver’ too. Mine is in a bed that is currently overgrown and scruffy. Now that you mention it, I should clean it up, the better to enjoy that Hebe.
I love, love Cotoneaster horizontalis! I have a small section of it, too. Only here it isn’t everygreen. The leaves turn beautiful variegated colors and then drop off for the winter. But it always bounces back in the spring. Great plant! Yay for all the evergreens, though! They give us hope all winter. 😉
Beth~Hope is what we need!
You have such cool evergreens! I covet your Deodar Cedar – it is such a beautiful tree! And Delusional Drive cracks me up – I would have called it Design-savvy Drive. You two are such an amazingly creative couple!
Anna~I’m not sure if that cedar is destined to grow to humungous heights or not, but if it does, I’ll move things out to give it room. Sorta wish I could freeze-frame it just as it is, while urging other things to grow, grow, grow. always wishing for the impossible.
I like the Cotoneaster horizontals variegata very much, it really does look very silvery. You have a lot of very interesting young trees.
Christina~They say gardeners progress from annuals to perennials to shrubs to trees. I guess that makes us old gardening fogies.
I have that scruffy ‘Sussex Silver’ , Next year I’ll give it a good old chop !
Linda~I hope you’ll give us a little tutorial on how to go about it.
I’ve grown to like contoneaster, I can see why you are fond of yours. Didn’t realize oak leaf hydrangea got such dramatic fall color.
Jason~Cotoneastersare such easy plants, and there are so many of them there should be one to please just about anybody. The fall color was my whole reason for getting an oak leaf, but it isn’t altogether dependable. Some years it flames, others it browns out.
Wow! I love Contoneaster horizont varie! I wonder if it will grow where I live? I’ll look it up. I love the contrast in your photo of the viburnam and evergreen needles. Somehow I find it quietly festive! Hope all is well….
Andrea~I think that Cotoneaster is pretty darn tough. Festive is what I’m looking for on these gray days.
I love love love that Cotoneaster–wonder if it would fry in my garden. The Ozothamnus I have killed already. Beautiful foliage, so refreshing to see gardens where it rains.
Hoov~The Cotoneaster might be worth a try. Mine started as a 4″ pot, so a cheap experiment.