characteristics of allamanda:Full sun; moist, rich humus soil. Tolerant of many soil type; no salt tolerance. Sensitive to frost, foliage hardy to 30 ° F for a short time.Except to their tenderness to frost, they grow without major impediment.Landscape uses: as a shrub if pruned, as a vine on a trellis.
truth be told, i am always on the look out for plants that grow well and don't need much attention. maybe because i have so much to take care of and not a lot of time to do it. maybe because i'd like to enjoy the beauty of a garden and not just work in one.
most of what i choose to plant in my yard is not exotic or unusual - actually i don't think there is anything in it that could classify as exotic. what i've set about to do is to plant varieties that are pretty but easily maintainable. AND i have to like them a lot- and naturally, my taste changes from time to time-- i am a female you know. :-)
i know looking at my yard the average person wouldn't think any of it is easy but really-- overall --it is. i rarely have to spray insecticide- which i really try to avoid since most of it kills "everything" even the good bugs. sort of like antibiotics for our bodies. but don't get me started on that. so if i find a plant that attracts bugs i don't keep it. for instance, oleander is very tropical and pretty when it blooms but gets inundated with caterpillars that eat every bit of green off the leaves. so i don't have them anymore. too much trouble.
this year the yellow allamanda flowering vine i planted (probably at least 10 years ago) bloomed profusely. [by the way, thanks to senior gardener who was admiring the yellow bloomer while at my house and I.D.'d it for me---i didn't know its name prior to that] i noticed it first in june and today it is still blooming this nicely. this vine appears to go dormant in the winter and then in the spring here comes the green vine and the flowers start blooming around june. i have even replaced the fence panels it is growing on and it keeps on growing. while i am not a big fan of the color yellow who could deny the sunny, bright feeling these blooms give away without expecting much in return? these are the kinds of plants i can recommend for hardiness and ease of maintenance... which is what i am all about for my garden.
(because it attracts bugs) on this trellis in the spring. it has not
bloomed as profusely but i am happy with it nevertheless.
YAY! A new post. I'm with you on the color yellow thing...but what if you replaced the fence vine with the trellis vine? Ooh-la-la!
ReplyDeleteFeel free to change your preferences often, as females this is part of our genetic code. Just limit your swapping to plant and flower varieties and not husbands and such. :o)
I reckon I'll be the odd one out here. 8-] My favourite roses are the yellows. I didn't realize that mandevillas attract bugs. Probably coz we have so many out here in the woods anyhow, I wouldn't notice the difference. My mandevillas never make it through the N FL winters, so I haven't had any for a few years.
ReplyDeleteYour allamandas are beautiful! It's been many, many years since I had those. I just found out they're toxic to cats. Also to people if you eat a LOT of it. They can also irritate your skin, but only a little, and briefly. Hummers like them, though, so keep your eyes peeled.
Have a JESUS-filled day! ^i^
Well, I have to say my favorite color overall is yellow...it is a happy, fun, inviting color. And I LOVE yellow flowers of any kind. Your yellow flowers are beautiful meems!!!
ReplyDeletemlm: yeah... i'm not looking to swap out husbands- only plant and flower preference.
ReplyDeletesophie: the mandevillas i've had in the past constantly were infested with bugs so i stick with whatever is easiest. good thing i don't have cats- i didn't know they were toxic. welcome hummers anytime.
princess: it's okay you like yellow- i've learned something new about you. :-)
What is wrong with yellow? It is like a splash of sunlight wherever it appears. Nothing is cheerier than a sunflower, or more mellow than yellow roses, or brighter in a garden spot than yellow allamanda! It is like a ray of sunshine poking through the clouds on a dreary day, just brightens up your outlook! And per your post, not much required to receive the shot of uplifting blooms from your allamanda vine! A very defining inclusion in your overall landscape.
ReplyDeletesg: i concede on all points. there are times when only yellow works.
ReplyDeleteonly my preference is white for the bright color in my garden. white picks up the light of the sun and the moon. (but a white sun flower just would not do)
I'm with sophiemae, I love splashes of yellow in the garden. It reminds me of the sun. And I'm with you on planting plants that are low maintenace. Although for some reason my plants seem to grow BIGGER than they should. Other people have neat and trimmed yards, while mine is overgrown and somewhat wild looking.
ReplyDeletesusan: you are right about 'splashes' of yellow- splashes i don't mind- it wouldn't be my choice for a theme however. you must have great soil to get your plants bigger than they should be- i like a bit of a meandering but not out-of-hand look to my garden.
ReplyDelete