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Showing posts with the label back patio

Firesticks Cactus Outdoors and Putting On New Growth - Year Seven - July 2025

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Yesterday, I posted an update on the Flame Thrower coleus that is in a container (not-mixed) on our back stoop and provided a peek at something else planted (similarly in a container) next to it.  The red foliage of the coleus contrasted with the bright green of the neighbor.  The bright green (and yellow and orange - if you look closely) are from a Firesticks Cactus.  My Firesticks Cactus is now in "Year Seven".  Below, is a photo that shows the new growth that it has put on this Summer next to the Flame Thrower Coleus: Here's what it looked like when I first planted it in 2018 .  Tiny, and just green.   I moved this Firesticks outside more than a month ago.  It has spent the past 8 months in our basement, on a ledge near one of the windows.  When I introduced it outside, I started it in the full shade, underneath our raised planter box.  And, after a couple of weeks, moved it to part-sun.  Then, most-recently to the full sun loca...

Helichrysum thianschanicum - Icicles from Proven Winners - Container Accent Plant - June 2025

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I can't come across a silver foliage plant and not fall in love.  That's what happened at the orange Big Box store recently when I saw a rack of these things on the table: They look like a silver-colored rosemary plant.  But, when I looked at the label....it sure isn't rosemary.  Rather, it is something called an Icicles accent plant from Proven Winners - where they label it as a "licorice" plant .   I only bought one, but I should have bought even more.  So, this first one (for now), is headed into the large patio container along with the CrazyTunia.  See below for the early start to the container: I can see these as a bedding plant - in a lot of places.    Ground cover via annuals.