July 2010 Foliage Follow-Up

I seem to be spending a lot of time coming and going this month, so it seemed appropriate to show off a few of the plants from my front porch for the July Foliage Follow-Up. 

At the top of the brickwork on the stairs, I have two large stone capstones that are perfect for hosting a mishmash of houseplants for the summer.  Here's a shot of the left-hand side:

I really love the jewel orchid that's tucked between the orchid cactus and the twisty sansevieria.  Here's a closeup as seen from the side of the stairs:

The prickly foliage on the right, behind the orchid cactus, is from a cutting of rat tail cactus that I rooted in the same pot.  The tiny green foliage in the upper left is from some random little succulent that I rooted with the jewel orchid to help disguise the bareness of its base.

Behind all of this is one of two huge cycads (aka sago palms) that I was given by a co-worker at the garden center.  The foliage is cool, but I really really really love their trunks, which look a little bit like exotic pinecones:

These are the things that I most notice when I'm leaving the house.  When I'm coming home, the first thing I notice is how cozy the citronella plant (overwintered in the attic) has become with the monstrous blue agave:

I had actually put the geranium there specifically so that I (and Coco, and any visitors) would have a little buffer between ourselves and the thick, stiff agave spines.  Luckily, the two of them seem to be happy together!

At the top of the steps, I look to the left of the doorway to check the recovery of my variegated ginger and dark-leaf ficus:

I had them in too much sun for a while, and the ficus started showing signs of sunburn.  The ginger became thin and spindly--it can handle more sun, but it needs more water in those conditions.  I'm stingy with the hose, so it's much easier to keep this plant happy under cover of the porch roof.  Plus, the leaves look so dramatic and tropical together as you look down on them from above:

As I fumble with my keys, I look over at the crazy (crazy because I have to bring this whole mess inside in a few months!) monstera container, and admire its lushness. I also like the 'Autumn' philodendron tucked in beside it.  The leaf and pot colors pick up the oranges and pinky-peaches of the heuchera and begonias in the Monstera planting, and the black river rock plays off of the 'Illustrus' elephant ears that dangle above:

That's all I've got for today's Foliage Follow-Up.  If Pam has recovered enough from her Buffa10 excursion, she should be posting her own foliage review and hosting a roundup of other contributors... especially this month, as Austin has been enjoying some unseasonably nice weather!  Head on over to Digging to check it all out... and have a great weekend!