The Best of 2021

2021 was a very big deal in the gardens on Walking Rain. In-ground irrigation was installed, an overgrown shrub removed, a whole new garden space created, a bridge was placed, an aspen removed, mossy rock borders built . .  and many plants seemed to finally hit their stride.

Here are some of the best plant performers of 2021:

The 'Seiryu' Japanese maple did really well. I unpotted it in early March, planted it under the cottonwood in front of the dining room windows, and it thrived. Fall was gentle and the deep red autumn color was spectacular for once.

'Royal Candles' veronicas were steady performers in the courtyard garden by the kitchen door. They bloomed a long time and even looked good when the blue spikes faded and flopped over. A white Veronica called 'Icicle' looked nice with them too.

Dark red Mexican Hats were lovely this year, making a big clump finally. They smell sweet.

'Susanna Mitchell' chamomile bloomed forever, from early spring through summer, making a nice contrast with the blue veronicas. These are just happy looking daisy flowers.

'Totally Tangerine' orange geums are never the stars of a garden, but they are cute little companions to other plants, and they too bloomed for a long time. Actually, results were mixed with these; I lost several. But the survivors took off and did really well. I'll plant more of them to weave throughout the garden.

The 'Vanessa' ironwood tree by the guest room window exploded this year, actually doubling in size from last year. The new growth was all up top and wild and arching, and the whole tree was hard to photograph -- it's in a tight spot between fence and house, best seen from inside where it suddenly filled the guest room window.

'Red Cascade' rose has always done well, but this year for the first time it topped the iron tower and I can see the possibility of training it to climb the nearby canopy over the kitchen door.

There were others that seemed to hit their stride this year -- pale yellow 'Bartzella' peony that got transplanted but didn't miss a beat, golden 'Leilani' coneflowers, 'Pow wow white' coneflowers and a subtle stand of red Texas betony (lambsear) under the Japanese maple that bloomed and bloomed the entire season non stop in the shade.

And several more, but I'll stop there. Lots of failures and strugglers too, but this was the year that most of what I saw pleased me. I can finally see it coming together. The structural changes -- irrigation, rock borders, bridge and new layouts -- have transformed the spaces. Maturing plants and the strong performing plants are finally giving the gardens some presence.

There won't be any big structural changes in 2022, but I am going to add more of the plants that performed well, maybe try some new things, and of course I will move as many plants around as will let me.