I’ve been uploading photos of my garden on my Sunday Posts, which have been getting a lot of positive comments, so I have decided to feature the pics in their full size, so you can see some of the detail. This week, I am featuring some of the yellow and gold-coloured foliage in my garden, because it is mostly plants with striking foliage that attract me and while last week I featured the dark, or bronze coloured foliage, there needs to be a splashes of brightness to sing out and cheer me up during the long dreary days of winter. Here they are…
Golden box – I grew this bush from a small cutting I plucked while on a walk…
The flowers on this pretty little fuschia look even more lovely against the gold leaves
Variagated oleaster, which is as tough as old boots and screens us from the road
A conifer with golden-edged leaves – it glows in the winter…
This pretty little pittosporum has golden-veined leaves
Last week I named one of my heuchera Rhubarb and Custard – and I was wrong – this is the real one!
Spotted laurel. I love this plant…
But if I had to name my favourite plant in the whole garden – it’s this one. My Goldfinger choisya blazes throughout the winter, reminding me of sunny days…
This dear little thuja is called Rheingold – isn’t it cute?
How lovely, Sarah! I love fuschia but all mine have darker leaves and paler flowers. They are beautiful though! You will also be happy to hear I cut my rose bush right back and it has so much new growth now! 😀
Glad the rose is responding to the prune so well:)). There are so many different types of fuschia – and I think I know the one you mean – dark, glossy leaves and shell-pink, dainty flowers and drip from the plant like little ballerinas…
That’s exactly what it looks like! 😀 All the buds died when I first planted it and I thought it was a goner… so I plucked all the withered buds off and it has gone wild ever since! I’ve never seen so many flowers on one!
Oh that’s brilliant:))
Your photos just make me happy😁 I love the Rheingold and the conifer especially!
I love seeing your photos of the plants in your garden, you have some really lovely ones. I particularly love the conifer with the gold-edged leaves, the cute Rheingold and the fuschia. I keep writing down the name of the plants you mention so I can look them up when we’re ready to sort our garden out. 🙂
Oh that’s a huge compliment, Hayley! Living here on the south coast of England, we have a reasonably mild climate with lower than average rainfall in comparison to the rest of the country. That means we get not too many frosts during an average winter and more sunshine hours than most of the country.Our soil is excellent, though slightly alkaline, so I cannot grow things like azaleas, for instance. Both the conifer and the dear little Rheingold thuja are relatively slow-growing – which is a consideration. I hope that helps!
Thank you for all that info and advice, I really appreciate it. I have no idea about plants – so far it’s been a case of plant and hope!
You need to discover what soil type you have and take into account the direction of the sun as it shines into your garden and your overall climate. If you choose plants that thrive in your growing conditions, most of the stuff you plant will be reasonably happy. When folks struggle, it’s because they haven’t taken those issues into consideration.
Thanks so much for this guidance. I have no idea about gardens. I’ve finally found house plants that are thriving in my home and so feel I might be able to think about the garden. I need to do some research about the soil next and then have a look online. I really do appreciate your help 🙂 x
You can get a soil-testing kit from any garden centre to discover whether your soil is acid or alkaline. And how heavy your soil is – is it sandy and easily dries out? Thin sandy soil tends to run through your fingers when it’s dry and doesn’t have many worms. Or thick clay? If you squeeze it when it’s wet, does it stay in that shape and does the rain pool on the surface? Both these extremes soil can be a problem – but once you know, you can find out online how to fix them and what sorts of plants will tolerate those conditions. That is always the key – find out what plants will thrive in the growing conditions in your garden – otherwise it just becomes an expensive heartbreak. So very glad to help!x
Once life gets back to a bit more of normality I shall get a soil-testing kit and start from there. Our soil is closer to clay but it’s not as clay-like as the soil in my late Mum’s garden, I know she found it such a pain to find the right plants at first. Thanks again for all of your help, I really do appreciate it. x
You’re very welcome. Once you understand the dynamic of selecting plants that will be happy with the growing conditions you can provide for them, you’re well on your way:)). Good luck – because that helps too!
How lovely! My Grandad (also in the South of England) spends a lot of time in his garden and they love to send me pictures too. Unfortunately I just have a balcony with very little light!
Thank you, Katie:). I am not a particularly avid gardener, but I do love being out there – especially this year – and my plants have come to mean a great deal to me…
These plants are so gorgeous! I’m really really really hoping that next summer we can finally afford the landscaping to tidy up our jungle of yard. The hope is to utilize lots of lavender bushes, though I’d love to plant a fruit tree or two, as well!
Brainfluff 
How lovely, Sarah! I love fuschia but all mine have darker leaves and paler flowers. They are beautiful though! You will also be happy to hear I cut my rose bush right back and it has so much new growth now! 😀
Glad the rose is responding to the prune so well:)). There are so many different types of fuschia – and I think I know the one you mean – dark, glossy leaves and shell-pink, dainty flowers and drip from the plant like little ballerinas…
That’s exactly what it looks like! 😀 All the buds died when I first planted it and I thought it was a goner… so I plucked all the withered buds off and it has gone wild ever since! I’ve never seen so many flowers on one!
Oh that’s brilliant:))
Your photos just make me happy😁 I love the Rheingold and the conifer especially!
I’m so glad you like them, too! I neglect my garden shamefully – but I do love it…
I love seeing your photos of the plants in your garden, you have some really lovely ones. I particularly love the conifer with the gold-edged leaves, the cute Rheingold and the fuschia. I keep writing down the name of the plants you mention so I can look them up when we’re ready to sort our garden out. 🙂
Oh that’s a huge compliment, Hayley! Living here on the south coast of England, we have a reasonably mild climate with lower than average rainfall in comparison to the rest of the country. That means we get not too many frosts during an average winter and more sunshine hours than most of the country.Our soil is excellent, though slightly alkaline, so I cannot grow things like azaleas, for instance. Both the conifer and the dear little Rheingold thuja are relatively slow-growing – which is a consideration. I hope that helps!
Thank you for all that info and advice, I really appreciate it. I have no idea about plants – so far it’s been a case of plant and hope!
You need to discover what soil type you have and take into account the direction of the sun as it shines into your garden and your overall climate. If you choose plants that thrive in your growing conditions, most of the stuff you plant will be reasonably happy. When folks struggle, it’s because they haven’t taken those issues into consideration.
Thanks so much for this guidance. I have no idea about gardens. I’ve finally found house plants that are thriving in my home and so feel I might be able to think about the garden. I need to do some research about the soil next and then have a look online. I really do appreciate your help 🙂 x
You can get a soil-testing kit from any garden centre to discover whether your soil is acid or alkaline. And how heavy your soil is – is it sandy and easily dries out? Thin sandy soil tends to run through your fingers when it’s dry and doesn’t have many worms. Or thick clay? If you squeeze it when it’s wet, does it stay in that shape and does the rain pool on the surface? Both these extremes soil can be a problem – but once you know, you can find out online how to fix them and what sorts of plants will tolerate those conditions. That is always the key – find out what plants will thrive in the growing conditions in your garden – otherwise it just becomes an expensive heartbreak. So very glad to help!x
Once life gets back to a bit more of normality I shall get a soil-testing kit and start from there. Our soil is closer to clay but it’s not as clay-like as the soil in my late Mum’s garden, I know she found it such a pain to find the right plants at first. Thanks again for all of your help, I really do appreciate it. x
You’re very welcome. Once you understand the dynamic of selecting plants that will be happy with the growing conditions you can provide for them, you’re well on your way:)). Good luck – because that helps too!
Thank you again, you’ve been so helpful. 🙂 x
My pleasure, Hayley:))
Lovely, lovely, lovely!!!
Thank you, Rae:)). I’m delighted you like them so much!
How lovely! My Grandad (also in the South of England) spends a lot of time in his garden and they love to send me pictures too. Unfortunately I just have a balcony with very little light!
http://www.dollarqueen.net
Thank you, Katie:). I am not a particularly avid gardener, but I do love being out there – especially this year – and my plants have come to mean a great deal to me…
So pretty, Sarah!
Thank you, Jennie:))
You’re welcome, Sarah!
These plants are so gorgeous! I’m really really really hoping that next summer we can finally afford the landscaping to tidy up our jungle of yard. The hope is to utilize lots of lavender bushes, though I’d love to plant a fruit tree or two, as well!