A backyard garden was one of the primary requirements in our house hunt when we moved to the Northern Beaches in Sydney 12 years ago. Placing potted plants around the house in nooks and crannies is one of the solutions to brighten up a dull space. I no doubt had my favourite ones among the many beautiful pots in the garden. Finding just the right pot for the right spot around your house or garden is no mean feat!
I spent many months visiting various nurseries to find the perfect pots. You have to consider the color, the shape, the size and of course the price! After all these factors have been considered, the next challenge is to find the perfect plant for this perfect pot! What color? Should it just be a plain green plant or a flowering plant. So on and so forth!
Each plant has its own story to tell!
The pots that I had chosen were mostly terracotta in different shapes and sizes and the blue-glazed ones. Here, on the man made plateau, these big blue glazed pots are seen grouped together.
Next, I went hunting for these perfect plants. I got them when they were quite small and usually from the local markets such as the Saturday Market near Narrabeen Lakes or Avalon Beach. Once in a while, I was lucky to find a winner from the local supermarket in Warriewood.
This a so-called 'ponytail' palm that was bought 8 years ago. Unfortunately, for the first 3 years of its life it was hidden amongst the big bushes and never had a chance to grow. Sometime less than 2 years ago I re-potted it into this bigger plastic container which I found in the Salvation Shop.
Well, I should have changed it into a bigger pot, but never got to do it.
Take a look at this tall handsome Agave which was presented to me by some good friends about 7 years ago when they were young saplings. These tall and elegant terracotta pots were bought after making several trips to the same nursery. They were located near the pool. It certainly gives a laid back Mediterranean atmosphere! Lovely!
I bought the baby yucca for only 5AU$. With just a few drops of water it is growing at a rate faster than you can think it possible! After 9 years, this has grown to become an eight footer and showcases five separate trunks!
Bougainvillea, needless to say one of my favourites! I just cannot live without it! They are so hardy and has so many colors to choose from! I found these in a nursery on the way to Manly. These were the 'Bambino", the very slow grower, which grow to around 1.5 m (5 ft) tall in vibrant pink and red colour.
I always had Jade Plants /Money Trees (crassula ovata) in my garden, even in our hay days in Denmark. But I never knew such succulents had related family members such as these that I found at the local market. This is quite similar to the Jade except the leaves are much smaller. Not sure what it's actual name is, but they were so easy to keep. It is hardy and just a few buckets of water and it can grow fast and tall. In order to reach this height you have to keep on pruning. I had the Aeonium and Jovibarba planted around the Jade plant.
This 8-year-old Frangipani was moved around at least 5 times, I expected it to die.
After I replanted it into this big terracotta, within a few months it grew into a giant! The flower blooms were a combination of pink and yellow and appeared rosie and were wonderfully fragrant!! I wished for it to bloom non stop!
Another favorite plant of mine - The Golden Cane Plant which can be found all over the Northern Beaches. They are either planted on the ground or in the pots.
All the pots and plants had to be given away before we left for Malaysia.. Sob Sob...!
