Go for the Gold

The top prize for an event at the Olympics is a gold medallion, along with the honor of being the outstanding athlete from among many talented athletes.

We have many outstanding plants at Farmington Gardens but there are some which stand out more because of their gold coloration.

Lysimachia nummularia Aurea has golden yellow foliage and yellow flowers. Commonly known as Gold Creeping Jenny, it is a great spiller in a pot or can be used as a groundcover. I love it in my deep blue pot with the dark leaved fuchsia Gartenmeister

Golden Full Moon Maple Acer shirasawanum Aureum brightens any shady corner. It continues to be an eye catcher in autumn with leaves turning to a bright red.

Chamaecyparis obtuse Fernspray Gold is an evergreen with golden tipped fernlike sprays. This hinoki cypress plays well with others because of the softness of those sprays which you can contrast with dark green solid leafed plants like hostas or blend with a yellow twig dogwood.

Create an edging which glows in the shade using All Gold Japanese Forest Grass Hakonechloa macra All Gold. On a slope, the cascading leaves seem to flow and pull you along the path.

For a sunnier area, Potentilla fruticosa Goldfinger has deep yellow fragrant flowers which bloom all summer. It is a showy star in our Pacific Northwest because it can easily take winter moisture and summer drought.

Cotinus coggygria Ancot Golden Spirit has a name which shows a quality Olympians have. Waving airy plumes of white, this smoketree is a knockout.

Gold Bar Miscanthus and Golden Glow Juniper do not need to fight for attention. We naturally are attracted to their brightness.

These are but a few of our Gold winners. You will find many more as you stroll our paths.

During the next few weeks, we can enjoy the 2012 Olympics and root for all the athletes. They have already shown themselves to be winners just by having been chosen to represent their countries. In particular, lets keep track of our local Oregonian members of the Olympic team.

Galen Rupp from Portland distance runner

Ashton Eaton from Eugene in the decathlon.

Rich Fellers from Wilsonville equestrian.

Go for the Gold

Tags: Olympics

Via: Go for the Gold