Orchid cactus (Epiphyllum). A relative of the familiar Christmas cactus, but the blooms are 3 inches in diameter.
This area was bare in January 2000 when I started work on it. 6 months later I finished it (more or less), although many of the plants aren't full size in this photo.
A portion of the side garden in spring 2002.
Here's another picture in the fall of 2004.
The flower color of these hydrangeas depends on the soil Ph (acid for blue, alkaline for pink).
Spring flowering heather (Erica). In warmer winters it starts flowering in late fall and contines through about March-April. Also comes in white.
Encore azalea. This azalea flowers both in spring and then again in the fall. Supposedly only marginally hardy in our area but so far it hasn't had any trouble making it through a few harsh winters.
