Val culture developed within the Santa Clara Valley prior to its assimilation into the San Fernando Valley. I totally know how to use “like” in a sentence, and can do so repeatedly if I like. These Six are not about Val culture during the 1980s though. They are just a few items that are sort of like each other, and five items that I like. Eventually, I will like the item that I do not yet like. Totally!
1. Sambucus nigra ‘Black Lace’ is an ornamental cultivar of European elderberry. As the name implies, it has darkly bronzed and intricately lobed foliage. All but two of the herd of cuttings that I plugged rooted. I wanted a few, but got forty-eight. I was not at all fond of this cultivar or even this species when I met it a few years ago, but I now sort of like it.
2. Clivia miniata, Kaffir lily lacks bloom now, but like ‘Black Lace’ European elderberry, provides colorfully ornamental foliage. It is variegated with these narrow yellow stripes. I believe it blooms orange. I do not know what cultivar it is. It came from Brent’s garden.
3. Canna ‘Stuttgart’, like the Cymbidium and the other two Canna, lacks a species name. Like 1, 2 and 4, it provides colorful foliage. Like 4 and 5, it is a Canna. It has a lot to like. Most importantly, it came from Tangly Cottage Gardening, and is approved by Skooter!!
4. Canna ‘Australia’ might be described like ‘Stuttgart’ Canna above, but is not approved by Skooter. Its colorful foliage is darkly bronzed, but this specimen is striped with green.
5. Canna ‘Cannova Mango’, like 3 and 4, is a Canna, but that is about its only similarity. I do not like it much because it is a modern cultivar, and it blooms with this weird color.
6. Cymbidium orchid, like 3, 4 and 5, lacks a species name. I like it because I have grown it since the early 1990s. Bloom began in March, but is only now beginning to deteriorate.
This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/
Tony Tomeo 
You have a nice collection of cannas. Mine are too happy and always need to be controlled.
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Mine are also too happy; and those that are not shown here must be given to neighbors.
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I’m a bit dizzy now, but am searching for a pencil to draw a Venn diagram of your likes and not likes. C. australia looks a bit wonky, and I am Totally impressed by the Sambuncus success. C. ‘Stuttgart’ remains on my ‘ not like ‘ list because it hasn’t performed well for me. It must need more sun or less of something. I am missing your usual white flowers. There must be a pencil around here somewhere…..
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Well, I work with landscapes that are not mine. I must consider what ‘most’ people like. Also, the other horticulturist here selects what he likes, which is how I met the ‘Black Lace’ elderberry. I did not like it at first, but after pruning it for a few winters, I find that it is quite appealing as long as I do not look at it. I did not like ‘Australia’ Canna when I acquired it, but a neighbor wanted it to contrast with the pale yellow houseleek in my planter box downtown. It is not easy to dislike it after getting so many compliments about its rich foliar color. I like to take credit for it, even though it was not my idea. I am not so keen on the variegated Kaffir lily, but I know that it will be a bit more prominent than unvariegated Kaffir lily amongst ivy. ‘Stuttgart’ Canna was one that I actually requested from Skooter’s garden. It is tall and elegant, and the random variegation is lighter green and white.
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Funny how things will ‘grow on you’ after a while…
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It is one of the many pleasures associated with working within landscapes that appeal to others.
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That is a long lasting orchid. I like the canna foliage and agree about the flowers, I dislike most of the flowers.
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The orchid typically does not last so long in this semi arid climate. This spring has been unusually humid. Most of the Canna bloom with nicely colorful flowers, but get sloppy without deadheading. The tall sorts are not so colorful, but are very lush with foliage. That is the appeal of ‘Stuttgart’. ‘Australia’ blooms with a nice red flower, but to me, it looks somewhat demonic on top of that dark foliage. I got it for the foliage, so the bloom is merely a bonus anyway. This mango colored flower is popular, . . . but I prefer the simpler yellow orange or red. I got a piece for my own garden, but the primary specimen is going to a neighbor.
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I will use cannas for foliage but always cut the flowers off..
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While grooming the ‘Wyoming’ bloom, I am sometimes tempted to do the same. I could do it for the Canna musifolia types, but to me, they look ‘topped’ afterward. Besides, the Canna musifolia types do not get as sloppy as those with showier bloom.
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