Chocolate Mint

This spot in the garden is the lovely (ahem) septic tank access area in SJC. Two years ago it had to be torn up and many plants (including palm trees) moved to find and reach the tanks. Afterwards we put in some faux wooden stepping stones to make it easier to access next time and added a number of plants that had been propagated from cuttings in the gardens. As you can see it has filled in nicely and there is no signs of the massive undertaking that was there a couple years ago. The happiest plant seems to be this 'Chocolate Mint' scented geranium (actually a pelargonium) that gets just the right amount of dappled light to keep it growing happily without getting leggy and yet enough shade to make the dark purple splotches very prominent. If you are not familiar with this beauty, it is very easy to propagate from cuttings, easy to grow, and has a heavenly chocolate-mint aroma when the foliage is crushed. It does bloom, but the flowers are insignificant and it is primarily grown for the attractive foliage. A lovely distraction from the rather unpleasant, but necessary goings-on below it!