Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Great source for bargain succulents (and more!)...Bauman's Farm and Garden

Back when I decided to make the trek south to the Mosaic Gardens Open House I started wondering about what nurseries along the way I could work into the trip. Bauman's Farm and Garden has been my go-to booth at the Yard Garden & Patio Show every year, due to their bargain succulent selection. Perhaps it was time to visit their nursery in Gervais, Oregon. I was there very early on a Saturday morning; only the second car in the parking lot. The employees were all out watering plants and tidying up the displays, and you know what? They were all so nice…like really really nice, genuinely nice. It was earlier than I am usually out and about on a Saturday morning, so the whole thing was a little surreal. I asked where the restrooms were located and was directed to follow the path under the kiwi arbor. Yes there really is a kiwi arbor! And it was gorgeous. Multiple Gunnera were enjoying the shade it provided. Walking out from the cool darkness you were suddenly in their display gardens. I took a lot of pictures but most of them didn’t turn out well due to the bright sun. This combo of hardy bananas (Musa Basjoo) and a monkey puzzle tree (Araucaria araucana) seemed like an odd one. They are both two of my favorite plants but they seemed a little disparate stuck here together on an island. Here is a shocking admission…I am starting to enjoy seeing a Blue Spruce in the landscape. I know. I can’t believe it. Little did I know I’d be seeing a lot of horseradish that day. Everyone seems to be growing it as an ornamental. (a very invasive ornamental I might add). Heading back into the nursery I came face to face with the largest hanging baskets I’ve seen… Cypella herbertii, kind of crazy little flowers huh? I do love Zinnia. If I had a cutting garden I would be growing lots of them. Especially the green ones. The Bauman’s booth is where I bought my Palm Leaf Begonia at the YG&P Show…I am so happy I did. Love this plant. The combo of the shaggy Echinacea with the Asparagus densiflorus (Asparagus fern) in the background was such a textural treat. I had to touch them both, multiple times. (I’m kind of strange that way; you don’t want to take me to an art museum). I love a big grouping of Colocasia and Alocasia… Especially if backlit buy the morning sun. If I ever have a home on acreage I would definitely need one of these to get around. Load it up with my gardening gear, a few new plants…and off I’d go! Okay so enough goofing off, time to get to the reason we’re here! The spiky plants… Aloe carmine Agave bracteosa…big…and only $12.99! Of course I bought one. This little agave is a mystery. The sign and tag say Agave El Montevideo, yet this agave clearly has no side teeth. And the one in the picture does. . I think it looks much more like an Agave ocahui (recently spotted in the garden of JJ De Sousa, of Digs Inside & Out). Can anyone shed a little light on this disagreement? I am particularly interested because I bought one.

My final purchase was an Agave attenuata 'Boutin Blue'…so perfect…so affordable, I had to take it home. Tomorrow we visit Fry Road Nursery in Albany, OR.

11 comments:

  1. Great plants...I have never heard of horseradish being grown as an ornamental. In Germany where I lived as a kid it grows more or less wild in the meadows and if anyone cultivates it then only in a utilitarian herb garden. Here in Michigan I cannot recall ever seeing the plants at all...

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  2. Bauman's isn't that far from my neck of the woods. I should head on up there one of these days. I really like Agave attenuata.

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  3. Placement for a monkey puzzle tree can be tricky. I hope mine will look more at home than that, but it will probably be several years before we know for sure.

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  4. I love Baumans. I have found so many great plants, fruits, yard art and trees there and they have great prices too. We try to make a trip out there every couple months for fun. And we always have to get a bag of fresh doughnuts...for the kiddo of course. : )

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  5. what a great nursery visit. I don't generally worry too much about what the plant is called, just if it will grow where I live. The thing I want to know is, how come your zone 8 is so different from our zone 8 1/2 going on 10, 11, 12? How will I ever be able to come to terms with my own garden after all this color and cool air!

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  6. Agave ghiesbreghtii. I swear this agave isn't more popular because of that name alone.

    Here's a good illustration of how varied this species can be:

    http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/showimage/223199/

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  7. A fantastic looking place Loree, looks like they've got everything in the exotic plant spectrum!

    Funny you mentioned about the blue spruce. I've always liked this Conifer and the intensity of it's icy blue colour. I've got one and still pondering whether to plant it out or not (might not fit in with the overall scheme is my hesitation), I'm starting to get swayed into planting it soon.

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  8. This is a nice looking nursery. We have one with a similar feel in Hamburg, NY, Lockwoods. It was visited by the Buffalo Fling group last year. Did you attend?

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  9. Brian Bauman here... Thank you so much for the lovely comments and so happy that you had a great time and if you don't mind I would love to share your post with the staff. Its always nice to bring good things to our staff meeting and say good job. You will have to come again in the fall, it truly is a harvest wonderland!

    Thanks Brian

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  10. College Gardener, I've got mine (horseradish) in a container along with my Tetrapanax. Big leaves! I figured that was safer than putting it in the ground, where it could go crazy. It's both pretty, and tasty!

    Grace, you totally should! And I didn't even mention the farm part of the store...so many good smells and pretty fruits and veggies!

    ricki, great point...they change so much in the transition from baby to adult.

    Three on Grove, thank you for mentioning the doughnuts! I completely forgot the farm side of the store!!! (one track mind)

    Lancashire Rose, for me getting the correct name on my succulents is vital. That way I know if they have to come into the house for the winter or can stay outside under cover. As for coming to terms...maybe you can just keep traveling until things cool down there!?

    Brian, are you Brian Bauman who commented below? I get that the name on the tag is just another Proven Winners make-up name but even when you look up Agave ghiesbreghtii there are still teeth and this agave clearly has no teeth!

    Mark and Gaz, thank you! Hearing that you guys are also a little obsessed (my word not yours) with this conifer makes me feel a little better. So please....take pictures! It will help me visualize it in my garden (gasp!) to see it in yours...

    g walk g talk, I did not. My budget didn't allow for it.

    Brian, thanks for stopping by and commenting! Your place truly is special...and I meant it about your staff! Every single one of them was amazing! I wish you weren't "so far" (it's relative) away from Portland, but I will definitely be back! I'm also looking forward to what bargain succulents you might bring to the 2012 YG&P Show!

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  11. Nice plant farm...good thing it is too far away for me to go broke there. ;)

    Re El Montevideo: yours does look like A. ocahui. As far as proven winners goes, El Montevideo = A. ghiesbreghtii. Though they are variable. You can never be 100% sure with a lot of Agaves.

    The other possibility is 'Blue Glow', they can look pretty green in a pot, but the tips and backs look more ocahui.

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