Monday, May 21, 2012

Rare Plant Research Open House, 2012


This is either my 6 or 7th annual pilgrimage out to Oregon City and the home of Rare Plant Research. It used to be that Andrew would send me off with a “buy lots of cool things” farewell. This time he just said “don’t spend more than $30.” My friend Julie laughed and they both had fun joking about how I would likely exceed that number. But you know what? I came very close to hitting that target. In fact if not for the plant I bought specifically for him then I would have been under $30, crazy!

We started our tour in the “not for sale” collections greenhouse. A great way to get your exotic plant lust a flowing…

And then went into the dry caudiciform house.

Burl (the man behind the nursery) seems to be pulling back from growing so many Agaves, and there weren’t any new Aloes, something that surprised me since Aloes seem to be the “it” succulent right now. A lot of the cool plants I saw this weekend I already have, or were really beyond my budget ($30 or otherwise), like this $175 Yucca.

Here are some friends of Lil’ Sanford (my newest Yucca rostrata which I bought from Burl/Rare Plant Research booth at the Hardy Plant Society of Oregon plant sale in April)…

Yucca linearifolia

Ice plant was spilling across the floor in a couple of the green houses.

Seeing plants like this in multiples is even better than just one or two…

Although this much Tetrapanax is a little intimidating.

Near the olive plants there was a young man (a shopper) explaining to an older couple that indeed you can grow olives in the Willamette Valley. They were not so sure, and were still shaking their heads long after he walked away.

There were several interesting planted-up containers for sale around the nursery, unfortunately I only took one picture.

Aloe dorotheae

A sea of Senecio.

Asparagus densiflorus

Bromeliads…in an assortment of hurt your eyes brights.

I don't remember the name of this plant, but every year in the “not for sale” collections greenhouse I fondle its leaves. This is the first year I remember seeing it for sale…I came oh so close to buying one, then realized it’s the kind of plant that draws your attention fast…but then can’t really hold on to it.

I was also tempted by these…

And these…

And this!

But since I’ve grown all three of those before, and lost or tossed them (in the case of the Furcraea, it was looking pitiful), I just walked on.

I have no idea what this crazy business is. Anyone?

Finally we took the short walk up to the owner’s home on the hill, which is really beginning to take on a convincing “patina”…

Since I’ve shown you all the things I didn’t buy, here’s what I did…

I fell for a couple of those day-go Bromeliads…

And bought a second Aloe dorotheae, at only $6.50 how could I not?

For Andrew I picked up this Pachypodium succulentum.

And as you can see from these last few photos the rain returned to Portland yesterday. Our 14-day dry streak was nice while it lasted, but it is only May, and that means rain.

32 comments:

  1. Wow, my eyes didn't even know where to begin, there's so much to see. This is a place I'd love to visit. Is it open to the public or just for open houses?

    And the owner's home, OMG, it looks like a fairytale estate!

    I have a Pachypodium succulentum, too, and can't wait for it to put on some size.

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    1. It's not regularly open to the public, that's why this weekend is so special. They do have a garden party in July, catered dinner on the terrace at the house, live music, and plants too! If you sign up on their mailing list (on the website) you'll get notifications.

      When I asked about the Pachy Burl started telling me stories about it in the wild...if only!

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  2. "I have no idea what this crazy business is. Anyone?"
    Looks like it might be some type of tree dahlia - Dahlia imperialis, I think...
    And those mysterious wide, soft leaves might belong to Tibouchina heteromalla.

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    1. Thank you! Everyone else agrees with you too...

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  3. Lots of gems there Loree, and well restrained sticking to around your target of $30.

    The plant with furry leaves is a type of Tibouchina, and the sticks in the pots are tree dahlias being propagated (more likely they are Dahlia imperialis). The bromeliad you bought is stunning!

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    1. Yikes looks like I somehow missed your comment yesterday! The best part of my restraint is that I'm not suffering any "wish I would have bought that" regret!

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  4. I thought of you when I saw all those Castor bean plants, Loree!

    This was my first visit to RPR, and it was so interesting to see the greenhouses "behind the scenes" of the growing operation. In spite of myself, I was inspired by the lovely house and the amazing amount of work it must have taken, and which the gardens still do take. A neighbor-helper there said Burl and his wife (who has a regular "day" job at the airport, apparently) do it all themselves!

    And I agree with rosekraft: I remember the tag on those soft wide-leaved plants as Tibouchina. They were very tempting but there was so much else that was also tempting: I had to hold back, but I didn't come home empty-handed!

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    1. I had forgotten that you'd never been to RPR Jane! Yes can you imagine how busy they are? My first (or second?) visit they had just started on the house, it's been fun to watch it develop. I can't imagine driving to the airport from Oregon City but I'm sure her travel benefits come in handy when they want to run off to South Africa to do some plant hunting.

      Can't wait to see what you bought! (assuming you'll be posting)

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  5. Well, if you went over-budget for him...I think you're excused ;-) I wonder if the mystery plant (the stem with a few leaves popping out) might be a Dahlia imperialis?

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    1. My thoughts exactly, besides it wasn't like he really expected me to stick to that number!

      (popular opinion agrees with your i.d.)

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  6. I succumbed to the castor bean plant, even though I know you didn't have luck with it. Now the question remains: did you have one of those craaaaazy big glasses of wine? I had to have a nap afterward.

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    1. I know many others who have had Castor Beans look fabulous in their garden and reseed like crazy, so you were smart to try it. I hate to admit it but I've already lost two plants this year (sorry Denise!). They were gift seedlings and the just didn't like the move from Southern California to Portland (can't really blame them for that). Hope yours gets huge this summer!

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    2. Oh and the wine question...no, we were off to lunch after our visit and we knew we'd drink a little vino there, so no wine at RPR, I have in the past enjoyed a glass though!

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  7. Good sale, Danger! Great variety pictured, and all, but that you only exceeded $30 with Mr. Danger's plant may be the best of all. I wonder if I can go to any of my local nurseries and pick up on the nice seed-grown yuccas you showed? My guess is not, which is odd, since they all look to be from Mtn States in Arizona. Glad someone is appreciating them!

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    1. I thought for sure people would be gathering around those Yucca and fighting for them...not the case, but then I was there early.

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  8. That looks like an amazing place! I shall visit it one day! When I saw the picture of the bromeliads I was sooo hoping you got one so when I finally made it to the bottom of the post to see your loot it was pretty exciting. It reminds me of freckled lemonade in plant form! The owners house kind of looks like a dream! It definitely needs more palms in my humble opinion. But those giant bromeliads they have planted... I think I could handle a couple of those.

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    1. Yes you definitely need to visit someday! Plan a trip down with time to visit several nurseries during the RPR open house, what fun!

      If memory serves there are a couple of very tall palms near the garage and around the back of the house, I just didn't get pictures for you!

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  9. I see that someone already ID'd the awesome fuzzy leafed plant... a tibouchina. We had one last year until we didn't get it inside in time. We're hopefully getting another from the same local (Charleston, SC)
    grower. Logee's carries the Japanese Lantern Hibiscus and it's on sale right now: http://www.logees.com/Hibiscus-Japanese-Lantern-Hibiscus-schizopetalus/productinfo/R1330-4/

    Our castor bean plant has sowed itself, even amongst all the cat poop in that corner!

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  10. Oh and this: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tHY-vQBAd1k/T7lsUpBID2I/AAAAAAAAfd8/S6H4D2F5uiM/s1600/RPR+12+31.JPG is a Blood Lilly. Ours just broke ground last week and should be fully open in the next few days.

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    1. Thank you for all the great info Evita! My Blood Lily (bought from RPR about 3 years ago) also suffered from not getting inside when it should have. Such a cool bloom!

      I just clicked over to your blog...WOW! Great color and leaf mix in your border!

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    2. Thank you so much for the lovely compliment! You're a wonderful inspiration and today's post has reminded me to be very patient. We're really only in our second year and have so much to accomplish. BTW, do you have a post for that awesome pergola?

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    3. Here's when we first put it up back in 2009, it's appeared in several posts after that but this one shows it's construction:

      http://dangergarden.blogspot.com/2009/06/shade-pavilion-goes-up.html

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    4. Thank you!, it's absolutely brilliant! Wait, your husband is part of http://www.schoolhouseelectric.com/? OMG.

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    5. A Schoolhouse fan? Yes, he's the guy that makes sure everything happens before the product is on the website/sales floor and after the customer says "I want that"... I might be a tiny bit biased but I think he's pretty amazing.

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    6. Oh yeah, since one of the Design*Sponge posts a couple years back! It's ok to be biased. ;)

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  11. I must have unwittingly grabbed the Echium pininana from the "not for sale ' area. No wonder he wouldn't let me have it. even after I told him my sad tale of my dead one. He only had the one.

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    1. Oh no...that must have been heart breaking. I tried to buy a South African bulb last year that he wouldn't part with.

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  12. The bromeliads you brought home look as if the came from a blood splattered crime scene.

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    1. I think someone is watching too much TV!

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  13. What a feast for the eyes. I'm left wondering how you care so well for all these orphans you bring home.

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    1. Bromeliads are easy...it's the Pachypodium I'm most worried about. I don't have a good history with that kind of plant.

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  14. Great loot, Loree! I am more impressed with your restraint now. I'm drooling looking at your pictures. I would love to have some of those babies in my collection.

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