Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Random randomness

It was time to give Lila a bath and as any dog owner knows a good brushing before a bath is always a bonus (for your pipes as well as your dog). The brushings always occur on the lawn (uhm, or actually clover as you’ll see soon), as much as I try to keep the flying dog hair contained it is nearly impossible and outdoors is a better location. So I’m brushing away and all of a sudden both she and I jump as there is a loud POP! Like a kid’s cork pop gun. In fact something flew past my face…a near miss!

Searching for the source of the POP I discover it’s the seed heads on the Alstroemeria isabellana! They burst open with such force, a part landed on the Acanthus sennii…

And part flew all the way out to where we were sitting. The top arrow is where the Alstroemeria is and the bottom is part of the seed head shell.

Naturally I wondered just how many sees were being sprayed to and fro so I broke one open. That would be 14! Will any of them sprout? Only time will tell. I can only hope I might have a few of this amazing plant to give away in the future!

Since I already had my camera in hand there’s bound to be more photos, right? Right. My Rubus lineatus has berries!

It’s the first time, and something I was never expecting. They’re small, there’s not very many of them. But they’re tasty!

Here’s something I’ve been feeling mildly guilty about all summer. Yes there is a canna growing in my garage. And not just any canna but a C. 'Musafolia'…a special one.

The bottom of the container it’s in had completely rusted through. Last April I moved it in here to dry out so I could empty the soil and get rid of it, I procrastinated (who wants to dig out stinky soil?) and this happened. No water for months, very little light, and it grows. I should probably rescue it.

Let’s look at some new growth, you know, out in the garden, where you expect to see it. At first glance I thought the new leaves on the Pseudopanax x 'Sabre'... were some sort of insect. Beautiful color no?

New schefflera leaves are always magical, S. brevipedunculata

And look it’s going to bloom!

New leaves on the new S. delavayi...

And a bloom forming on the established S. delavayi!

No such luck on the S. taiwaniana but I must say it settled in nicely after its early spring move.

The Metapanax delavayi is also flowering. It's just starting to realize how much space and light it's got...(in other words if it decides to go for it look out!)

Do you grow these? Syneilesis aconitifolia...very hardy. If you're not you should. Seriously.

The monster Acacia pravissima is leaning out away from the house with our recent rains. I fear for his survival. If he doesn't behave we just might have to take matters into our own hands (he blocks the path into the back garden when he leans)...

Clematis tibetana var. vernayi post bloom is pretty fabulous too, don't you think?
Oh the seed pods on the Magnolia laevifolia are coloring up nicely...

And the color on the Melianthus major 'Antonow's Blue' is amazing right now! Very silver...and it's so tall. I'm going to have to cut it back to the ground before spring 2014...for sure.

Okay, in closing I've got a question. These are the leaves on my Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart' - I love this plant. I was clueless when I bought it years ago but did manage (somehow) to buy one that doesn't seed itself all over the place and has bigger than normal leaves. But look...they've got spots now...

Most of them at least. Any ideas about what's causing the spots? Of course the flowers are still fabulous!

Thank you for joining me for the random randomness....

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

36 comments:

  1. I'm putting my hand up now for an Alstroemeria isabellana, if you do manage to grow some from seed! Love your huge Melianthus. Give that Canna some love and get it out of the garage. Great random post, love all the new growth and incipient flowering.

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    1. I'm figuring there must be more to success with this plant beyond just letting it seed around (otherwise it would be more available right?). However if I do get babies one is yours for sure Alison!

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  2. So you'll need to wear goggles when you stroll around the backyard now? Maybe that's a peek at what your garden will be in 10 years or so: transitioned away from the now-passe spiky plants, full of dangerous exploding ones!

    Syneilesis aconitifolia has been added to my plant list. Looks like that and tolerates dry shade? Win! I suppose deer and rabbits love it though...

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    1. Indeed! I'll hand out goggles to everyone before they can enter the garden. That syneilesis does look like it would be tasty...I'm sorry. Man I'm glad I don't have to deal with those critters!

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  3. Canna musifolia: I think it's the most sculptural canna species. Mine has really gone to town this year. You should definitely save yours!!

    Acacia pravissima: You should stake it until the trunk is thicker and it won't flop anymore. Such a beauty. I bought a 1-gallon plant in the spring and it's at least 8 ft. tall now!!

    Syneilesis aconitifolia: I WANT ONE!!! No chance of finding one down here :-(.

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    1. I've staked the acacia, but it's just too close to the house and bending around the eaves (hard to see in that photo). If it were pulled back any further Andrew would have a heart attack about the damage it might cause to the siding. I just shouldn't have planted it there!

      I'd say that I'll keep an eye out for a syneilesis for you (and Alan) but you rarely see them in nurseries and even then usually only in the spring.

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    2. Yikes...meant to add that mail order might be the best bet...

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  4. Canna musifolia: Bad plant mom!

    Magnolia laevifolia: You've finally convinced me that I need to get one of these.

    Hibiscus syriacus 'Red Heart': Measels? Chicken Pox? Scabies?


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    1. I know right? Bad bad bad plant mom. Glad you've seen the error of your non Magnolia laevifolia owning ways.

      Ah yes...I've heard measels is making a come back. That must be it.

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  5. All that Schefflera new growth is so nice! I have Syneilesis aconitifolia in my wishlist but I can´t find it here. Could those spots be some kind of damage from the sun (burning spots)??

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    1. I hadn't thought about sun spots but perhaps. Maybe when it was just starting to leaf out. I wish I could remember when I first started to notice them.

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  6. Wonderful random topics. But did Lila get her bath, or were you both too traumatized by the Alstroemeria's assault?

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    1. Ha! Yes, the bath happened. And she didn't even seem to mind.

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  7. I put seedpods of plain old California poppies in a paper bag and spent the next few days hearing mini explosions. These plants are determined, aren't they?
    I think you may have started a run on Syneilesis aconitifolia, and the wavy leaves on the S. taiwaniana have made a believer of me (who needs flowers).

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    1. I'll put your name on my notify list...those people I'm sure to tell when I see a S. taiwaniana available at a nursery.

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  8. Soo beautiful. You're schefflera taiwaniana is pristine! I am in love with it! And it's so crazy how big that Acacia pravissima has got. Amazing!

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    1. In the interest of full disclosure the bottom leaves of the S. taiwaniana are yellowing a bit...still it's been a trooper this year!

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  9. My mom passed away this morning so this was the perfect thing for me to see today: Life goes on, sometimes with a pop or a lean or a berry. I must go on.
    Gerry down in Talent Oregon

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  10. Hi Loree, great photos. I'm putting Schefflera taiwaniana on my wish list. On the Hibiscus, I'm sure you checked the other side of the leaf for any critters, right? If everything else looks okay on the plant, it's probably a sunburn issue as Lisa mentioned. If you see critters or noticed other problems then you'll have to reassess. And you're probably going "Duh, Grace." LOL. Also I spent a lot of time tip pruning my Acacia pravissima to make it more bushy. It responds well to this treatment. Just a thought.

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    1. I did a while back Grace but your comment sent me back over there (not a "duh" at all!). Most of the bottoms looked just like the top. They yellow splotches going all the way through. However on one leaf bottom I found an odd creature, sort of fused to the bottom of the leaf. It had one set of wings and faint stripes on its body. The oddest darn thing. I'll have to take a picture.

      I did cut a particularly meddlesome branch from my acacia yesterday, at least it's easier to walk by now!

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  11. Hello Loree. This is my first time cautiously tip-toeing through the Danger Garden blog. It is absolutely fantastic! Wonderful plants. Do any of them snarl? For the Hibiscus, my first guess is also sunburn if the plant has just been introduced to a sudden change in lighting. However, I thought new growth acclimates fairly well so maybe there is a chance of mealybugs? Best of luck!

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    1. Hi Jane, welcome! No sudden change in lighting for the hibiscus, mealybugs? Damn.

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  12. Those Alstroemeria seed heads are so cool! They would look great on a wreath! And I can't believe that trouper canna in the garage! It really deserves better! Guess what? I found two berries on my Rubus lineatus after you commented on my post! And it looks as if there are more to come. Not enough for jam, though...

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    1. Yes, except you would have an exploding wreath!

      No sadly the berry production is pretty weak on my Rubus lineatus too, no bowls of berries. Still it's a nice flavor punch when you walk by and pop one in your mouth.

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  13. You know it's a danger garden when the plants take shots at you.

    It's not dog hair, it's "mulch".

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    1. Ha! Indeed.

      I did wonder if all the dog hair floating around the garden would at all keep away the neighborhood cats.

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  14. Have to agree, the flush of new leaves on Scheffleras are special indeed. Didn't know until now that Alstroemeria release their seeds with such force!

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    1. I can't speak for all Alstroemeria of course but these really could hurt!

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  15. Oh my, oh my, now your plants are taking shots at you! LOL... So many beautiful plants I can't grow outside. it seems I'm always afflicted with zone envy when I see your posts. I'd definitely take the time to rescue the canna since it's such a trouper...

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    1. I'm sorry Deanne, I know how painful a case of zone envy can be.

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  16. Maybe the damage on the Hibiscus could be thrip?
    Awesome plants as always! My morning ritual.
    Thanks!

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    1. Oh Tyler why do there need to be so many creatures who damage our plants!?

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  17. That's so funny about the exploding seed heads...Norm was in disbelief the first time the impatiens balfourii launched an attack at him last summer with their exploding seed pods. I wish my Syneilesis was as happy as yours...they just sort of limp along...I don't think they like me.

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    1. As I recall your Syneilesis is still pretty new, right? Mine has a couple of years on yours. Maybe next year is the year!

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  18. I think it's sunburn on your hibiscus, and this webpage seems to confirm that. http://www.hiddenvalleyhibiscus.com/care/hibiscusdoctor.htm

    I had plain old red/green Alstroemeria and the seeds popped too, but maybe didn't fly as far. They weren't as attractive as yours though. It was funny to hear them popping in the garden,

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