Tuesday, November 4, 2014

Visiting Gerhard's agave-full garden...


When Andrew and I started talking about a trip to the Bay Area it didn’t take me long to realize that meant we’d be driving right by Gerhard’s home (and garden!) in Davis, CA. I casually mentioned the trip to Gerhard, and the fact I’d love to visit and see his garden in person. If he felt any reluctance he certainly didn’t show it, we were instantly invited not only to visit but to stay. Sadly that didn’t work out (time was in short supply) but we were able to spend a few hours and for that I am very grateful. I was especially excited to see the blooming Agave desmetiana 'Variegata' he's been blogging about. My only experience with this species is my potted (and thus much smaller) plant...

Just how big is it? Well that's it peeking out from behind Gerhard, on the right. Even further right is a blooming Mangave ‘Bloodspot’. If you're curious he did a post recently about how they're developing, you can see that here.

Here's another, non-blooming, ‘Bloodspot’.

Looking back over Gerhard's left shoulder towards the driveway I had to include this photo because I so loved that rectangular container with the three cactus (Ferocactus glaucescens), simple perfection.

Okay here's the first of several jumps we'll do around his garden. We started at the front entry but now we're in the back garden. Shortly after arriving we were whisked back to the patio to enjoy a cool beverage before beginning the garden tour proper.

This (below) is the farthest corner from the photo above. You can barely make out the top of this Cordyline australis (below) in the photo above.

This gorgeous Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor' has me remembering Gerhard's generosity in gifting me a pup of similar size (along with a few other things).


I love it when an aeonium gets all branched and curvy.

There were many parts of the garden I knew well (having seen them detailed on Gerhard's blog) and others that were completely new to me. This was one of those, "oh I know this spot" moments, the aeoniums! Gerhard planted up an area near the a/c unit and these guys have exploded with growth (aeoniums in the ground, oh how I wish I could do that too).

Agave ovatifolia ‘Vanzie’, swoon-worthy.

I've seen many an Agave guiengola ‘Crème Brûlée’ but never felt the urge to purchase. This one may have changed that, it was amazing with those plump leaves...

I want this Agave chiapensis, but it's only hardy to 25-30F so it would be another container plant for me, absolutely beautiful...

This scene plays out behind the chairs we relaxed in upon our arrival.

That's also where the filtered sun lit up an Agave 'Cornelius' perfectly.

But wait, have you been counting? Do you realize how many agaves we've seen already? We're not even half way through this long post and I haven't shared all there were. Some I didn't manage to photograph, others I had to edit out lest this post go on for days. It was overwhelming, in a very good way...Gerhard is an agave collector of the highest order and he is extremely knowledgeable about them all. This one is Agave desmetiana 'Variegata' - a pup from the plant out front.

Agave victoriae-reginae

I love this vignette...

And this happy conglomeration...Aloe cameronii x maculata, Agave lophantha ‘Quadricolor’, Agave ‘Red Margin’ (Agave shawii x attenuata)...(thanks to Gerhard for the ID's on these and several others)...

And an Agave parryi, wow!

Okay, another location change. Now were back out in the front garden, on the covered patio just outside the dining room. I'd pictured this area much smaller than it is, turns out it's just the perfect size. Andrew and I both commented how much we wish we had a space like this just outside our house. Of course ours would be filled with containers too...

Love the red spikes on the potted Euphorbia enopla. It looks like a many-headed monster reaching out for a hug.

While I was in awe of the sheer number of agaves in Gerhard's garden in general, I was quite amazed at the number of potted specimens (he may have more than I do). All are very happy and well cared for...

Manihot grahamii, huge and fabulous. Oh to stand under those leaves!

Spikes! (Ferocactus wizlenii)

More spikes! (Ferocactus emoryi with Echinocactus grusonii in background)

And even more spikes! (Ferocatus latispinus)

What a combo: Sago palm (Cycas revoluta) and Asian lemon bamboo (Bambusa eutuldoides 'Viridividatta')...

I knew Gerhard had placed a collection of pots on top of the fence that borders the front garden, and I never could quite wrap my head around the idea. But I was picturing a tall fence, this one is not so tall, even short me could comfortably look at the plants on top of the fence.

I like the interest they add.

Plus they let the neighbors know just what kind of guy is at work behind that wall (a plant lover).

A moment of confession, I've never noticed Verbena bonariensis at this stage. Seeing it like this made me want to grow it, I love the long brown "fingers" with blue blooms at the end.

Just the slighted blush of red (orange?) on the Leucadendron ‘Safari Sunset’...

Ah, this makes me miss my Musella lasiocarpa! (it bloomed and then last winter's freeze did in the pups). So beautiful.

Now we visit the driveway bed, situated between Gerhard's driveway and the neighbors. The area is anchored by a Parkinsonia ‘Desert Museum’ - and oh how it's big it's gotten...

This is another one of those trees I wish I could grow...

I think this area was my favorite part of the garden, the plants and the way they've been put together, it was just lovely.

Plus this was my first time seeing an Agave ‘Snowglow...

Absolutely stunning!

As is this Agave parrasana, love the teeth marks.

Agave ovatifolia ‘Frosty Blue’

And (pow!) Agave Agave 'Joe Hoak', so gorgeous...

Tall Aloe cryptopoda blooms look great against the Palo Verde foliage, don't you agree?

Now we've moved on from the drive way and are working our way around the front of the house. I was happy to see an Aloe arborescens 'Variegata' in the ground, mine is forever doomed to life in a container.

Before I share Gerhard's streetside garden I must pause to point out one of the more interesting benefits of living in Davis, CA. See those piles in the street? They're not just the result of a pruning homeowner with a bad attitude, no...in Davis you just pile your yard waste in the street and the city picks it up. Can you imagine?

Okay, back to the garden. Here we have Aloe ‘Hercules’ and Parkinsonia ‘Sonoran Emerald’ the (for me) feature plants in Gerhard's recently reworked side garden. He can't even see these plants from the house or garden proper, he's sharing them with the neighborhood.

Did you notice the Caesalpinia gilliesii on the far left? There were many other wonderful, smaller, plants in this part of the garden, but at this point my camera finger was getting tired and lunch seemed like a good idea...

So we took off for a nearby restaurant and enjoyed a lovely lunch and margaritas, of course! (agave drinks for the agave lovers - that's Gerhard on the left and my husband, Andrew, on the right) Thank you Gerhard for a wonderful afternoon in your garden, a tasty lunch and of course the plants you sent home with me!

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

43 comments:

  1. Loree, thank you so much for your wonderful post. This is the first time somebody else has written about my garden. Reading it felt a bit surreal--like a horticultural out-of-body experience.

    I guess I do have a lot of agaves. I tend to forget. Working on growing more pups that I can give you next time you visit!

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    1. I remember seeing my garden on Pam's blog years ago, horticultural out-of-body experience is a great way to describe the feeling! You DO have a lot of agaves, but there seems to be room for a few more...

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  2. What a fabulous treat to see Gerhard's garden. So many Agaves, and a knowledgeable plant geek to talk about them with, you must have been in heaven! Thanks for sharing your visit with us.

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    1. Indeed, if only we'd have time to visit the UC Davis Arboretum or a nursery!

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  3. I love seeing a new side of Gerhard's garden. I can never comment on his posts without a Google/WP account, but I can comment on yours, so I hope Gerhard hears how much I enjoy seeing his beautiful dry garden full of agaves! You must have been in heaven, Loree. I see from your pics of the low fence with potted plants that he gardens in a traditional, lawn-happy suburban neighborhood, just as I do. I hope his example inspires his neighbors to follow suit, especially since CA is suffering so greatly with the drought.

    Austin also picks up yard waste each week, mixes it with treated sewage sludge, and turns it into composted Dillo Dirt, which is available for purchase in local nurseries and good stuff for everything but edible gardens. I love it because I don't compost myself, but I like knowing my yard clippings are being turned into compost by the city.

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    1. Pam, I've changed the settings for my blog so anybody can comment now (not just people with a Google account or OpenID). So please try again!

      Thank you also for your wonderful comments. I'm not sure I've inspired anybody yet to take concrete action but quite a few neighors have said how nice our new bed looks and asked about various plants. At least I've gotten them to think. That's a good start.

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    2. So glad you enjoyed the post Pam and yes, it was heaven. Although honestly I did get a little jealous of some of the plants he can grow (and in the ground!).

      Portand picks up our yard waste too, but you have to put it in big plastic containers (like the trash and recycling). It's that "just toss it in the street" aspect that I'm in awe of. Is that how Austin does it too?

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    3. No, it has to be bagged or bundled in Austin too. Still, it's pretty sweet to have that option rather than worrying about it going in the landfill, especially the bigger cuttings.

      Gerhard, thank you for changing your comment settings! I'm glad you told me.

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  4. We miss you guys!!

    Gerhard's garden is fabulous, so many drool worthy plants and the way he arranged and presented them is inspiring! Thoroughly enjoyed reading your post and seeing your take on his garden, and as we regularly follow his blog the images felt familiar but different at the same time.

    It was interesting to see the evolution and changes in Gerhard's plant preference through the years, from an avid bamboo collector to a spiky one. A fascinating transition :) So looking forward to our turn to seeing his garden in the flesh, hopefully soon...

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    1. The visit would have been so much "funner" (that's a word right?) if you both had been there. Maybe next time?

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  5. I can easily see how you were enchanted with this garden and its host. I'm betting Gerhard was equally enthusiastic to have a like-minded gardener to share it with.

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    1. He didn't seem to mind too much taking the afternoon off to talk plants...

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  6. Great garden - Thanks for the tour!

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  7. Gerhard lives in quite an alien climate compared to over here, but I did enjoy viewing the plants in his garden.

    I miss the sunshine at the moment; it doesn't get light until 7.30am and the sun is set by 4.40pm plus the strength of the sunshine is watery.

    It's funny when I see loads of what I consider exotic plants in one of the gardens that you visit and then I see a Cordyline australis plonked in the middle. Don't get me wrong, I really like Cordylines and if my climate wasn't prone to dreadful cold snaps then I would grow them. I used to live in the south west of England when I was a boy and Cordylines were ten a penny down there and I used to take them fore-granted. It was only when I moved to colder parts of the UK that I realised that they weren't that common.

    PS. I haven't forgotten about the shot of my Paulownia, it has a couple of leaves left on it and when they go I will take a photo and send it to you.

    PPS. Seeing that photo of the Agave victoria-reginae makes me realise that my big one doesn't seem to be doing too well. I have had it for a few years now and it is put in the dry over autumn and winter, but since bringing it inside a month ago some of the top leaves have started going black and are slowly shrivelling. I am not sure what is going on.

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    1. Alien is a great way to describe that climate. We're relatively close but yet it's a completely different world. I do remember how many cordylines I saw when we were in London, they were everywhere! Some plants are common for a good reason right?

      Thanks for the Paulownia update, can you believe mine hasn't lost a single leaf yet?

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  8. How wonderful I'm so glad that you were able to see Gerhard's garden. He is not only a wonderful gardener but the sweetest guy you'll ever meet. He is so generous and thoughtful. I have called and bent his ear a number of times. Maybe next time you are in the area you can come and say hi at Sweetstuff's. That is a formal invitation.

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    1. Thank you for the invite and I hope to be able to take you up on that!

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  9. That must have been so fun! Fun also seeing a different take on an agavefull garden.

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    1. I just wish we would have had more time, that's always the issue though isn't it?

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  10. What a collection! I'm surprised you ever left, Loree. I was intrigued by Agave 'Snow Glow' before but not it's on my "must have" list with 'Joe Hoak and a few others.

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    1. I hope you mean it is "now on" your must have list? It's a good one. Such beautiful colors. As for leaving it helped that we visited him on our way to the Bay Area, the whole vacation ahead!

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  11. After receiving my last water bill ($327) and having a mild stroke, I can only wonder at such a beautiful and low water garden. Really lovely! Thanks for the tour!

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    1. Yikes! I fear our next bill might be in that territory what with the break in the main pipe pouring gallons...

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  12. Wow! a real feast for the eye. I feel like I am really missing out not seeing your garden Gerhard. You and Candy. I need to visit before it gets too cold.

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  13. This garden is as wonderful as its gardener! I'd no idea that Gerhard had so many gorgeous agaves! So much to love here - that huge Manihot grahamii, the amazing agaves, the curbside yard waste pick up! I'm ready to move, how about you?

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    1. Sure, maybe we could pool our resources and by a winter home there, then rent it out in the summer?

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  14. Great!! beautiful plants cared by a plant loving man :) thanks for this tour around Gerhard´s beautiful garden
    :)

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  15. Wow! What a visit. A true agave lover. So happy to see the A. demet. in bloom. I had one that flowered too late in the season and was killed by frost. I wouldn't be without that one and it keeps me in pups. I love the way you document every single plant. If only I could write those names down before they are lost. Thanks for the amazing visit.

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    1. Oh if only I could document every single plant! I had to leave so many out and of the ones that were included Gerhard helped with the ID of many.

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  16. I'm glad you visited Loree -- Gerhard just doesn't show some angles of his garden. :)

    It's also nice to see Gerhard in some of the photos of his plants. I'm going to start doing that myself in my own garden...

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    1. Will you rig up a camera holding device like for taking your aerial shots or ask your wife to take the photos?

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  17. sandy lawrenceNovember 05, 2014

    Wow. What a fabulous garden, clearly well-loved. Magnificent specimen plants in every shot. Thanks for the tour; gorgeous photos as always. I keep looking back at the pots on the fence. I love that touch! (Obviously, Gerhard does not have raccoons!)

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    1. Sandy, we do have raccoons in the neighborhood but I've never seen one in our yard. It's funny, everybody seems to be surprised that these pots stay up on the fence or don't get stolen. The only time some fell off was during the South Napa earthquake on 8/24/14.

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    2. I briefly thought I'd follow his lead and place some containers on top of our fence, that lasted about an hour until I watched a squirrel climb up and over the container, somehow not knocking it off but just barely.

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  18. Loved seeing this garden if only virtually. It would be so wonderful to live in a climate where you didn't have to drag, lift, and maneuver heavy containers in and out of a greenhouse every winter! Gerhard has some real beauties! Just when I vow to cut back on plant expenditures I see that Agave chiapensis, what a gorgeous plant! The Agave 'Joe Hoak' looks like the one I gave Sean.

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    1. I cannot imagine living in that climate, and yes that agave is a must have. I still haven't manged to make it by Sean's to appreciate your former agave in person. Thanks for the reminder!

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  19. Thanks, both of you, for a tour of Gerhard's agave wonderland. I can't get over the size of that manihot!

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  20. what a wonderfull garden !!!!!

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