Anthocleista grandiflora, commonly known as the Forest fever tree.
Up close...
Oldenburgia grandis - I thought the leaves were cool but see here and here for photos of the odd flowers.
There was a hummingbird darting around these Kniphofia...eventually it started circling a little to close for comfort.
Afraid I would get in the way of a meal?
As I was trying to get a shot of the hummingbird there was a guy intensely studying a plant just a few feet away, he was kind of freaking me out. Then I realized what he was staring at...
They were all over the Gomphocarpus fruticosus/Swan milkweed.
Pretty cool eh?
Russelia equisetiformis, another of those "wish I could grow it" plants...
Sonchus canariensis...
Yes, I wish I could grow this one too, well in the ground. I do grow it in a container.
Barleria stellato-tomentosa
Dendriopoterium menendezii in the back, Sonchus in the front (that was as much as the sign said, just Sonchus)...
I bet you can't tell that Sonchus is "in the dandelion tribe within the sunflower family"...
Ha, of course you can!
Dendriopoterium menendezii
Now that's a Brugmansia!
Ah the smell...
Heaven!
And finally, Bocconia arborea - say it with me now "I wish I could..."
Next week the Desert Garden!!!
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I really need to spend more time in the OTHER gardens at the Huntington, not just the Desert Garden. Beautiful.
ReplyDeleteYes you do. The Desert Garden has my heart...but there's lots of other good stuff too...much of which I've yet to explore!
DeleteNow why can't I get my Russelia to flower like that?
ReplyDeleteI wish I had a clue...all the ones I've seen look like this - thus I thought they all did!
DeleteI guess no matter we would live in the world there would be fabulous plants to grow.
ReplyDeleteTrue, (ish).
DeleteLots of interesting oddities in that part of the Huntington. You found some of the most interesting. The Cape Chestnut tree that covers itself with pink flowers in early summer is in that section--out of bloom it's just part of the canopy and easy to overlook.
ReplyDeleteOMG...I hope you're there when it's flowering and share it with us!
DeleteI wonder how many people leave the Huntington Gardens complaining about the fact that the caretakers never weed out the dandelions?
ReplyDeleteHa! That's an excellent question.
DeleteThat's a cute, clever question, Alison. And I understand the reference to Sonchus. The caretakers don't do any actual weeding; the volunteers do under their supervision. There are tons (hundreds?) of garden volunteers who are assigned only one type of weed to pull out in one particular bed. For example, the desert garden has an iris-type and the herb garden has an onion-type. You spend your two and one-half hours on Tuesday doing just that one weed and in one small place. And you come back next week and move along the bed a bit. Then you start the whole thing over again. It is very boring and there is a huge turnover of volunteers.
DeleteLike Jane, I wish my Russelia looked half that good! Seaside Gardens in Carpenteria has stellar specimens in its demonstration garden too.
ReplyDeleteGood to know, thanks Kris, and sorry about your plant.
DeleteLove the Oldenburghia and that Kniphofia. That picture with the chrysalis is pretty cool, too. I have had such a crush on Russelia for a long time.
ReplyDeleteSounds like we both need to try it (see below).
DeleteYou found things in the subtropical garden I never bumped into, I wonder if the Oldenburgia is new since I last visited 9 years ago. Pity it isn't in the trade, it's fantastic when old, huge and blooming like I first saw it at Kirstenbosch.
ReplyDeleteThe Russellia can be grown well in the PNW, I saw a fantastic one at Little and Lewis's own garden, and they greenhoused it every winter. Here in the Bay Area it blooms best with warm, moist and rich soil, full sun to bright shade here. The more heat and water, the bigger it gets. Not a good grower if too cool in summer.
Well heck, the next time I see one I'll give it a try...
DeleteThis is another part I didn't get to. Were you there in the winter?
ReplyDeleteYes Christmastime, I think we might have even been there the same day.
DeleteSo many "we wish we could's." Your shots of Sonchus canariensis made me feel much better about my own which often gets lots of brown leaves around the green and happy looking ones. Thought I was doing something wrong. Thanks for sharing your visit to this great garden!
ReplyDelete