When I started blogging (2009) one of the first local gardeners I connected with was Kate Bryant. Back then she was writing a regular column for Portland Monthly Magazine, as well as running her own garden maintenance and design company, and just generally being an inspiring plants-woman about town. She gifted me a plant I'd never heard of, a Bomarea, and shared the basics regarding it's cultural needs. I killed it. I've killed many plants over the years but that one has always stuck in my head. It was a rarity (relatively speaking) and I really wanted to see it bloom.
Fast forward to last autumn and another inspiring local plants-person (and blogger) Lance Wright posted, on a Facebook group page, a list of plants he needed to re-home. There was a Bomarea — I pounced.
Come spring I planted it in the exact spot it successfully grows in his garden — alongside a Trachycarpus on the south side of a building. Those are its long, pointed, leaves below (the three lobed leaves belong to a passion flower, written about a bit here)...
Three stems worked their way up the trunk of the tree and eventually buds appeared.
The one at the very top was the first to open.
And it's way way way up there!
Must be near 7-ft tall.
The other buds are opening too...
The shortest one decided to detach from the palm trunk and weave itself completely around a Rhododendron sinogrande leaf
While I am thrilled with this taste of success I want more!
Here's to a lot more of those cheery orange flowers in the future, and the lucky opportunity to have a do-over...
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
What a flower. Worth the wait, don't you think? Do you know where Lance got his?
ReplyDeleteI believe all signs point to Cistus.
DeleteThat is so exciting. I've killed bomareas too but doubt I'd have much success with a do-over. I love that your palm is supporting so many friends!
ReplyDeleteMe too (the friends) I've been waiting for the day when he was finally able to do it.
DeleteThe geometric palm fronds make those blooms look even more wonderful! Congrats on success with this one!
ReplyDeleteThanks Alan, I'm rather in love with this one!
DeleteBomareas are one of my favorite plants!!! So beautiful and special!! And exotic. I would love to have one...no...I would love to have many. I'm very happy for your succes!! I have a friend who makes incredibly pretty plant ilustrations and he is drawing an ilustration of a bomarea flower with hummingbirds feeding from it. I am thrilled to see it!!
ReplyDeleteI wish you many Bomareas! Is your friend working from a photo or does he have a plant?
DeleteCongrats on your success! I do love Bomarea. They're such cool flowers. I'm sure I could get one to grow up a rhododendron...
ReplyDeleteDo it!
DeleteCongratulations! Perfect placement I'd say.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris!
Delete7', huh? Were you hanging out atop a ladder to get some of those shots? If so, thanks for risking life and limb to present us with such beauty.
ReplyDeleteNope, zoom lens and extended arms!
DeleteVery cool. Kudos on your success in garden matchmaking and survival!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tim, hopefully even bigger next year.
DeleteCongrats on your success! I'm not familiar with Bomarea, so off to find out a bit more... ;-) Love your photos!
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy! If you found any great websites would you let me know?
DeleteUmmm... afraid I just went to Wikipedia and Annie's Annuals ;-)
DeleteWow, I love this idea so much. I feel like my gardening may not be advanced enough to pull it off, haha!
ReplyDeleteSinatra singing: "Love is lovelier the second time around." Hooray for your smashing success, it's a beautiful thing!
ReplyDeleteVery cool.
ReplyDelete