Thursday, October 13, 2016

Blooming Junction, Agave report...

Last fall I wrote about discovering an Agave planting at Blooming Junction out in Cornelius, OR. Almost an entire year had gone by and I hadn't been out that way to check on their progress, what was I thinking?!

On a beautiful sunny Saturday in September I finally made it out that way.

It's hard to tell how much they've grown (if at all)...but they are looking good.

Last winter was relatively mild, temperature wise, but – more importantly for cold-hardy Agaves – very wet. These appear to have weathered that storm with no issues.

Happy A. ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue'...

I'm not sure what this one is...maybe Agave 'Silver Surfer'?

In case you missed it, on the sign in the intro photo, I managed to visit during their "Harvest Festival"...

Initially I was worried, but the crowds weren't too bad, maybe because I was there just before closing time?

I first visited Blooming Junction in July of 2015 (post here), the display garden has grown a lot since then.

And the Agaves here are also looking good!

This one suffered a bit of rot in the center, but has made a valiant effort to keep on keeping on.

Okay this is going to be surprising. But I really liked this Gaura. I can see it playing very nicely in my front garden.

Agave ovatifolia with Yucca aloifolia 'Purpurea' (aka Yucca desmetiana 'Blue Boy') in the background.

There was a huge cutting field of Zinnia...or at least that's what it looked like to me.

I hoped to see some bouquets available for purchase inside but did not.

Entering the nursery proper....

Just a small teaser...

Before you discover the mother-load!

Yes, by now you certainly can recognize this one, right?

Seed pods on an Agave striata.

And what's this? Pups around an A. ovatifolia. That's practically unheard of. (I should have bought it...)

Just makeing a guess here but I think (R to L) Agave 'Mr. Ripple' (not so ripply though), A. gentryi (or maybe A. montana), and a pair of A. parryi. I'm not sure about the one on the upper right.

I do wish They had a list of the plants growing out on the berm by the street. I asked one of the nursery employees for the names (showing her the photos I took) and she was unable to answer my questions. Bummer. She was very educated about the planting techniques for Agave survival though, and I appreciated that.

Ouch! Reminds my of my Agave edema struggles.

Time to look around and see what there is to see besides the Agaves (I know, crazy talk...)

Ensete ventricosum 'Maurelii'

Close-up

Alocasia something or other.

Space, they've got a lot of it out here.

Didn't catch the name of this dark blue Agapanthus.

Salvia apiana

Schizostylis coccinea 'Red'

Panicum virgatum 'Cheyenne Sky' (I bought this one)

As I was leaving I spied a break in the fence which I figured was positioned right on the inside of the Agave berm. Ya, I couldn't help myself and climbed up there...

I wanted to see them up-close!



A ripply Mr Ripples? (in the foreground)

I did purchased a Mr Ripples (in addition to the grass), I needed something to go in a container out where the Agave desmettiana had spent the summer (shown here). I hope it's up for the task.

*sigh*...is there anything more beautiful than a healthy Agave? (no, the answer is no...)

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

17 comments:

  1. You bought an ornamental grass? Is that something new for you? I didn't think you were into grasses. Great shots of the Agaves, they all look just wonderful.

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    1. I wouldn't say I'm into grasses, but I appreciate them. I've got several Hakonechloa, Chasmanthium latifolium (Sea Oats), and a few Schizachyrium scoparium 'The Blues'...this one was just exceptionally beautiful in the moment so I thought "why not!?"

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  2. Wow, that's an impressive lot of agaves. Someday I'll get out there. As to the guara, it's a great plant, easy to tuck in here and there to give dimension. There's a great all white variety out there if you don't like the pink...

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    1. Thanks for the second on the beauty of the Guara! And yes, you really should plan a visit.

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  3. You were clearly in heaven! What really makes that last photo is the extreme contrast between the two plants — just gorgeous.

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  4. A kid in a candy shop has nothing on Loree in a nursery full of agaves. Perhaps next spring I'll finally make it out to Blooming Junction for the first time.

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    1. Do it! Oh and you should have seen me in Arizona last week...Agaves everywhere!

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  5. I go by there every once in a while, but they never seem to be open and I'm usually on my way to Carlton or Dancing Oaks. Guess they deserve a special visit, by the looks of this post. I'm with Ms Wis: the grass/Agave combo in your last shot is a winner.

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    1. Wait until next season Ricki, but yes...they definitely deserve a stop.

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  6. y'all do have the best nurseries and garden centers. I guess it's good I don't live up that way - I'd be a pauper.

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  7. Love that agave planting! It was cool to see so many for sale too! I'm glad you got a Mr. Ripple and look forward to hearing how it fares outside for you. Mine keeps getting bigger and if it keeps up will be to big to haul in and out. I'd love to put it in the ground!

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    1. It's a punishment to stuff it in a container, rather than put it in the ground, but we'll see...

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  8. Those in-ground Agaves are amazing. The nursery isn't too bad, either. I usually drool over A. ovatifolia, but this time around I'm mesmerized by the giant, rippled one. Such great structure and form. You are right: there aren't many things more beautiful than a healthy Agave.

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