Tuesday, January 24, 2017

My Los Angeles haul...

No doubt some of you have caught wind of the fact I jumped on a plane last Monday, (the 16th), and headed south to the land of palm trees, sand, sun and blue skies...aka Los Angeles. I love this city. So much. There was a time when it wasn't cool to love L.A. — if you had to have a crush on any city in California it had better be San Francisco — not sprawling and "fake" Los Angeles. Whatever.


The getaway had been planned long before Portland's snowpocalypse, but just may have saved my sanity. I can only look at a landscape of white, and bundle up for sub-freezing temperatures, for so long. I was on the verge of retreating to the basement and hiding in a corner until July.

So...it was a quick trip, just 3 full days on the ground, but I made the most of it. A definite highlight was visiting the garden that inspires the blog Piece of Eden, and meeting up there with Kris, from Late to the Garden Party. I have so many photos to share!

But until then here's my haul from the trip...

The only purchased plant is this tiny Agave. I know it as Agave 'Royal Spine'...

It also goes by the silly name of 'Little Shark' — I had a beautiful one of these but it unfortunately gave in to rot, a poorly draining container that I didn't notice until it was too late. Now I get to try again.

This beauty was a gift from "Hoover Boo" (the blogger behind Piece of Eden). A pup from her dwarf Agave titanota...

Truth be told, as I was packing it in my carry-on luggage, I wondered "is this when TSA finally says no?" Thankfully they waived me on through, no worries!

Hoov also shared this little Aloe baby. Aren't the stripes fabulous? It's Aloe deltoideodonta (possibly var. fallax, or possibly not, according to Hoov).

I was worried about getting it home without damage, then while enjoying my iced non-fat mocha the next morning, I had a vision. Cutting the bottom off the cup, and sliding the plant in from the top, gave it just the extra TLC it needed.

Finally, there is this!

Hoov took Kris and I over to tour the garden of a neighbor and friend, K, whom casually mentioned that if we wanted any of her "ground-cover" Tillandsia (!!! really!!!) let her know. I was extremely intrigued at the idea but thought I couldn't possibly ask for any. Then as she toured us around the garden and I kept seeing more, more, more, I finally thought "what the heck" and asked. She reached down and grabbed a huge chunk, and then another. I almost passed out.

This is gonna make a great accent plant on Clifford (my Magnolia macrophylla) this summer!

Weather Diary, January 23: Hi 49, Low 33/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

43 comments:

  1. That's an incredible haul. I'm in the process of planning a SoCal and San Fran trip for spring break. I need the warmth!!! I always get LA haters when I tell people how it's one of my favourite places. Way to be shameless about the SoCal love!

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    1. Yay for sunny spring break getaways! I spent a couple of weeks in LA in a former life, training for a new job. Everyone looked at me with pitty when I told them where I was going. I just don't get it.

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  2. That Tillandsia is insane!!! Assume it can grow on trees as well?

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    1. Indeed, and even rocks. That was my first introduction to it there in the garden. A fairly porous rock in partial shade was covered with it. Photos to come eventually...

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  3. Loved LA both times I've been there. Nice haul and looking forward to more about meeting the other gardeners.

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    1. It's always a good time when garden bloggers get together!

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  4. Oh wow, LA! And especially after seeing La La Land...

    The timing of your trip sounds perfect, a nice break from all that snow.

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    1. We haven't seen La La Land yet, it's in our Netflix queue though!

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  5. Aren't you the lucky girl! All those wonderful gifts.
    I think you've come up with a new business venture for Starbucks, reusing the cup in that way is ingenious. First picture is magnificent. LAX?

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    1. Yes the iconic "theme building" at LAX. I see a new website, "Starbucks Hacks" - like the infamous http://www.ikeahackers.net/.

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  6. Wow! I didn't realize how big that Tillandsia is until I got to the picture of you holding it. It's enormous! Ok, now I really want to see it as a ground cover.

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  7. AWESOME! I find plants make the best souvenirs. And gifts from friends are even better because you think of them every time you see the plant.

    Can't wait to see your garden photos!

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    1. Indeed, I am so lucky to have all these reminders of friends and they gardens I've visited!

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  8. P.S. Using the cup like that is a BRILLIANT idea.

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  9. Great haul! How lucky you were to spend time in LA in such good company!

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    1. Andrew was there too, speaking of good company.

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  10. Love your aloe protector :) What a fun trip!

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    1. I was just picturing a "big gulp" as an Agave protector. It could work!

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  11. I can't believe we were in the same county and couldn't meet! What a week that was. So glad you were treated well by the bloggers and the mysterious K!

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    1. Missing you was the only downside to the trip!

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  12. My first experience with LA was in the 60's, when the air was thick as pea soup and the heat was unbearable. More recent visits turned me around: much to see and do there. Brilliant shipping technique. Lucky you, getting together with Hoov.

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    1. We did talk about the old days, when the LA sky was not so blue. I'm glad things have turned around! (and that CA seems committed to keeping them that way, unlike our nations new "leader")

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  13. First, I think I've already said it but it was great to get a chance to meet you in person! Next, you are most definitely blogdom's #1 expert in transporting plants by plane - I often don't do as well transporting plants in my own car. Third, I can't believe that score from Armstrong - I'm going to have to pop by there on my way home tomorrow to see if I can find a 'Little Shark' of my own.

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    1. Succulents are so easy because of their ability to go long periods without soil. I almost bought a gorgeous Bromeliad at Rolling Greens in Culver City (my first stop after landing). It's size would have made it a little more difficult to get home. Hope you find your 'Little Shark'!

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  14. I'm looking forward to your pictures of Hoov's garden! I'm in LA right now and honestly it's just a tad chilly. Sunny though, which is nice.

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    1. It was fun to see everyone in their winter attire when I was there. They looked at my open toed shoes like I was from another planet.

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  15. Is that Tillandsia bergeri?

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    1. I think that might be it.

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    2. Pretty hardy too if that's it (looks it to my uneducated eye) - read of quite a few here in the UK finding it copes well with our winters (not as ground cover I hasten to add!).

      Agave 'Little Shark' and 'Royal Spine' are not exactly the same - both the same cross (macroacantha X victoria-reginae IIRC) but different clones. I really really covet them both but especially RS.

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    3. Thanks Lexyboy...good info!

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  16. As a Los Angeles native I appreciate your appreciation of my home town. It was a great place to grow up in in the 50's and 60's , and if you learn to drive on LA freeways you can just about drive anywhere. Very nice haul you got there !

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    1. Andrew and I both thought the LA freeway drivers were so much better than the Portland drivers (we put a lot of freeway miles on). Evidently cars actually come equipped with turn signals there, and people know how to use them!

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  17. Rather delightful and very refreshing to read someone like LA rather than making fun of it.

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    1. Well the company I keep might have something to do with it! And thank you for the fabulous plant gifts!

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  18. Just awed. Sounds like a great trip. Kris's photos of Piece of Eden were stunning. Can't wait to see yours. Those Agaves are perfect. I really can't believe they let you take those on the plane!

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    1. I saw so many beautiful things while I was there, can't wait to share them all! And yes, I am fearing the day they stop letting me carry on my spiky plants...

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  19. So here's how my lame brain works... I hang Tillandsia's and I put them at the base of plants in containers, but it never occurred to me they could be used as ground-covers. Duh!

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    1. Not a lame brain at all Sheila! We don't live places where that's even a possibility, thus the concept is a crazy one.

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  20. At this point I think i prefer LA to San Francisco. I would argue that it is LA that is much more "real" - SF seems more than a bit too precious these days. And who can afford to live there? Anyway, nice haul!

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