This is street-side, below the garden proper.
And this a sort of off-street parking area, and entrance to the garden.
California here I am!
My eyeballs (and skin) were thirsty for sunshine and beauty. I was so overwhelmed with the ugliness of winter at home (I left this behind when I boarded the plane) that I felt a little gardening brain-dead as we walked the garden, like someone who hasn't eaten for days, suddenly at an all you can eat buffet.
This was my first sighting of the Tillandsia, which K later shared with me.
It's been tentatively ID'd as Tillandsia bergeri. Oh hey, and I grow that fern in Portland!
What a nice place to soak up the sunshine.
And have you ever!? What a huge Staghorn Fern...
I covet this Bromeliad.
Another plant I grow, that is if this is Aloe dorotheae...but of course mine is in a container.
Agave happiness...
There were several perfect A. parryi.
I think this big guy is A. 'Mr. Ripple'...
The most beautiful Agave vilmoriniana 'Stained Glass' I've ever seen (we'll get another view, from below, in a bit).
Perhaps Aloe cameronii? (ID lifted from Kris)
*Sigh* a couple of HUGE Agave 'Blue Glow' and A. macroacantha (in the middle).
Close-up of the 'Blue Glow'...
Close-up of the A. macroacantha.
Maybe Agave colorata, backed by A. bovicornuta (?).
Dunno, but it's fabulous.
That might be Aloe marlothii in the front, and one of the Agave attenuata hybrids in the back.
We know this beauty is Agave desmettiana 'Joe Hoak'...
Euphorbia polygona (?)
More of the Agave attenuata hybrids.
Blooming is Aloe 'Moonglow'...
Nice mash-up!
Kris thinks this is Aloe ferox (sounds good to me!)...
The star of the garden, back for another showing....Agave vilmoriniana 'Stained Glass'.
Aloe chabaudii
Aloe brevifolia, I believe.
Agave gypsophila 'Ivory Curls', in the front.
I wanna call this one Agave lophantha, but I don't think that's right. If I was one of those crazy companies that goes for catchy, meaningless (stupid), common names I would call it Agave 'Sharp Stuff'...
Before leaving we walked though the smaller back garden.
Where there were more striking Bromeliads.
And this cutie! Thank you so much K, for letting us wander through your gorgeous garden and the gift of Tillandsia! Thanks also to Hoov for getting us in to see K's garden...
Weather Diary, March 29: Hi 58, Low 46/ Precip .24
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
That enormous clump of Tillandsia must have been an incredible sight. What a great garden! Do you remember where you got your Aloe dorotheae? I need one.
ReplyDeleteYes, at Rare Plant Research. I had several last year...hopefully will this year! (Sat May 20 and Sun May 21)
DeleteOh, my! Color, texture, scale: this garden nails it all. I thought those Aloes are all pretty spectacular but then add in their flowers and they are amazing. What a talented gardener.
ReplyDeleteTalented indeed, it was amazing.
DeleteAgave, agave, aloe, agave, agave, bamboo, agave, agave... Wait, what? That's a running bamboo too if I'm not mistaken. Irrigated clearly, but a nice contrasty backdrop. :)
ReplyDeleteThere was bamboo? ;)
DeleteAnother great garden filled with awesome plants! Very kind of K to share her garden and her tillandsia with you. Why is it again that we don't live in California? What? You got up to 58 yesterday? Our high was 52. At least there will be some sun breaks today and tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteThe sun has finally come out here today (Friday)...yay!
DeleteAgave heaven is right. Everything is so well placed. A.'Stained Glass' looks almost animal. What a thrill to see this and escape home for a little while. Frankly, as much as I love the Pacific Northwest, I couldn't take all that gray sky. I need to see the sun too much. So hats off to you!
ReplyDeleteAs I grow older I find myself less able to deal with the grey and wet. Then again this winter was abnormally horrid and spring has been abnormally wet...
DeleteI enjoyed taking another stroll through K's garden with you. You do a great job of documenting gardens using your camera. After you finish your book on mantlescapes ;) you can take a role as garden photo-journalist!
ReplyDeleteI love your plans for me!!!
DeleteAgaves, Aloes, Bromeliads all outside? Not quite ready to sign up, but it's tempting. I'm not sure I could take the heat and the drought.
ReplyDeleteI'm in love with Agave 'Sharp Stuff'! :)
My brain is saying Agave xylonacantha, but searching that doesn't reveal much of anything, but it does like like photos I've seen in IG. No matter what; very cool and Sharp Stuff will do!
Really? Oh god...I would be there in a heartbeat! But you probably already assumed that. I guess 'sharp stuff' is A. horrida...in case you want to go shopping.
DeleteAgave horrida. Excellent.
DeleteUh, wow.
ReplyDeletethe plant that looked like colorata -- is potatorum
The plant that was called 'sharp stuff': horrida ssp. horrida.
Nice shots!
Thanks for the names!
DeleteOMG, do they have a guest cottage I could move into? I'd be happy living there for the rest of my life, LOL.
ReplyDeleteSorry, I've got dibs.
DeleteAbsolutely stunning! And to see this garden in the middle of our PNW winter must have been surreal.
ReplyDeleteThe plant placement is perfect and I love that this garden has a lot of height. Are those palms in image 5th from the end? They are so lush and beautiful.
It really was quite surreal, that's the perfect word!
DeleteThe plant closest to us in the photo is a cycad, the others are palms. Beautiful is right...
You KNOW how much I love this post. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteGlad you did!
DeleteWow! Just wow. That staghorn looks like it could give the big ones at Longwood Gardens a run for their money. I love the rosemary and crassula mashup.
ReplyDeleteI don't even like staghorns but felt like I needed to drop to my knees in front of that big boy.
DeleteLucky Hoov to have such an inspirational garden buddy! I do covet that same brom you covet.
ReplyDeleteAnd lucky you could grow it outside...
DeleteSo glad you got to see this fabulous garden. Your post and photos are most excellent!
ReplyDeleteI think 'Sharp Stuff' is A. horrida, and the maybe colorata is not, rather is guadalajarana, (the Agave with the most "a"s in its name). The big boy yes is 'Mr. Ripple.
Thanks again Hoov, and it was so much fun to relive it all again too, while going through my photos.
DeleteThank you for making my garden look so good and for all the positive comments. I'll be forwarding this to friends who wonder why my shoes are always scuffed and I wear leaves in my hair. Please come back again. Kay
ReplyDeleteOh gosh...I did nothing but record what I saw before me! Glad to help your friends see what a beautiful place you've made. And I would love to come back someday!
Delete