Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Not bad, for a couple of days "work"...

I've not been shy about sharing my plant acquisitions this spring. Some of you have expressed concern that I might not have the space to plant the things I've already shown (I do, winter opened up a few holes...to say the least), so hold on to your hats, cause it's about to even get more fabulous!

Last Thursday was our traditional "field trip" before Hortlandia (Hortlandia being the spring HPSO plant sale), an outing that friends and I have been doing for 7 years now (okay that's crazy, 7 years? How is that possible?). Thursday afternoon I shared a photo on Facebook, of plants shoved in the back of my car, but here's that view after things were edited down, to reflect only my purchases...not bad eh?

Our first stop was Blooming Junction out in Cornelius, OR. Last October I wrote a post about their in-ground Agave plantings, I was eager to see how they looked after our horrid winter, it's not good. I hope to share (not pretty) photos on Friday.

However, if pretty Agaves are what you want then feast your eyes on these babies! (note to mom and dad...this is what your gifted plant $ bought, thank you!)...

Agave ovatifolia 'Frosty Blue', which will be going in the front garden...

Agave montana 'Baccarat', also going in the front garden. I need to do a "state of my Agaves" post soon. As you might imagine these are replacements.

Look at those dramatic markings!

And Salvia apianam which will also be going in the front garden. Oddly I have a plant that actually made it through last winter, when it probably shouldn't have. We'll see how this one does.

Our next stop (because it was on the way back to the Highway) was at Starkey's Corner. I bought a Matteuccia struthiopteris (Ostrich Fern). I already know exactly where it's going, and don't worry, it won't be allowed to spread.

Back in town we stopped at Xera Plants, where I made this most excellent haul...

Trachelospermum asiaticum 'Ogon Nishiki', love the new orange growth on this one. I think this is my fourth of this plant...

Disporum sessile 'Variegata' — new to me — but I adore Disporum cantonese ‘Night Heron’ and thought this would look good near it, with a few blue-leaf Hosta.

This charming Agave, A. neomexicana, has proven quite reliable here. Thus I needed another.

Those spikes!

Agave applanata 'Cream Spike', isn't it sexy? I was given a gorgeous one of these a couple of years ago but unfortunately it rotted over the winter (even though it was indoors). I had no plans to replace it but when I saw this one I knew it was meant to be.

Plus pups!

After we finished up at Xera the next stop was Flat Creek Garden Center in Gresham. I'd been told this was a great "unknown" spot for cool plants. It's where I made my only impulse ("where the heck is that going to go?") purchase of the day. Calycanthus floridus 'Athens' — why? Green flowers that smell like the most amazing cantaloupe you've ever eaten.

Oh and there were a bunch of 25-cent succulent cuttings in the office. I grabbed this one.

The last stop on the day was at Portland Nursery on Division.

I'd been thinking I needed another Juniperus conferta 'Blue Pacific', so when one was right there, front and center, in a display when we walked in, well I had to grab it.

I also picked up a couple of 'Hot Chocolate' Nicotiana. I'm very excited about these!

Then on Saturday it was time for Hortlandia itself. Portland's Expo Center filled with all the areas best nurseries and their plants, yes please! Here's my haul from that event...

Polystichum polyblepharum, this fern is earmarked for a little project I'm working on behind the garage. I hope it turns out as cool as it looks in my head.

There was another fern purchased that isn't shown in the group shot, a Coniogramme emeiensis 'Golden Zebra'. I picked it up late, right before I needed to report for my volunteer shift. So my kind friend Alan (aka the Mardi Gras Gardener) added it to his haul and I need to pick it up from him soon.

I decided to try Begonia pedatifida again. Everyone else seems to have great luck with this beauty, so I will find a new spot for it...away from the two I've lost.

Epipactis gigantea 'Serpentine Night' — "A scintillating duet of purple leaves and orange orchid flowers make this a must for any collector. See it and you will want it. I know, I've been there. Grows well to 16" — I've passed this one up a couple of times in the past. Not this time!

Finally, the spikes. First up, Agave 'Kissho Kan' a crazy example of variegation gone wild. I like it for its freakishness.

This! I don't know why, but I had to have it. Normally crested/monstrose growth gives me the shudders, but this guy just looked so cute.

Unfortunately the label is of no help, that's not really an Opuntia is it?

Anyone care to venture a guess as to what this is?

And finally, Rhipsalis baccifera subsp horrida, I've been on the look-out for a great Rhipsalis for awhile and was thrilled to find this one.


Only one more big shopping adventure this spring, that's the open house at Rare Plant Research on May 20 and 21. Time to start planting! (a few nice dry days in a row, please?)

Weather Diary, April 17: Hi 59, Low 48/ Precip .25"

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

35 comments:

  1. How are you going to keep that Ostrich fern from spreading. It is always coming into my garden from neighbors on two sides! Lots of great stuff there. I can't think of anything that matches Agaves for color and pattern that grows here. Everyone you post almost always has me gasping! We spent most of yesterday mucking out the pond which was not all that much fun compared to playing with plants!

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    1. Pond mucking is no fun! I'm saving that job until it warms a bit. The Ostrich fern is going in a container.

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  2. Such great choices! The colors on that Rhipsalis! I've been working on a post about my new acquisitions and where I'm going to put them. I need to get started on planting as well, if the rain ever stops for long enough. And I'd really like to come down for that Rare Plant Research opening. It's been a while since I was there.

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  3. Great acquisitions! That polystichum is really nice. It looks like a baby tree fern that hasn't formed a trunk yet. I've been anxiously checking on my Epipactis gigantea 'Serpentine Night' and finally saw a shoot starting to emerge. I guess it's a bit slow to emerge in spring. Just remember that next spring when you're looking for yours. It's worth the wait, though!

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    1. Thanks! Good to know about the Epipactus, and did I tell you what I was doing with that fern? Cause you just said the magic words...

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    2. Then again, everything is pretty slow this spring. But it's definitely not one of the early risers. Are you putting that fern in one of your Jetson planters? Or another tall planter, to give it a "trunk"? Ooh, rusty pipe "tree fern"?

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    3. Getting warm, very warm...

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    4. Looking forward to seeing what you do with it.

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  4. I can't recall the specific Latin but I had a variegated Disporum that went absolutely rogue in a dry shade bed a few years ago including right under a brick border and into the lawn. Fortunately it was only competing mostly with shrubs and trees at the time but it did wind it's way into some perennial roots.

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    1. Hmm...thanks for the warning. Good to know!

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  5. Your Coniogramme emeiensis 'Golden Zebra' is at my house awaiting your next visit. Sure is a little cutie fern too!

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    1. Ah, thanks Matthew! I only mentioned Alan cause he was the one I gave the cash too. So "cutie"...does that mean it's already looking like more than just a pot of dirt?

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  6. Wiow, what a great set of plants. Those agaves especially the ovatifolia and the kissho kan are stunning. Can't wait to see the kissho kan mature into a full rosette, shame they are not tougher.

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    1. Indeed, I hope I can successfully grow that one on.

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  7. Crazy cool stuff. I hope to do some plant shopping myself on Saturday. I've been very restrained this year, mainly because I haven't had the chance to get away much.

    Your Agave 'Baccarat' is the nicest I've ever seen. Awesome find!

    When I bought my Agave applanata 'Cream Spike', there were 12+ pups in the pot. I took them all off and planted the mama in the ground. Guess what? Not a single pup since then. They tend pup like crazy when small, then slow down and eventually stop altogether.

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    1. That A. 'Baccarat' is trying to bust out of its pot, I'm surprised (but glad) they hadn't potted it up to the next size (more $). Thanks for the info on the 'Cream Spike' - since I'd rather it didn't pup after I get it in its pot that's good news.

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  8. So many fun and unusual plants! How exciting. It is going to look spectacular in your garden! I love the Calycanthus floridus 'Athens' the most!

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    1. Thanks Laurin! That plant is so wonderful!

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  9. Twenty-five cent succulents! That's like paying you to take them away. I adore that Calycanthus but of course it wouldn't have a chance in hell of surviving here even if it were available. All your selections are wonderful - I'm still looking for an Agave 'Baccarat'with a price that doesn't make me choke.

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    1. Right? That's what I thought (25cents). The 'Baccarat' was a relative steal at $35...

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  10. LOL: "Some of you have expressed concern..." No, I figured you knew what you were doing. Wow, those Agaves are grand, and the Disporum is nifty, too. Enjoy!

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    1. It always amazes me the people who say "where are you going to put all those?"....

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  11. Not bad at all! That Opuntia looks less "monstrous" and more like Casper, the friendly ghost. What a cutie. Space to plant things? When has that ever been a concern for crazed plant people? Great new plants!

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    1. So do you think it really is an Opuntia? Oh and it's now joined the exclusive club of named plants. Welcome to my garden Casper!

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    2. Not really sure what Casper is as cacti identification is a mystery to me. Thrilled that you liked the name!

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  12. I thought I was way cool to discover Rhipsalis, but this one!

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    1. I've been stalking Portland Nursery, thinking they'd eventually get one like this. I was thrilled to find it. I should have bought two!

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  13. Wow! Such a great selection! "Hot Chocolate" Nicotiana!!! I must get some! I have white ones, but the darks blooms look beautiful, I love my frosty blue agaves, they survived the winter, in pots, under the house eve... they seem pretty hardy. I'm pretty jeleous of you agave collection! Can't wait to see them all in your garden!

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    1. Those Nicotiana were grown by Langley Fine Gardens, on Vashon. So you should be able to find them up in your part of the world.

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  14. You bought some Agaves? Now, that's a surprise!

    Great choices, and the shopping must have been fun.

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    1. I know, I'm so unpredictable! And yes, plant shopping is always fun, but add great people to the mix and it's fabulous!

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  15. I think your opuntia is a fulgida crested or "boxing glove cactus". I have a gorgeous one, it's a fast grower like a lot of opuntias.

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    1. Thank you!!! Some of the Google images definitely look like fulgida crested is the right name!

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  16. Buy first, indentify later - you are a true gardener!

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  17. That's a fantastic haul. Love it. Sorry you lost your gorgeous Cream Spike, but glad you found this great replacement. I have a teeny tiny one and am going to pull off three pups. Nice to read Gerhard's comment, although don't potted agaves tend to pup more vigorously than in ground? I love your Kissho Kan. Such great sport. My normal one seems quite mammoth and hasn't even me any trouble overwintering. Good luck with the Epipactus. I've only tried one once and killed it. I would try again, but I'm trying to swear off hardy orchids. I've killed so many and the ones that have survive are succulent, tasty squirrel treats. They dig them, and if they can't dig them, they bite off the shoots. Devils.

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