I've been making the annual, late May, trip to Rare Plant Research since before I started writing this blog. I think my first outing was in 2006, if not then, than definitely 2007. There are years I've gone by myself, with my former plantlust.com partners, with out of town friends, and with my husband. This year I had the pleasure of attending with Peter...The Outlaw Gardener.
He stopped to look at some containers and I wandered into the first greenhouse. It would be quite sometime before we'd see each other again.
Last year those bright rusty-red plants were a hit with me, and most everyone I know. Of course I bought one, even though it wasn't yet rooted. Research after the fact told me it was probably Ananus lucidus or Ananas lucidus 'Lava Burst'. Mine finally met the yard waste bin in late August (never did root), still, I carried one of these around for awhile before realizing I really didn't need to buy it again.
Aechmea odorata, which I have — bought here several years back. Mine isn't looking this dreamy however.
Tempted by all the lovely Aeonium...
But I managed to walk away.
As I probably say every year, eavesdropping is great fun at this event. I smiled as I heard a pair of older ladies exclaim "what lovely daylilies those are" (!) as they fondled some fancy-pants Hippeastrum. I ducked to the side as a fellow carried out one of these humongous Dasylirion, saying "Danger! Spikes! Danger! I've been spiked already...don't let it happen to you!".... hehehe, you're calling my name!
Who knew Agaves come in so many colors?
Or as Peter said..."stressed much?"
The ones in gallon-sized pots seemed much happier.
Scadoxus puniceus, tempted — but I've been there, done that.
Aloes and Daylilies... (yes, that's an attempt at humor).
Every year I take a dreamy (to me) photo of the Watsonia, every year I resist the temptation to buy.
Baby Tetrapanax are so cute.
Ditto for baby Yucca rostrata.
I zoomed in and swooned over these. Then remembered that I'd done the same a couple of years ago. When I mentioned that to Peter he nodded and agreed, guess they really should be mine (price dammit!).
So shopping-wise I started to focus on the Bromeliads.
I've got a project I'm working on and wanted a couple more.
Or a couple dozen, really...
Evidently Peter had been doing the same. I'd walked by, and admired, this haul not knowing it was his. There's nearly a dozen Bromeliads there! Plus a trio of custom containers.
Here's my modest haul, just five plants! There will be close-ups at the end of this post...
But first, as tradition holds, we had to visit the house and it's gardens — just a shot walk up from the nursery proper.
It's amazing the things you can do when you've got a whole nursery of plants at your disposal.
Furcraea, I've given up trying to keep them happy — but that doesn't stop me from lusting after them.
This photo was supposed to be all about those amazing spikes on the right, but that darn dragon snuck into frame.
Pond, dragon, rocks, house...
And blooming water lilies! I'm not sure how he pulled this off, since it's been so cold here.
This was how the back of my car looked after a couple additional nursery stops on the way home. Funny almost everything I see doesn't belong to me! The Polystichum setiferum (Alaska fern) and Sarracenia, in the lower right-hand corner are all I see that's mine...
But back to my RPR haul. Aloe aristata
Mis-marked Agave (I won't tell you what it was being sold as), but I believe it's Agave 'Baccarat' or Agave montana 'Baccarat'.
And the Bromeliads, I bought three. These two tall ones...
And this short, but sort of crawling along, one. They were so cheap!
Weather Diary, May 22: Hi 91, Low 56/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
I had such a great time when I visited there, and they've added the dragon since then, I really do need to go back. You found some great Bromeliads. And I do think that's Baccarat as well. I saw some fabulous Bromeliads at Portland Nursery on Division when I came down for the swap, not as rare as Rare Plant Research, but nice, big healthy ones.
ReplyDeleteThe ones at PDXN are pretty darn nice, but definitely more expensive. I have no idea which is more "rare"...they're all beautiful.
DeleteThe markings on that Agave are striking. What a great looking haul even if it wasn't all yours.
ReplyDeleteIt's always fun when you have a car full of plants, no matter who they belong to.
DeleteThe rusty-red Ananas lucidus 'Lava Burst' would have tempted me as well, for it's amazing color. Why do you resist Watsonia?
ReplyDeleteNo place for it to be happy.
DeleteWhat a fun nursery! I love your bromelaid choices : ) Those rusted planters would be great in your garden...I can only imagine the price!
ReplyDeleteI think they were $175ea, which isn't really bad. Just more than I have to spend...
DeleteI'm glad you showed the dragon - I'm very fond of it. I keep waiting for bromeliad prices to come down but they never do. However, you just reminded me that the South Bay Bromeliad society has an annual sale in August, which offers bare root plants at prices that don't make me choke.
ReplyDeleteHappy to be your reminder, hope you find lots of good stuff!
DeleteMaybe Kris should plan a trip to RPR's next open day...
DeleteI love your posts on this annual nursery visit. What an awesome place. Those bromeliads are amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe "daylilies" with the aloes look like my Crinum bulbispermum.
Those giant rusty containers are so very cool. Makes me want to take up metalworking.
Those customers containers that Peter grabbed are pretty cool.
I bought 5 watsonia bulbs this year and stuck them in the gravel garden. I figured that if I really, really loved them, I'd go to the trouble of digging them up. If not, inexpensive annuals!
Good luck with your Watsonia, hopefully there will be beautiful blooms shared on Instagram!
DeleteLove the Dragon ! Want the Dragon ! I grew that stressed orange Agave from seed once .. I love Agaves , but that one is particularly evil , with its shark teeth facing all different directions ....never mind the spike on the end !
ReplyDeleteAgaves from seed...the whole idea just baffles me. Good job!
DeleteThose tall Bromeliads, do you know if they are Aechmea, Hohenbergia or something else? I find them quite difficult to come by over here.
ReplyDeleteI don't...I planned on researching them to try and identify (rarely is anything marked at the nursery) but haven't had a chance yet.
DeleteThe tallest ones with yellow/orange foliage are Aechmea blanchetiana (still have an old tag from a few years ago.)
DeleteThanks again for a grand day of nursery hopping. It's always fun spending time with you. I'm sure you would have brought home more if some insensitive oaf hadn't filled your plant mobile with his haul. There's always next year, right? Can't wait to see your bromeliad project!
ReplyDeleteI brought home everything I needed...I'm glad you shopped with wild abandon! It was a fun day, thanks for hanging with me.
DeleteThis is one event I would have loved to attend. I would have fallen under the spell of those bromeliads, too. It's too easy, really!! Plus hanging out with you and Peter would have been a heck of a lot of fun.
ReplyDeleteThat Agave 'Baccarat' looks a lot more like my 'Baccarat', noticeably bluer than Agave montana.
Bromeliads ask for so little, and look great doing it. Maybe you should plan a trip up next May?
DeleteBeautiful.
ReplyDeleteI loved meeting you.
Janicce.
Thank you!
DeleteWould love to be able to plant the Watsonia.
ReplyDeleteThat dragon is amazing! I like those planters in Peter's pile, too. It would be fun to try making something like that. I still have yet to see the atrium at RPR. I'm hoping to make it later this summer.
ReplyDelete