Strolling the Outlaw's garden...

The Saturday morning on which Alison, Peter and I set out for points north (the trip I'm calling our Kitsap adventure) we met up at Peter's garden. I was quite thrilled when he asked if we wanted to look around prior to piling into the car, I was afraid I was going to have to bend his arm. Yep that one...

Of course he's pointing at this flawless combination of Yucca gloriosa 'Bright Star' and Agave ovatifolia...in the front garden.

Seeing his Schefflera delavayi (below) reminds me of my first visit to this garden, back in 2012. We'd corresponded a lot by the time that visit rolled around, and he'd just begun writing his popular blog, The Outlaw Gardener. The words I wrote in that 2012 post still ring true today: "Peter is a true plantaholic, and one with great taste. Every random plant that I mention (and I like to think I’ve got a few obscure ones) he either has, or knows about and has considered purchasing." He stumps me on plants regularly, for example that yucca to the left of the Schefflera, I didn't recognize it's leaves and I asked what it was. Yucca rigida! Yep. I yucca I do not (yet) have...

Much of the "art" in Peter's garden is subtle...

But then there's also a lot in the not-so-subtle category, like this "fire-pit" filled with split wood, glass flames and big red Canna leaves. Not one to leave a possible laugh behind, he completes the picture with marshmallows ready to be roasted.

And there are plants EVERYWHERE. Cramscaping doesn't even begin to describe it, I kneel at the foot of the master...

In case you don't follow his blog I should also mention Peter is a glass artist (as well as a teacher, a choral director, gardener, blogger, part time nursery employee...) so that explains a lot of the custom glass-work you'll see throughout the garden.

The metal-tube piece came from a building in Tacoma, Peter told me the story, but I had left home at 6 am and hadn't yet consumed enough caffeine to remember it...

One of my all-time favorites in this garden...(the old man and the...)

Yikes, that's me!

He threatens to get rid of the bamboo, but hopefully that will never happen.

Tomato goddess

Looking back towards the house...

Oh my!

Proof aliens have taken over, at least here in this garden.

More wings! These hanging over the approach to the "danger gardenette"...

Which is so large now (and features so many gorgeous specimens) I think it needs to shed it's "ette"...

Oh look, over there...it's the greenhouse! (we'll visit in just a bit)...

Peter and I both bought that strange little stump-like bromeliad in the center clay pot. Mine started pushing out a bloom about a month after I got it home. No sign of a pup yet either.

Seeing that luscious pink-tinted Bromeliad made me determined to buy the next one I saw, which of course I did at our next stop, Valley Nursery.

Oh my, the bamboo!

Peter's been tucking bits and pieces into the trunk of this Trachycarpus. I look forward to the day my pair of T. wagnerianus are tall enough for this treatment (because my T. fortunei is already getting the vine treatment).

He also purchased a box of ball-moss online. For a moment I was confused when saw them, because I brought back a bunch of ball-moss from the Austin Fling, was Peter in Austin? Nah...

Blushing!

I've been appreciating the blue Hibiscus syriacus a lot lately, I didn't used to care for it.

The day was mostly overcast, which allowed for better photos, but every once and awhile I saw a bit of blue, this one to go with the Hibiscus.

Time to explore the greenhouse...

Want!

Here I think Peter was making a naughty remark about the potted plant he's holding.

If I ever think I've acquired too many Bromeliads, I'll just think of Peter's stash.

Okay, back out to admire the last bits of the garden...

Angelica stricta ‘Purpurea’

Another plant that I've warmed to, Persicaria 'painter's palette'. I got a small piece from Vanessa at our spring plant swap, and planted it out in June. That thing has dealt with our summer drought by not wilting even once, despite my forgetting to give it a drink.

It was almost time to leave, but not before we admired a new pot purchase...

Took in the view...

And appreciated the King's chair, where he has his morning coffee and survey's his leafy kingdom...

Weather Diary, Aug 30: Hi 75, Low 59/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

The Mangaves, where are they now?

Back in May 2017 I shared photos of a box of Mangaves that arrived on my doorstep. They were tiny little plants, plug-size, the roots not even filling a 2" pot. Since I don't live in an ideal Mangave climate, and I don't have a greenhouse, I felt a little apprehensive about celebrating them too much (were they gonna make it?). And in fact I immediately sent a few of the smallest, weakest, on to friends in warmer climates — there was no way they'd have lived a happy life here. However, a year and almost four months later, some of the haul are doing great, and I thought this a good time for an update. As a reminder, these beauties all came from Hans Hansen at Walters Gardens in Michigan...

The three Mangave 'Inkblot' were planted out in a container in the front garden, at the base of a Bougainvillea. I left the whole lot in place over winter and while the Bougainvillea died, the Managaves did not. I am thrilled.

When it came time to update the Agave dish planters (June 2017) I made use of what plants I had on hand, that meant at least one Mangave per dish.

Here's Mangave 'Man of Steel' ( Agave striata and x Mangave 'Bloodspot' mix) it just keeps getting better and better...

If my records are correct then this Magave is M. 'Catch a Wave' —  a cross between Agave gypsophila, Agave colorata, and Manfreda maculosa.

The last planter has a pair of Mangaves: M, 'Bad Hair Day' and another M. 'Catch a Wave'...

Here's 'Bad Hair Day'...

And 'Catch a Wave'...

Mangave 'Moonglow' (in the tall black pot) is the offspring of x Mangave 'Bloodspot' and Manfreda undulata 'Chocolate Chips'...

It's looking good, but really in too much shade and I should move it to a sunnier spot.

This three-some was the result of my not knowing how to creatively pot up all of the Mangave riches. I really need to break them up.

There's a pair of Mangave 'Purple People Eater' which "combines the architectural Agave gypsophila, the smaller Agave macroacantha, and purple freckling from the manfreda side of the family."

An a Mangave 'Silver Fox' — "a combination of Agave gypsophila, Agave macroacantha, and a nameless Manfreda."

Yes I really do need to give this trio a little love.

Here's the final bit of the Mangave haul...

Mangave 'Lavender Lady', who's parents are Agave attenuata and x Mangave 'Bloodspot'...

The Agave attenuata parentage shines through loudly.

This adorable little fellow is Mangave 'Carnival'...

"This sport of 'Jaguar' has the opposite variegation of the equally beautiful 'Kaleidoscope'. Long, lance-shaped leaves are dark green with wide, creamy yellow centers. Newer leaves have chartreuse centers. A smattering of subtle, light red spots dot the leaves, giving a blush tone to the leaves. Its brilliant coloration makes a great specimen in a container." (all quoted descriptions come from Walters Gardens)

That's the Mangave report. Here's hoping next year I will be sharing photos of even bigger plants.

Weather Diary, Aug 29: Hi 85, Low 66/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.