Several years in a row now Peter and I have made a nursery-hopping day out of visiting Rare Plant Research's open house on the third Saturday in May. Back in 2017 when he came down for the day he brought me a gorgeous bougainvillea (written about here)...
Wasn't she a beauty?
Since I don't live in a Zone 9, or higher, climate the plant didn't make it through winter, but I wasn't bougainvillea-less because he repeated the kind gesture in 2018. The only photo I have is this one from Instagram...
When something happens two years in a row it's kind of a thing, right? So I have to admit I wondered if he was going to show up this year with another bougainvillea. He did!
This year's beauty is Bougainvillea 'Moneth' (aka 'Purple Queen'). Aren't I lucky? I got to spend the whole day goofing off with him too, and for those of you missing Peter's sense of humor on his blog let me tell you he's just as sly as always. I took a few photos of our visit to Rare Plant Research, I'll get around to sharing those soon.
In the meantime here's a little more Santa Barbara eye-candy.
If only I lived here, my bougainvillea fairy-god-father wouldn't have to keep bringing me a new plant every year. Of course if I lived here I wouldn't get to hang out with him nearly as often either. There are trade-offs...
Weather Diary, May 26: Hi 76, Low 51/ Precip 0 (but .37" on the 25th!)
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Sadly I've killed a couple of Bougainvilleas trying to overwinter them in the greenhouse, I can't seem to get it right. I know it must be possible. I can't justify buying one every year. What a treat to spend the day with Peter! Glad to hear he's still his usual witty self.
ReplyDeletePeter actually brought me two plants last year, I put one in a container thinking I could overwinter it in the SPG, no dice.
DeleteSo glad to hear that Peter is up and about. I miss that blog every morning. Your bougainvilleas are nice too. They are blooming their heads off down here with all the rain and without cold temperatures. This morning was 50F quite cold for us at the end of May. Record cold for this date, however, was 47F in 1879!
ReplyDeleteMy gosh yes, 50F seems quite cold for you, for this time of year!
DeleteHad I lived in a hot sunny climate, I'd have bougainvillea climbing everywhere (I'd be hard press to pick a favorite color). The pictures are great; the update on Bougainvillea-Peter is priceless!
ReplyDeleteIt's just such a cool plant! Glad you agree.
DeleteGlad to hear about your plant but really glad to hear an in-person report about Peter. Missing his wit and photos on his blog.
ReplyDeleteI think we all are...
DeleteI'm glad to hear that Peter's out and about - and that he hasn't stopped his plant buying expeditions. Bougainvillea is like Agapanthus here - it doesn't get the respect it deserves. I've thought of planting some on my back slope but I'm afraid my husband would divorce me - he hates the plant ever since it scratched up the beloved car he converted from gas to electric power decades ago. The car is long gone but the memory survives.
ReplyDeleteI doubt it would win you any points to mention the bougainvillea didn't wrap around the car and scratch it on its own?
DeleteGlad to hear Peter is still enjoying nursery outings. My mother grew a couple of bougainvilleas in pots for years. Every winter she would put them in a bright window that stayed quite cool and pretty much ignore them. They looked horrible when she brought them up again but they always recovered and bloomed like crazy. This from a person who definitely has a brown thumb. Go figure!
ReplyDeleteAnd yet I (and Alison, and another friend Mindy) can't seem to successfully over winter one!
DeleteMy experience has been that Bougainvilleas die to the ground in Zone 8b in Texas, but return robustly in late spring, at least if planted beside a wall or tall fence. Great to have good news of Peter. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteI wish that were my experience too, but I've never had one return...
DeleteThanks again for a fun day of playing at nurseries, a groovy tradition that I look forward to each year. It's always a delight to see you!
ReplyDeleteAnd fun to see you! I hope you read how much everyone is missing you...
DeleteGlad to hear Peter is back on his feet. I've missed his presence here in the blogosphere.
ReplyDeleteThat purple beauty is the best yet...and Peter, well, we all treasure Peter.
ReplyDeleterickii