Thursday, January 30, 2020

I'll admit, I was late to this garden party...

What took me so long? I've "known" Kris for, well, 7 years now (online counts, right?). I've been following her blog, Late to the Garden Party since January 2013. I've wanted to visit her garden in person for years, and finally had my chance when Andrew and I were in the Los Angeles area over Christmas.

It was a strange feeling of déjà vu when I pulled up in front of her house and walked up to the front door. After all I'd seen it all before, in pictures. When we walked out onto the patio and I saw the Albizia julibrissin I understood why she's trying so hard to save this troubled tree, it is the perfect foil to the incredible view.

That view...

Somehow I finally managed to tear my eyes away and focus on the fabulous plants, after all that's why I was there. This is one of many combinations that made my heart beat faster. Yucca gloriosa 'Walbristar' (aka 'Bright Star' Yucca) with what I think is a santolina? Coleonema 'Sunset Gold' (thanks Kris).

*SWOON*

I hope Kris is the only one slightly disoriented by the flow of photos as we move through her garden. I did my best to keep them in order, but fear somethings are a little jumbled. If you'd like to follow along with some wide-shot perspectives check out this recent post Kris did: Wide Shots - January 2020. We're headed around the corner now...

This cryptanthus stopped me in my tracks. Kris said it came labeled simply as "Earthstar' but she thinks it maybe Cryptanthus bivattatus.

Gorgeous, right?

Kris has a (well deserved) reputation for being a flower lover, I knew she had succulents in the mix—after all this is Southern California—but I was truly unprepared for the quantity and quality in her garden.

Speaking of quality, I should mention the quality of these photos is not what I would like them to be. It was the day before my visit to this garden that my camera up and died. Thank god for my iPhone, but oh how I wish I would have had my camera with me.

Agave 'Blue Flame' with A. americana 'Mediopicta Alba' in the background.

Again, I *SWOON*...

Metrosideros collina 'Springfire'

Agave 'Blue Flame', A. americana 'Mediopicta Alba', joined by A. 'Blue Glow'...

Agave 'Blue Glow', glowing...

Agave ovatifolia...

And I love that little yucca Kris planted in the stump.

Agave potatorum 'Kissho Kan', I think.

We've moved far enough along the side of the house now that I can look to my right and see the big magnolia by the front door.

But we don't head that direction, instead we continue straight down towards the lath house Kris's husband built for her two years ago...(time flies!).

There was a stunning collection of plants enjoying the semi-shady conditions inside...

Most of which I didn't get the names of (meaning Kris said them, and I promptly forgot them).

I do know this one! Hippeastrum (Amaryllis) 'Zombie'

This pot is a work of art.

Back outside it's time to admire the many aeoniums along the slight embankment in this section of the garden.

Agave desmettiana

I've never particularly cared for aeonium flowers, so this "just about to burst" stage was perfect for my visit.

Don't worry, I'm almost done. I just needed to communicate the sheer amount of these beautiful plants...

A bit of senecio mixed in.

Okay, now were "rounding the bend" (which really may not of have been a bend...and is only one in my memory) and the succulent mix becomes a little different.

Can't identify this one, but it's a beauty. (*update* Agave mitis 'Multicolor' which is actually thought to be Agave boldingiana)

Agave geminiflora, I think?

The Echium candicans 'Star of Madiera' was unbelievable, the size rather impressive.

I'm not sure which leucadendron this is, and I certainly can't imagine the wealth of blooms it must produce.

Aeonium 'Kiwi, perhaps?

Ah this one I know, Grevillea 'Peaches & Cream', I used to have one of these (in a container) and loved it's blooms.

I'll end today's post with this seriously toothy agave and say "come back tomorrow" for more gorgeousness.

Weather Diary, Jan 29: Hi 49, Low 46/ Precip .45

All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

35 comments:

  1. Oh, I enjoyed this close-up look at Kris's garden so much! I don't think I realized that the pots in her shade house were so artistic and quirky. Those 'Blue Flame' and 'Blue Glow' Agaves are so beautiful. I can see even just from the photos, why you were swooning. More to come -- Hooray!

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    1. I was in capable of cutting the photos down to less than I did, so much to share!

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  2. I'd no idea you got that many photos - probably because I was blathering away. The chartreuse plants surround Yucca 'Bright Star' are Coleonema 'Sunset Gold'. The Agave near 'Cousin Itt' in the back is indeed A. ovatifolia ('Vanzie'). The variegated Agave in photo 36 was labeled as A. mitis I believe. There are 2 smaller specimens in there somewhere!

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    1. While I don't think you were blathering it still makes me happy that you weren't aware of how many photos I took. I always feel a little rude continually snapping away. Thanks for the IDs!

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  3. Kris's garden is lovely and interesting and still allows that stunning view to shine. I enjoyed your tour and look forward to part 2!

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    1. So many great plants! And ya, that view...

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  4. Wow, what a fantastic post of a fantastic garden. There have been many changes since I visited Kris a few years ago.

    I passed on Coleonema 'Sunset Gold' at Annie's Annuals on Saturday. D***. Next time!

    The variegated Agave mitis 'Multicolor' is actually thought to be Agave boldingiana, a tender Caribbean species. That explains why every 'Multicolor' I've had got badly damaged in the winter when plain mitis sails right through.

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    1. Next time! Thank you for the extended agave info.

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  5. Really nice photos, Loree. I need to visit Kris' blog. She's such a sweetie.

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  6. Goodness, that's a lot of (beautiful) garden. I hope the Albizia is on the mend, its so good against the panoramic view. I'm drooling over the Echium, Grevillea, and Leucadendron knowing full well I could only grow them if I moved to warmer climate. Sigh. The coconut pot for the Tillandsia is way cool.

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    1. I have a friend who had that echium overwinter in her Portland garden, I've grown them for a summer but never gotten them through a winter. So lovely...

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  7. È sempre uno spettacolo! Bello vedere aiuole di piante da clima caldo assieme a perenni che posso usare anche qui! Complimenti!

    Buon fine settimana :)

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  8. Interesting to see what others pick up on in Kris' garden. No surprise you focussed on the succulents! Her collection is so impressive, as is that view, huh? My only regret from my visit last winter was it went by so fast and all in a blur.

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    1. I was there for hours, but it did go by very quickly. The fact it was a slow time for all of her flowering perennials helped highlight the succulents, just as well for me!

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  9. Wow...what a collection of beauties and those color combinations are stunning

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    1. Now imagine if her usual floral show had been going on...

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  10. I so enjoy Kris's garden and her blog. If I lived closer, I'd invite myself over. ;-) Fling in L.A. in 2022? Great photos, too!

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    1. Wouldn't it be fun to Fling in LA? Yes indeed...

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  11. Your little phone camera did an admirable job of catching all those beautiful plantings. What a treat to get to visit Kris and her garden in person.

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    1. It was a treat indeed, and yes, I suppose I can't complain too much about the phone photos, well except that meant none of these could be last minute additions to my book (phone photos not allowed).

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  12. My breath was just taken away. The vision Kris has for her combinations is simply perfect. She is an artist.

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    1. Yes! Perfect description of her garden work.

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  13. I would be so overwhelmed in her garden. So many plants that I knew nothing about until I started reading her blog and also your blog. I have learned a lot about plants I can't grow from you two. Her garden is outstanding. I would love to stroll through it myself. In the mean time I will look forward to part 2.

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    1. "I have learned a lot about plants I can't grow from you two"... funny thing is I can't grow a lot of them either!

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  14. It's great fun when bloggers visit other bloggers gardens-the perspective always shifts a bit. I don't remember ever seeing that ceramic-succulenty pot in Kris's lath house before? I must have missed an episode !

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    1. "an episode"...ha, you had me laughing, but it's true!

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  15. Wowsers, thank you for a splendid tour of Kris' garden. It is an amazing place and her agaves...wow. Just wow. Thank you, Loree. That ceramic pot is a work of art.

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  16. Climate and zone envy. Kris's garden is outstanding. Those are killer views and the plants are gorgeous (though mostly foreign to me and my gardening area).

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    1. As I worked my way through the photos I took it was grey and rainy here, I was indeed feeling the envy.

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  17. That is a lot of plants! Most of these don't grow in Virginia except as annuals. I love the incredible variety and that massive magnolia. Magnolias are one of my favorite trees. What a beautiful garden!

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