Thursday, July 30, 2020

You know it's been a good week when...

...your spouse expresses concern about all the new plants you've acquired.

Yes, it really happened. I was super excited about a new plant and made a point of showing it to Andrew (I don't always share new plants...I mean duh, that would be dumb), his response..."I'm starting to be concerned, where are these going to go?" Hahaha...

In addition to the birthday haul there have been other new plants that have made their way into my clutches this week, I thought I should catch you up. First of all, this Hylocereus megalanthus (dragon fruit) is the latest addition to my epiphytic cactus collection.

Always a welcome gift, my brother who lives in Phoenix, AZ, sent me agave pups for my birthday. They've been tucked into the tomato stock tank where they'll get lots of sun, heat, and summer water.

A trip to Secret Garden Growers last weekend (a garden bloggers gathering organized by the Amateur Bot-ann-ist) resulted in these plants making their way home with me...

Pteris cretica 'Ping Wu' aka Ping Wu Dwarf Hardy Ribbon Fern


Astelia 'Silver Shadow'... it's been awhile since I've dared grow a silver astelia. I hope I haven't just signaled the garden gods to send in a nasty winter. Maybe I'll put it in a container and they won't notice.

Coniogramme japonica var gracilis. Yes I already have one. No, I probably don't need another one. But I bought it, so there it is.

Loropetalum 'Jazz Hands' mini... it's supposed to stay 12" tall, and grow up to 36" wide. I need to find a nice sunny spot for this.

The final two plants were gifts from a Seattle Facebook friend who visited on Sunday. He brought me this "reject" cylindropuntia. He'd posted awhile back about how disappointed he was that it bloomed yellow/green rather than magenta. I said yellow/green was my favorite and he offered to save it for me. Not only did he save it, but he delivered it.

How wonderful, right? This guy originally came from Hillside Desert Botanical Gardens up in Yakima.

But then there was this! Agave bracteosa 'Daddy Longlegs', the Plant Delights website says: "Agave bracteosa 'Daddy Longlegs' is a superb Hans Hansen creation that we've grown since 2008, and are only able to offer for the first time in 2020. This sport of Agave bracteosa 'Calamar' forms a rarely-offsetting, 18" tall x 2' wide, rosette of arching, scabrous, but spineless leaves, each edged with a wide lighter green border."

I love green on green variegation and I love Agave bracteosa, this agave speaks to me, LOUDY. Plus it has great provenance. Not only did it come to me as a gift from a longtime blog reader/FB friend (Cotts Meery) but it also spent time in the care of Bryon Jones of the Point Defiance Zoo. Lots of good plant karma in this little guy...

Weather Diary, July 29: Hi 93, Low 60/ Precip 0 

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

14 comments:

  1. I'm personally of the opinion that birthdays should be celebrated for at least a few weeks, preferably with plants, so your acquisitive streak seems entirely appropriate to me. Agave bracteosa 'Daddy Longlegs' and Loropetalum 'Jazz Hands' are particularly appealing. Happy planting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Of course with our high temps (95 yesterday) it's not the best time to plant...but I will find a way.

      Delete
  2. Since I am not seeing my gardening friends much, I try to talk gardening with Mark. But he keeps saying TMI. One always needs more plants in case something dies. We are all trying to fill our gardens with no bare space for weeds because we are trying not to use mulch because of jumping worms. They like duff and we don't want to provide if for them. I would love a low dark plant like that Loropetalum. What a beauty.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What a difficult issue to have to face in the garden (jumping worms). I am sorry.

      Delete
  3. Speaking of birthdays, I read this funny comment recently: "I'm Not Adding This Year To My Age; I Didn't Use It!".
    I enjoy plant shopping regardless of the occasion. In fact, chasing after a plant is the Event Itself. I hope Loropetalum 'Jazz Hands' stays so intensely dark, especially since you almost tore out the other Loropetalum that disappointed with its burgundy tone.
    Pteris cretica 'Ping Wu' goes on my wish list, if only for the name alone: its too fun to ignore.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh...that's a good one! If only we could all just scratch 2020 and start fresh in 2021.

      Delete
  4. One can never have too many plants, IMO. I adore that Loropetalum, too bad it isn't hardy here, alas.

    ReplyDelete
  5. A dragon fruit, now that's really cool. Laughed at Andrew's comment and your's about hiding plants. I think all gardening spouse's do this to some extent.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Now I wouldn't say that I hide them. They're in full sight. I just don't point them out...

      Delete
  6. I too wish I could grow Loropetalum. The dark color and size of this one would be wonderful in my garden.I have a fern fixation. I would love this new one of yours too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Suddenly I feel really lucky that loropetalum is hardy here! Sorry you too can't grow it.

      Delete
  7. The cylindropuntia is perfect, even its wonky shape is endearing. Perhaps it's time for a Felony Flats style garage?

    ReplyDelete
  8. Just enjoy the Astelia while you can! Mine turn yellow. Something in the soil gives them chlorosis. I had a lesson in how Astelia prefer protection when I saw one growing in the ground inside a polytunnel a decade ago. It was at least five feet high.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to comment. Comment moderation is on (because you know: spam), I will approve and post your comment as soon as possible!