This combination...
Selaginella (spikemoss) growing with, and over, agaves.
Weather Diary, Oct 12: Hi 64, Low 55/ Precip .09"
All material © 2009-2020 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Moss and Agaves, now that's an odd combination...
On a recent warm, dry, evening I was sitting in the garden reading—while the sun was moving through the tall trees to the west and illuminating various plants. I went to take a photo of a backlit Calluna vulgaris (which I posted on Instagram) and my eyes wandered to a plant combination at the base of one of my dish planters...
This combination...
Selaginella (spikemoss) growing with, and over, agaves.
The agaves are pups from a much larger agave I grew here years ago. I dug it up, but the beginning of the pups stayed behind and grew on to become happy healthy plants. The selaginella "fell" from the dish above, one winter I filled filled the dishes with spikemoss and something (a bird? a squirrel?) dug in the dish and the pieces that fell to the ground took hold—while the plants in the dishes later died. So that's how this very strange combination, which looks to be pretty happy, came to be.
Weather Diary, Oct 12: Hi 64, Low 55/ Precip .09"
This combination...
Selaginella (spikemoss) growing with, and over, agaves.
Weather Diary, Oct 12: Hi 64, Low 55/ Precip .09"
Just one word comes to mind: Serendipity.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that a movie? ;)
DeleteIt is beautiful ! what a combination by "accident" ? can't get much better than nature giving you a hand ;-)
ReplyDeleteRight? Strange and unpredictable things happen in the garden all the time, and that's why it's so much fun.
DeleteThat wouldn't happen in my climate.
ReplyDeleteAnd I have a feeling it's not going to last much longer in mine.
DeleteNature works in mysterious ways...
ReplyDeleteIndeed she does.
Deletea serendipitous combo indeed
ReplyDeleteA second vote for serendipity!
DeleteSelaginella aren't mosses, they belong in their own clade. Also, how about planting some natives along with all your exotic nonsense? How are native insects supposed to survive our avaricious onslaught if they can't even live in our yards? Respond to this as you please, but a critical retort will only prove me right; your garden is irresponsible.
ReplyDeleteYes, I know that selaginella aren't true mosses. However since they are a spike moss I took the liberty. As for the rest of your comment perhaps I will change the name of this blog to "the irresponsible garden"...hmmm. Then again, "exotic nonsense" has a fun ring to it as well.
DeleteDiversity is the key to any successful garden. This garden provides habitat and responsibly uses water. Win win all around.
DeleteIncredible collection of succulents.It would be my pleasure if you join my link up party related to gardening here http://jaipurgardening.blogspot.com/2020/10/garden-affair-fruit-harvest.html
ReplyDeleteThanks Arun!
DeleteOh my, nothing like an anonymous lesson that is worded in a way that will not teach us anything and certainly would not be the reason I add more natives. Love the combo of plants you've showcased.
ReplyDeleteThanks Linda. My husband thought I should hit "delete" on that one, but hey, if you take the time to comment and continue the conversation...
Delete