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" 

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

17 comments:

  1. Just one word comes to mind: Serendipity.

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  2. It is beautiful ! what a combination by "accident" ? can't get much better than nature giving you a hand ;-)

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    1. Right? Strange and unpredictable things happen in the garden all the time, and that's why it's so much fun.

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  3. That wouldn't happen in my climate.

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    1. And I have a feeling it's not going to last much longer in mine.

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  4. Nature works in mysterious ways...

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  5. a serendipitous combo indeed

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  6. Selaginella 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.

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    1. Yes, 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.

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    2. Diversity is the key to any successful garden. This garden provides habitat and responsibly uses water. Win win all around.

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  7. Incredible 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

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  8. Oh 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.

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    1. Thanks Linda. My husband thought I should hit "delete" on that one, but hey, if you take the time to comment and continue the conversation...

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