Monday, July 25, 2022

Gardening in the garage

I have a few friends who use their garage as winter storage for their dormant succulents. Heck, back in the days before the shade pavilion greenhouse I used to scoot a few potted succulents in there to stay dry during particularly wet spells. But I definitely don't remember planting a vine in the garage...
Oh! This seems like a fun time to share a flashback moment to last August. I laid down on the guest bed in our (unfinished) basement and looking up I was shocked to see leaves above the bed, coming in from the corner of the house. It was a piece of Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia) that had worked its way between the siding and the foundation. I quickly removed it and have been vigilant about keeping it away. 

So what's this bit of green inside the garage?

My first thought was of the Passiflora 'Snow Queen', as she's nearby and has sent out runners over the years. 

The leaves are wrong though.

As I began pulling away tub trugs, a stool, and bags of pumice, to get to the vine, it all started flooding back to me. Holboellia coriacea 'Cathedral Gem'! I thought it was dead and stuck that square metal planter out of the way behind a shelf.  

Hmm, that must have been, oh, 5 or 6 months ago. That's a pretty vigorous vine considering it's had no water and very little light.

I guess it's time to give it another chance out in the garden. Have you had plants pop up in unexpected places?

All material © 2009-2022 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

18 comments:

  1. Life always finds a way, doesn't it? ❤

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    1. Your comment really got my mind turning. It does, and it doesn't. Too much in the news about people hurting each other. Kids suffering. But yes, I know what you mean...

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    2. "Life breaks free. Painfully, perhaps even dangerously. But life finds a way." - Michael Crichton
      "A life lived with eyes wide open becomes a wondrous adventure." - Moonwater SilverClaw
      "Set your life on fire. Seek those who fan your flames." - Rumi

      Each morning as my cat, Ramses, and I awake I ask him:
      "Are you ready to start a new day? A new adventure?" In spite of all the strife in the world, I see Paradise right here on Mother Earth. There is beauty and Life all around us. All one has to do is open their eyes and hearts to it.

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    3. Thank you for these quotes and sharing your morning. I will share back with you this link. I really enjoyed reading the interview and hope you will too... https://www.dumbofeather.com/conversations/georgina-reid-conspires-with-nature/

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    4. Thank you for the link. Very cool indeed.

      What Georgina talks about at one point reminds me of two authors I have fallen in love with: Richard Mabey and Diane Ackerman. Both write about plants ('natch), nature, and humankind.

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    5. Oh! Thank you for those recommendations!

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  2. That's pretty amazing. Might your garage have a leaky roof? The oddest plant placement that comes to mind for me is the wisteria vine that wove itself between the plexiglass we use to keep the "catio" dry during our rainy season and the structure's window screen. It had an artistic flair and I left it in place for a couple of months.

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    1. Well I can't say for sure the garage is water-tight, but I know the roof is good. It's newer than the one on our house! I think I remember you sharing a photo of that vine on your blog?

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  3. Well, it wants to live, so might as well help it.

    We were at the Huntington and saw bamboo breaking through the asphalt road near the Japanese Garden. It was splitting the asphalt. It probably came fro a clump about 50 yards away.

    That's when I decided bamboo was not for me.

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    1. Yikes! I look at my bamboo containing stock tanks and wonder...

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  4. Fascinating and exciting! I've never had one climb in from outside, but almost--from the outside into the window wells. My climate is a tad colder than yours in winter, so I've only tried overwintering dormant stuff in the garage--but usually critters (mice and voles?) dig into the containers. I guess I could secure them better. Most of my outdoor plants go into the sunroom during the winter, where it's a little cooler, but never below freezing. Keep us posted on your vine. :)

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    1. The vine is now over where it can climb the fence. We'll see how it does.

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  5. Luckily it didn’t get big enough to take out the garage!

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  6. AnonymousJuly 25, 2022

    Everything seems to work on it's own timeline. Oddest plant appearance for me is the reappearance of a Filipendula 'Black Stockings' that hasn't shown it's face in five years. That's a long dormancy.

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  7. It's Elaine at luv2garden btw.

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  8. I thought it looked familiar and wondered if it was Holboellia and you confirmed. It wants to live, definitely deserves that second chance.

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