Here's another of those garden visits that got a little lost in time. The day was November 17th, of 2023. Yes, last year. After visiting
Lotusland I set out for the
Santa Barbara Botanic Garden. The sky was threatening and they warned me at the admissions desk that they might be closing early. Thankfully I was able to stroll without interruption.
I had visited this garden once before, back in
2012, so I knew the general layout. Since I was on my own I also took my time and played with a newish camera. Agave shawii are one of the sexiest agaves, in my opinion. Sadly they're also not at all hardy and (from what I've read) aren't worth trying to grow in containers. So I love them when I see them in California...
Hold House! I wish there were things in the hold house for me (there is a nursery on site).
I walked through the manzanita section before backtracking to the beginning and doing the desert section. There were many gorgeous specimens, but none that I managed to get the name of. I should also mention that the garden has a focus on California native plants.
Lyonothamnus floribundus, aka Catalina ironwood, actually Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. aspleniifolius - Santa Cruz Island Ironwood.
Oh look, I'm back at the Agave shawii...
Dudleya some somebody
Cylindropuntia bigelovii, aka teddy-bear cholla
Agave 'Blue Flame', oh so photographable.
Yep, another Agave shawii
I find dried-out cactus skeletons quite fascinating.
I'm sure I don't have to tell you...
Yucca schidigera, the Mojave yucca.
Nolina bigelovii, poor thing needs a lie-down.
Ferns!
Polypodium scouleri I believe.
And possibly Christella puberula, synonym Thelypteris puberula.
The bloom on that agave was crazy short, it was fun to be able to see the flowers *almost* at eye level.
I found a label for this one, Agave sebastiana, and I think it's the same as the one that's blooming.
Notice the hummingbird sitting on the tall bloomed-out spike. It wanted to come back to the blooms but wasn't going to risk it with me there.
So many flowers!
I've crossed the road that separates the two parts of the garden now, and I'm near where you're supposed to have a view of the Channel Islands. Not on a cloudy day like this however.
Oh well. It was still a fabulous visit.
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Why, why don't I have a big grouping of shawii? At least 3 together. Sometimes it's like I have to be hit over the head. That fantastic stout & stumpy bloom on Sebastiana makes me want one, plus it's silvery. I love SB, and envy that perfect climate.
ReplyDeleteI think you've asked a very good question. Would you get on that already? ;)
DeleteIt's lovely to see photos of SBBG! I follow the garden on IG but I'm embarrassed to admit that I haven't visited the garden in person for 7 years now. I usually end up at Seaside Gardens and Terra Sol when I venture that far north and the drive time round trip is about 6 hours, which cuts into my choices. Maybe I need to convince my husband to take an overnight trip in SB to visit both Lotusland and SBBG, although I can't see him jumping on that proposal...
ReplyDeleteAs you probably know Lotusland closes for the winter so you have a couple months to work on convincing him.
DeleteAgave shawii is indeed a venerable species. I guess they don't take well to containers? Or is it that they don't get big enough to be worth it?
ReplyDeleteI've heard they don't take well to containers. I might just try though, someday, when I see one available for purchase.
DeleteWhen I saw the date of your visit to SBBG, practically one year to the day, I thought you must be a very well organized person. It's one thing to keep track of garden visits, another to remember which you post about and which was left behind. I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteYou probably would have preferred sunny, blue sky but this overcast day makes for great photos, and I love it.
I have no experience with Catalina ironwood, but a close-up photo of its leaves always make me think of ferns... I just adore that pattern!
Chavli
I've been doing this blog thing long enough now that my photo files are pretty well organized. Plus, as you'll see tomorrow, we just returned to the LA area last week so that was a mental reminder to make this post happen. I love the leaves of Catalina ironwood and confuse them with Comptonia peregrina leaves. The comptonia is commonly called sweetfern, even though it's not a fern...
DeleteThanks for visiting the Botanic Garden Loree! I follow you on Instagram and I serve as the Director of Horticulture at SBBG. Next time you’re in our area please reach out and I’d be happy to give you a tour. I started my horticultural career in Oregon working with Greg and Paul at Xera Plants. knevison@sbbotanicgarden.org
ReplyDeleteBtw, your photo of Catalina ironwood is actually Santa Cruz Island ironwood. This is a very common misnomer in the trade. SCI ironwoods have the fern-like foliage, while Catalinas have more palmate-like leaves with little incision on the leaf margins. We have a few growing in our Living Collection and will soon be installing a Conservation Grove of Catalina ironwoods by our Conservation Center, along with another grove dedicated to Santa Rosa Island Torrey pines, another threatened species. Catalina ironwood are basically non-existent in the nursery trade. Enjoy your trip around SoCal and be in touch next time you’re in Santa Barbara. I can also connect you to colleagues at Lotusland. 😃
Thank you for the Lyonothamnus correction, good to know! I'll definitely get in touch the next time we're down that way, interesting to learn of your Oregon/Xera connection.
DeleteI bought an Agave shawii x isthmensis from Jeremy Spath of Hidden Agave. He has a bunch of hybrids with shawii and has some small types that will live in pots. If anyone is interested, contact him.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy! Does yours have those great shawii teeth?
DeleteIt has nice teeth but not as big as some of his newer variety crosses.
DeleteIt's funny (or not), but when I was the SBBG a couple of years ago, I took more photos of Agave shawii than of anything else. As your photos prove, there's good reason for that.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Agave shawii is as tender as some sources think. San Marcos says it's hardy to at least 25°F. Might be worth trying in a container...