Max and Justin's Oakland garden, the back half

Wednesday we toured the front part of this cramscaped Oakland garden, today we're checking out the back, starting with this ginormous staghorn fern. I seriously gasped when I saw it.

Justin says; "That ginormous staghorn is about 1/3 of the one I got it from. It was a massive cluster hanging from a tree, at the estate of a bromeliad enthusiast who passed away. I was told we could have it if we removed it...I cut the rope that was holding it and it dropped to the ground. Not having a truck and crew of 10 men, I decided to hack it with a shovel into manageable pieces. The one we have was one such piece. There were other big ones and many smaller, all of which we had to remove and find homes for. Several years ago I was obsessed with the hunt for huge staghorns. I just love those clusters you see at places like SF Botanical or Mendocino Botanical. I found some nice ones, but then when we acquired that mother Staghorn my hunt was complete."

They had a few smaller ones to keep it company.

The staghorns were on the right side as you came through the back gate, these collections were on the left.

Looking backwards...

The multiple stems (and zigzag leaves) belong to a sonchus, perhaps Sonchus canariensis.

There are its yellow flowers (yes, it's a huge dandelion).

I'm not going to make any attempt to ID the many bromeliads throughout this post, with just a couple exceptions they'd be guesses anyway.

Eucalyptus blooms (maybe Eucalyptus caesia?).

We'll explore in that direction in a minute, but first I needed to check out the covered back porch area.

Marcia Donahue shelf fungi.

Another suspended trash can lid planter...

And a vertical wall-o-bromeliads!

Max shared his source for the hooks to hang the pots here.

This! Seeing this trash can lid planting was super fun, it's one of the platycerium that stared my love of staghorns (written about in this post).

Notice the acid green meets Majorelle blue break, that's where the covered patio space transitions into what lies beyond...

Max and Justin definitely know how to garden on a hard surface, containers, containers, and more containers!

I was experiencing serious climate envy here folks.

Back when I was trying to decide what to do with my stock tank pond (which had become a playground for the neighborhood raccoons) I saved a photo of this inventive cover screen, another fun thing to finally see in person (so much inspiration!).

Looking back to the covered porch.

And to the sunny side of the long narrow back garden... a trio of spiral aloes, Aloe polyphylla.

Anyone who decides to sit on that bench had better not mind plants touching them (I know a couple of folks who fit that description, not naming any names...but I live with one).

And back to the containers up against the house.

I think before I give my next talk on gardening with containers I'm going to need to get these guys to do a count. I think my collection (more than 200, less than 400) will pale in comparison.

Ducking into the back jungle now...

The Agave attenuata makes the chair look like it's child sized, but it's not.

Marcia, Marcia, Marcia

I know many people who dislike the contorted pyrrosia (in the container), not me. I am a fan.

Here's the straight Pyrrosia lingua.

A few more inventive hanging planters...

And then a little peek indoors, Justin's plant room...

Complete with a set-up where they're growing ferns from spore (color me very impressed).

Max and Justin you're such talented plantspeople. Thanks for making my dream of seeing your gorgeous garden come true!

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