This is my last post from our January trip to the San Diego area, I'm wrapping it all up in grand style with a visit to
Bird Rock Tropicals...
Walking up I wasn't sure what to expect. I've ordered from BRT for years, and I have a friend who visited once a few years back and shared photos. Seeing it in person though exceeded all of my expectations. I should note they're not open for walk-in visits, you need to make an appointment, which is easy to do
on their website.
So many tillandsia! And that's just a small part of them...
These specimens look like they're on their way somewhere, and check out that curtain of Tillandsia usneoides!
Oh the colorful bromeliads...
Hohenbergia leopoldo-horstii (dark clone)
Hohenbergia leopoldo-horstii F2 hybrid
Aechmea recurvata
Nidularium atalaiaense
Edmundoa lindenii (Canistrum lindenii)
Billbergia 'Cold Fusion'
Aechmea triangularis
I wasn't as dedicated to tracking tillandisa names (not that I was 100% with the bromeliads), just appreciating their forms and in some cases the blooms.
There's the curtain wall of Tillandsia usneoides again, from the other side this time.
Those are some seriously dangerous teeth!
This palm with its trunk covered in tillandsia and bromeliads stood just outside the sales area.
Thankfully I was invited to walk past it and into the production area, normally off limits to visitors.
Even more tillandsia!
This one gave the illusion of long "snakes" of Deuterocohnia lorentziana.
Vriesea brassicoides purple
This is what I most wanted to take home with me, *le sigh* (a mix of Quesnelia marmorata 'Tim Plowman' and Quesnelia 'Rafael Oliveira')...
Hohenbergia pennae
Yep, I'll take all of those!
Guess what, there were pyrrosia!
I was also allowed to walk around BRT owner Pam Koide Hyatt's stunning home landscaping, she lives behind the nursery.
What a visit! I went in knowing the only thing I'd be bringing home with me were memories and photos. Well, that's not quite true. I did get a small Racinaea crispa (red clone) and an Aechmea Bert (orlandiana x fosteriana)—
shown in this post. Maybe someday I'll return with a larger budget and a car to fill!
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Wow, I've never been but really want to go now. Are all these plants for sale (except for the propagation area)?
ReplyDeleteYes! All for sale... be sure to make an appointment.
DeleteOh my. Just gorgeous. I might just have to place an order... again.
ReplyDeleteAhhh... sounds so familiar.
DeleteIf Pam Koide Hyatt's would offer (in the immortal words of Mr Rogers) "Would you be my neighbor?", you could be living your dream!
ReplyDeleteChavli
Oh my gosh yes!
DeleteThey certainly have a lot in stock! I've never ordered anything from there as there's a smaller operation closer to me that's open to walk-ins. It's closer to my former home than my current one but still relatively close. You might like it if you're in or near the South Bay on a future visit. It's called Rainforest Flora and it's located in Torrance (freeway close).
ReplyDeleteI stopped by on one of my visits to the great Los Angeles area. I was very disappointed in the small part of the nursery that you could wander through and the stock available there.
DeleteHoly moly, there are some gorgeous things there. The curtain of Tillandsia usneoides is really appealing- wouldn't that make a great outdoor shower door? I'll have to check out their website. I'm a complete novice with bromeliads, there are some real cool ones there. The ones like fat curling ribbon?!
ReplyDeleteCareful, the website can quickly become addicting! And yes indeed, an outdoor shower curtain of Tillandsia usneoides would be fabulous.
DeleteStunning. I sent the link to a friend who has moved to that area from Spokane. I especially loved the bromeliad that was mottled green/white with the purple tips.
ReplyDeleteWow, now that's a serious change of gardening conditions!
DeleteIncredible! Rarely do you see such a huge collection of Tillandsias and broms in one place. A real treat.
ReplyDelete