The aftermath...

Field trip! Saturday was a beautiful sunny day here in Portland and since I had been stuck in the house for over a week the husband decided to get me out into the world so I could stretch my eyes. High on my list of places to see (since in my condition shopping was not a possibility…unfortunately!) were the two gardens I posted about on the 11th, during our deep freeze. None of the plants in these gardens were protected from the record setting cold and they looked great when I last saw them, while they were still frozen. I was very curious how they would look now that they'd warmed up.

First stop, the Arizona-esque garden. I continue to be hugely inspired by this garden, and to tell the truth I was hoping maybe the owners would be home and take pity on the poor lady on crutches taking pictures of their garden and come out and talk to me. No such luck. This little guy (below) isn't looking so good, I'm not sure what he is, maybe a Dyckia? His leaves used to be bright green.

These all look great… Their big beautiful Agave parryi looks unscathed But their Aloe Striatula (on the left, in front of the prickly pears) look a little toasted... This poor Agave looks like it’s imploding, I hope it will pull through... On to Kennedy School…where I had somehow missed these gorgeous spiky canes before… Manfreda 'Macho Mocha' looking a little mushy, but the Agave montana 'Baccarat' (I believe) looks unharmed. Don’t you find it funny that there’s a sprinkler head right next to these dry soil lovers? Another yucca variety looking spectacularMore survivors...

Not sure what little succulent variety this was, but he’s not looking very good The last time I stood in this spot there was a Spiral Aloe to the right of the Squid Agave, it was most likely frozen solid, but still looking impressive. Now it’s gone. Since they are pretty tender I imagine it turned to a pile of goo and was removed.

If you look close you can see a little purple remnant of where it was.

On a positive note the Agave is looking very healthy. Perhaps I will plant one of mine outside next spring.

Another sad group of Aloe Striatula...

And a very soft Agave gentryi 'Jaws’ which should be hardy to at least 10 degrees. I have one in my garden too, and it’s looking a lot like this one, soft and spongy. I think it must have been the moisture that got it. Dry and cold = no problem, Wet and cold = rotten.

This one looks ok in the center; just the outer leaves look zapped.

This may be a Beschorneria? Mine is in a pot so it eventually ended up in our basement, although it spent one 13 degree night in the garage. Its leaves were so stiff and oddly colored that I thought I lost it; but it’s looking pretty good now.

And finally another Yucca rostrata. Not only are these beautiful plants but they, like all yucca, seem unfazed by the cold. I think I need more yuccas!

Seeing how the plants in these two gardens show the effects of their winter damage and die, or courageously battle on in the coming months, will have a lasting effect on how I garden. Since it seems our mild Portland winters are becoming something else all together.

Next up...the danger garden. What survived, what’s looking a little questionable, and what is most certainly dead…

To all of you...

You want what? A cactus? In December?...lady are you crazy?

Why not a pretty poinsettia? Or maybe a little holly and some peppermint carnations in a pretty crystal vase?

I have two stories to tell here. The first is of the difficulties my mother and mother-in-law faced when sending me a “quick recovery/Merry Christmas” gift. These ladies live in Spokane, Washington and Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, respectively (yes there really is a Truth or Consequences). They both know I’m not the traditional Christmas bouquet type. They both had definite ideas of what they wanted. If only the florist trade was up to the challenge.

Luckily for me they both persisted and I received two “arrangements” that push the boundaries of what most florists create, especially this time of year. Sure there are Portland florists that specialize in modern succulent and cactus arrangements but when you are hundreds, or thousands, of miles away you don’t know who to call. You rely on your local florist (or the internet) to translate your desires to the far-away florist and then hold your breath with the recipient calls, hoping what they received is what you'd intended.

Shouldn’t it be easier?

The second story is how similar what my mother and mother-in-law sent turned out to be. Two different florists delivered on two different days, the second one had a laugh when she saw what the first had left.

I received two mini danger gardens! Do you think this says something about me? Spiky plants all the way baby!

Starting a new garden? Why go to the nursery? Just visit Federal land!

A story ran in the Tuesday, December 22 issue of The Oregonian, that I want to share with you. A number of things in this story stand out to me.

First of all did you know that the government issues permits allowing developers and individuals to collect plants on federal land? I suppose I am naive but I had no idea! Doesn't that seem just a little odd?

Secondly these developers reportedly trespassed on government land for years taking "thousands of vegetative resources!" Seriously? Who do they think they are? Imagine if everyone did this...why bother going to the nursery and paying for your landscaping? Just go to the park and dig up what you like! Crazy!

If you are interested here is a link the story as it appeared online and here is a link to the Pronghorn Resort website (it certainly looks fancy, just look at all those "vegetative resources" on the homepage picture)....the story:

Developers of high-desert resort to pay feds $200,000 in trespass dispute
By Bryan Denson, The Oregonian
December 21, 2009, 5:00PM

In the craggy buttes northeast of Bend, the Pronghorn resort features two world-class golf courses, swanky homes and an elegant clubhouse.

It also features a substantial number of plants, trees and grasses pilfered from federal land, according to a lawsuit filed last week by the U.S. government -- a complaint settled simultaneously by Pronghorn.

High Desert Development Partners LLC, part-owner of Pronghorn Resort and Golf Club, agreed to pay $200,000 to settle the suit but did not admit any liability, according to government attorneys who handled the case.

Pronghorn officials did not return a phone call today seeking comment.

The developer’s work crews were accused of repeatedly trespassing on 250 acres of U.S. Bureau of Land Management property and taking thousands of vegetative resources, including juniper trees, dead junipers often called “Ghost Trees,” Idaho fescue grasses and sagebrush.

The vegetation helped give a desert-like appearance to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course and the Tom Fazio Golf Course, both of which opened in the last five years.

The complaint sought triple the fair market value of the natural resources that the government accused Pronghorn of taking as well as costs to rehabilitate and stabilize the high-desert land from which they were taken.

On Nov. 8, 2004, the BLM issued a permit allowing Pronghorn’s developers to collect 1,000 plants on its nearby land. The permit came with provisos: it expired on May 1, 2005, and there would be no extensions.

Five months after the permit expired, BLM officials learned that Pronghorn still collected vegetation off the federal land and they notified Pronghorn’s director of agronomy that he was violating federal law, according to the government complaint. Pronghorn was ordered to cease collecting plants.

In late October, 2005, Pronghorn requested a permit for 3,000 to 5,000 plants from BLM land. That request was denied, in part, because those permits are primarily intended for individuals to collect small amounts of landscaping materials and, according to the lawsuit, “removal of plants at that scale would subject the permit to National Environmental Policy Act requirements.”

The government accused Pronghorn of repeatedly trespassing on BLM land and collecting vegetation without a permit from May 2005 to June 2006.

“The manager who supervised the removal of vegetation from BLM land is no longer employed by Pronghorn,” government prosecutors wrote in a press statement.

Marmoleum, it's like a garden on my floor...

So you’re thinking what the heck does Marmoleum have to do with gardening, right? Well several of you asked about it when I blogged about my new floors and my broken ankle. So, I thought I would share a little information with you. First of all, Marmoleum is an all natural product. It is made of linseed oil, pine rosins (not a typo), wood flour, environmentally responsible pigments (ok that sounds a little suspect, but I’m going with it) and jute fibers. So see it is just like a garden on my floor!

Contrary to most people I really like the old fashioned linoleum floors too. I’m not talking about vinyl that everyone seems to refer to as linoleum but the real thing. My 1949 home in Spokane had linoleum tile under the hideous shag carpet. I think it was also fairly typical in grade schools of a certain era.

Marmoleum is the new and improved version of the original linoleum. It’s warm on your feet, doesn’t off gas harmful VOC’s and comes in fabulous vibrant colors and patterns. If you want a shiny floor that screams “I’ve just been moped and waxed” then this product isn’t for you. I prefer a matte finish myself, and something that is very low maintenance.

We put chartreuse in the kitchen and charcoal in the bathroom. We originally considered putting down cork or bamboo floors, but since we have hard woods through-out the rest of the house I thought a splash of color would be a nice change. Plus what research I did on those materials pointed to a lot more care required than for the Marmoleum.

Before we ordered it I did a stain test on the samples we had. Red wine, coffee and water sat for hours, pooled on the surface. They washed right off! No stain.

Another benefit? This…

...produces a lot of hair. With the subtle pattern of the Marmoleum you don’t see it. Of course it’s still there…but not seeing it is nice.

You probably think the grey in the bathroom has a sort of institutional look. Well you’re right, but I like that. Bright colorful new accessories (towels, shower curtain) and some classy black and white photography (of plants, of course) will jazz it up just fine.

Mr Big, my Agave americana variegata

During the winterization of my garden, in prep for our cold snap, I wrapped the pot of my large Agave americana variegata with bubble wrap, wrapped his “core” with burlap and put a sheet over the top, pulling it in and securing it against the wind. He was also under our shade pavilion which provided a wee bit of shelter (no sides… but it’s next to the neighbors fence and our garage and it has a slanted roof). This same agave made it through last winter’s arctic event with no problem, so I wasn’t too concerned.

When I woke to a 13 degree temperature on Tuesday the 8th, my attitude changed. My willing husband and I were out in the cold morning air moving the agave into our unheated garage (the smaller agaves were already there, or in the house). Andrew was all for trying to get it into the house but his arms were so brittle (the agave, not the husband) and his wing span so wide (4 ft) I was afraid we’d just pop them right off. So he stayed in the garage and got another blanket for the rest of the cold spell.

Last Friday, while I was still mobile, I snapped these pictures. The garage door was open and the sunlight was illuminating his still slightly frozen arms. The temperature was creeping up above freezing for the first time in days and he was getting a little movement back. The colors were beautiful. I have hope that Mr Big is going to pull through this one. Once our deluge of rainfall ends (an inch both of the last 2 days), and our schedule calms a bit, I plan to talk the husband, and a kind willing assistant yet to be chosen, into moving him back out under the pavilion where he can soak up a few of the limited rays of sunshine we get this time of year.

Just how does one move a 2 ½ ft tall pot with a 4ft wide agave in it? Very carefully, and with the help of a Pot Lifter. One very handy device that I am so glad I purchased; if you’re in Portland I know Garden Fever carries them. Or click on the link to buy off their website (not a paid promotion…just a happy gardener sharing a product that she finds useful).