Visiting The Potted Elephant

Back on October 13th I headed south, on a sunny Saturday, to attend the Potted Elephant's open greenhouse...

The Potted Elephant is a wholesale operation, not normally open to the public. I don't know the details of the location, but it looks like perhaps greenhouse space is available to rent here. There were signs of other businesses...

And signs of better times...

Oh the possibilities!

Okay, time to explore the plants on offer from The Potted Elephant...

This was a fun surprise, apotspot pots!

Tin Can Agave...now there's an excellent band name...

So many fantastic Rhipsalis! I don't think I've ever seen so many in one place.

And this! There was a label, but it was faded. Maybe a Cereus?

Whatever it is I REALLY wanted to take it home. It was not for sale.

Bromeliads get me every time...

As does the simple repetition of plants in pots. I need them all.

One of these things is not like the other...

Ya gotta love plants that are so intent on making babies.

Everything was so darn photogenic.

The little kid in the stripes had just said "I know it's really spiky, but it's the one I like"...I wanted to give him a high-five.

I would have been disappointed had there not been elephants.

Such tough love...

Euphorbia flanaganii, maybe? Maybe not?

OMG! Back in the day I had one of those clamp-on lights that were supposed to look like Hollywood movie lights, only mine was black.

I was seriously tempted by a few of the Rhipsalis, but I didn't really have a "need" and they were pricey, so instead I purchased a pair of Aloe aristata. I've had great luck overwintering them outdoors and I knew just what I would do with another two.

After paying for my plants I went next door and explored their tropical greenhouse.

Bromeliads with wicked teeth, yes please!

Ferns growing in the cup of a Bromeliad, why didn't I think of that?

Yes, I wanted to bring this home too.

Seeing this I imagined another version of my basement greenwall...

Only on chain-link and featuring plants mounted on chunks of wood. Could be cool.

I'm not a fan of Staghorn ferns, but this one was pretty amazing.

And this one too.

Lots of good stuff...

...at The Potted Elephant...

Weather Diary, Oct 24: Hi 62, Low 53/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Wednesday Vignette, Pac-Man

My photo editing software downloaded this Clematis tibetana var. vernayi image sideways. All I can see are multiple hungry Pac-Mans working their way through the garden...

Weather Diary, Oct 23: Hi 59, Low 44/ Precip .02"

Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at Flutter & Hum. All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

An Agave Report, October 2018 — Part II

Yesterday we looked at the in-ground Agaves in the front garden and a few plants in the driveway planters, today we check out the plants in the back garden...

The blue pup is Agave weberi, a little hidden behind it is a pup of A. americana Variegata, the other Agave-like shapes are Aloe saponaria.

Proving this ain't no wimpy Agave, A. bracteosa...being over taken by Grevillea juniperina ‘Molonglo’ and Calluna vulgaris (Wickwar Flame Heather) and just keepin on with it.

Another A. bracteosa with a (since lifted — winter) little Aloe (for company).

Once upon a time I could tell you what all of these were...

But a lot of time's gone by and I'm confused.

Agave gentryi in the center, with an Agave stricta v. rubra just below.

Another rescue (possibly A. neomexicana) that's been doing well for years.

Yep, another A. bracteosa...cause they're so damn good!

So many spikes! I think the powder blue guy is another A. neomexicana.

And yes, even more spikes.

This A. bracteosa is one of my superstars.

A small pair of A. 'Mateo' (a variegated bracteosa).

Another A. neomexicana.

And another Agave gentryi.

That little A. bracteosa is in a horrible place and was just tiny when I planted it. It's doing okay though.

A larger A. 'Mateo', the pointy guy at the bottom is A. parryi var. couesii, moving up an A. 'JC Raulston' pup, another couesii and another Agave neomexicana, this one's labeling I'm 100% sure of, the earlier neomexicanas were rescues and their labels were less than confidence inspiring.

The big thin-leaved guy is A. striata (Espadina form, from Cistus), the silver circle is actually a hanging planter about to return to the driveway area, on the far left another (!) A. bracteosa.

Ah, we're just about done with the Agaves! Yes the big A. ovatifolia stays right here for the winter, but it is covered through most of the rain (details)...

The little guys stay put too, but no covering, their containers are completely open on the bottom...the rings are just to add a little height.

Left to right A. parryi, A macroacantha (I lied, this one's not hardy, I'll have to pull it), A. parryi var. couesii, A. parryi and A. bracteosa. Yep, I REALLY love my Agaves...

This containerized A. 'Sharkskin' stays put too, and is covered.

Being ever the documentarian I also snapped a few photos of things that may, or may not, make it through the winter, depending. Let's have a look...

On the left there, Dyckia 'Pale Ryder'...

Aloe striatula

And there are lots...

And lots...

And lots...

Of Echium wildpretii...

If they make it through winter then things are going to be amazing around here come spring.

Lots...

And lots...

Of tall bloom spikes.

My fingers are crossed.

There are also several Aloe aristata, two pictured here, but of course they're camouflaged by the Juniper.

There's one...

And the other...

In another section of the garden there are two more, but I only managed to photograph one.

Yucca harrimaniae x nana 

And I wrap things up with Mangave 'Inkblot' — these spent last winter here, I might pull them if the forecast goes south, we'll see! Thanks for sticking with this rather long series...

Weather Diary, Oct 22: Hi 69, Low 43/ Precip 0

All material © 2009-2018 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.