Strybing Arboretum, an early morning stop on the 2013 Garden Bloggers Fling

Saturday morning of the 2013 Garden Bloggers Fling found me, and a few dozen other bloggers, up early and at the Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park. We had registered for an optional photography class taught by Saxon Holt. While I was thrilled to learn a few pointers from such a renowned garden photographer I was also excited to visit the botanical garden again (I'd been once before, in 2009).

Being less than focused so early in the morning meant both my mind and body wandered a bit. After all a huge Leucadendron argenteum was calling to me...

Saxon pulled us deeper into the park, finding the perfect location to illustrate "filling the frame" our lesson for the morning, before setting us free to roam the garden and put the skills he'd taught us to use.

Sadly there were no carefully considered shots from me, instead I went a little plant crazy and just started shooting. For example this huge shrub stopped me cold, once I realized what it is.

Pineapple Guava, Feijoa sellowiana. It's one thing to read how big something can get, another thing entirely to see it for yourself.

One of the drawbacks of visiting the garden before they opened for the day? Working your way around the sprinklers.

I had no problem obeying this sign.

This one however? Oh so hard to stay out...

Super tall Schefflera taiwaniana?

Glowing puya...

Yes, I'd found my way to the succulent garden.

These leaves looked familiar.

Bocconia arborea, reminding me of my Bocconia frutescens back home.

By now I'd ran into my friend Peter and we'd realized we'd better start back for the front gate or risk getting left behind. I was relieved when we caught up with Kelly and Andrea, the fling organizers. We couldn't possibly miss the bus as long as we kept them in our sights.

Acnistus australis, I believe.

There is so much to see in this 55-acre garden. I'd only just scratched the surface.

I guess I'll just have to visit again...soon.

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

And the winning design is...

Several people have asked what design we've decided on for our fence project. While I'm not thrilled with this overall image it is the best I can find of the horizontal style we're going with...

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Why is it the winner? A few reasons. When I asked for suggestions several of you observed that often the simple solution is the best. Something easily forgotten when I'm looking at pictures of crazy creative fences. Andrew also made a great point when he mentioned he didn't want to spend a lot on a highly decorative fence that I would proceed to hide behind a bunch of plants (would I do that? of course I would!). Also, while I am fond of horizontal fences I do not care for the ones without spaces between the boards, like this...

They look like an indoor wall, not a fence. However that said I didn't want gaps like this...

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Because when I'm relaxing on the patio I don't want to see into my neighbors yard and visa versa. So the alternating "good neighbor-ish" design affords a little more privacy while still allowing for depth and texture. Lastly it kind of blends with the style currently along the back of our property, which looks like this...

After selecting the fence style I happened upon this piece at Salvage Works. Some of you might recall I mentioned it had inspired me to put a section like it in our fence.

What I really meant was that it got me thinking about incorporating planters into the fence. With a gap between the horizontal boards all I would have to do is create a bit of a U-shaped lip on a planter box which could slip over the board and voila! It sounds easy in my head at least. Here's the best depiction I could find online to illustrate the concept.

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Sadly I stupidly saved the image without a link to where I found it, so I can't credit the source (bad blogger!) (thanks Alison). Of course the boxes will need to be light, I don't need to damage our brand new fence. Succulents in a soil mix with a lot of light pumice come to mind. Hopefully next up will be actual fence pictures!

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Asparagus densiflorus 'Meyersii' is my favorite plant (kind of in the garden) this week…

Commonly known as the Foxtail Fern (in fact I’m hoping I’ve got the right botanical name above in the title, since my plant came unlabeled), I finally broke down and purchased one last May, at the Rare Plant Research open house. I resisted for the longest time, there was just something about this plant that made me less than a fan. However as frequently happens my opinion changed, completely!

While I would be thrilled to plant a row of their fluffy plumes along the fence line behind the shade pavilion, that isn't going happen because they aren’t reliably hardy in my climate. Instead mine’s in a container where it can be protected from winter’s crazy temperatures. Which brings me to why it’s my fav…

Those berries! I discovered these red and green berries when I moving things around in the shade pavilion “greenhouse” to make room for refugees from the snow and ice.

Of course the fluffy "tails"are always a draw.

After I was done photographing I went to tuck it back into its spot and narrowly missed touching this, a baby slug. Ugh.

Here it is, all tucked away. Things are getting tight in the s.p. greenhouse, what with the new plants that have been following me home. Notice that sweet trunking Yucca aloifolia, another treasure from Cistus. I can’t wait to get planting!!!

The stats on the Foxtail Fern…

• evergreen perennial hardy in USDA Zones 9-11
• likes average water, said to be somewhat drought tolerant
• native to South Africa where it grows in coastal areas
• white flowers in the spring
• likes sun to bright shade (mine was in almost full shade all summer and did fine)
• 1-2 ft tall and wide

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Today's post brought to you by the color green...

All material © 2009-2014 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.