As I’m learning more and more about all the different species of bromeliads, I’ve begun to incorporate a few of them into my garden. And I’m very happy that I am because there are so many interesting forms, colors, textures that are really fun to look at. It’s like layering a new dimension onto my existing landscape.
But wait, I’ve run out of room! No problem—I plan to bring this family vertically into the garden. When I run out of earth, I’m going non-terrestrial all the way, baby. Wait until you see what I’ve got in mind.
I bought this intensely golden-orange fella, which didn’t have a name tag, from a friend just because I thought it was beautiful. It reminds me of a cephalopod. Is it Aechmea recurvata v. recurvata? I know you know… And I know you’re dying to correct me, if I’m wrong.
Hey look—it’s already starting to bloom AND pup! Lucky me.
Hi Mark,
Just wanted to thank you again for taking time out of your work day to meet with the UESF (United Educators of San Francisco) San Francisco Retired Teachers’ Garden Club. You were so generous with your time and it was obvious that your garden was viewed with delight and amazement. In fact, Danny told me later that Steve felt that this side trip was greatly “undersold” in the trip announcement email. Your garden was definitely the highlight of the day.
Marilyne
I’ve been waiting years to experience this visual drama in my own garden: Leucospermum cordifolium (orange pincushion). (Click on the images above for larger versions.)
We planted this in the perfect spot for spectators to marvel at, front and center, after seeing it during a spring garden tour here in Oakland six years ago. Since then I’ve seen several larges bushes of Leucospermum in bloom at the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum (the South African Garden) alongside many other beautiful plants, including Protea and Banksia. If you’ve never been and you live reasonably close-by, plan a day trip there in early April! To me, it’s the next best (and affordable) thing to visiting South Africa’s Table Mountain (and I’ve done that too).
I’m not sure yet why it took so many years to bloom. (I’ll have to read up on that.) I’ve definitely enjoyed its foliage during the wait. But now it’s beyond belief. By far, this plant draws more attention than anything else in my garden when it’s in bloom. More please.
You wouldn’t rat me out to my employer, right? I mean, come on. I can hardly think about anything else all day but fondling plants while I’m sitting at my desk trying to work.
I got it real bad: Pseudo Spring Fever. (Does anyone else secretly love what global warming is doing to their gardens?) For Pete’s sake, it should be pouring rain and miserable outside. But it’s not. It’s spring-like. And people are getting all sweaty and stuff.
It’s not my fault that the unseasonable weather lately is making all my plants look so freakin’ sexy. I’m not responsible, I tell ya. I’m not.
Save the Date: Lakeshore Neighborhood Plant Exchange
One of the best things ever invented: a neighborhood plant exchange. Right?
My experience with this bi-annual event (March & October) has been mostly good. I bring a few cuttings or dig up some healthy plants I don’t want in my garden anymore, and I haul them over to this front yardsale-like thing. In-trade (you can also make a small donation) you get to browse other people’s donated plants and play tug-o-war, if you want, with aggressive ol’ bittys for things you want to take home. So sharpen your elbows and wear your false vampire teeth!
I’ve come home with paper bags full of aloes and aeoniums at no cost. Very rewarding.
They accept trees, bushes, cuttings, potted plants… all sorts of things.
Back in September I purchased this Acacia baileyana ‘purpurea’ from Cactus Jungle in Berkeley to replace a Brugmansia I kicked out of the garden. Its purpose was to provide a screen from pedestrians and street traffic for the living room window. (Click on the photos to enjoy larger versions.)
It proved to be a good choice; everything I like about this species is ringing true. It hasn’t been messy, it’s growing in nicely, it’s colorful (blues, greens, grays, reds, purples)… and now it’s bursting with small yellow flowers. Passersby continually ask about it.
New challenge: To figure out how to prune it to get the fullest shape from it and get that window covered up again.
I’ve finally done something I’d been wanting to do for a long time: I joined the San Francisco Succulent and Cactus Society. (I enjoy hugging agave, what can I say?)
Last Tuesday we had our January 2012 meeting and I have to say that I totally enjoyed it. I learned the secret handshake and listened to a speaker, Joe Simcox, talk about the genus Fouquieria. He had quite a few interesting adventures to share and he included a slideshow to back up all the fascinating stories.
Anyway, after the meeting I decided I wanted to learn more about the names of plants and what the etymology is behind them. When I tell someone that a certain plant in my garden is a Haworthia truncata, I have no idea what the hell I’m saying. And it would be fun to know, I think… So I came home and looked for the right book to buy and read.
Found one! The Etymological Dictionary of Succulent Plant Names. Amazon. But come on, $139?! The point of this is, does anyone know of a less expensive resource for now? Something that’s easy to use and accurate? I have an iPhone. So maybe there’s an app or a website that I can bookmark and look at whenever I’m in a pickle over a name? You can submit a suggestion to me by clicking on the question mark (?) icon on the top-left side of the page.
Also, I wanted to brag for a minute about the cool book I picked up from our SFSCS Lending Library. It’s called The Timber Press Guide to Succulent Plants of the World. And it has both pictures AND words. (And I’m reading the wordy parts too because it really is very interesting.) Just thought I’d mention it and recommend it for any succulent-loving nerds out there like me.
Alright. I’ve got more to show and tell, but it will have to wait.
In spite of the rain, I’m thinking of MUCH better times. (Click the pictures to enjoy larger versions.)
Yeah, leave it to rain to ruin a perfectly good day. Here’s the way I like to think of things outside when the weather gets bad. (Click the pictures to enjoy larger versions.)
On the subject of rain… (Yes, it’s raining today. Rained all day yesterday too.)
I need to admit something. Even though it’s supposed to be good for us, I don’t like the rain. I like it when it happens to other people in other cities. But I don’t care for it here.
It means I can’t go outside and plant junk or move stuff around. And it means I don’t get to leave the indoors when I need a break from sitting and staring at a monitor screen for hours. Instead, I look like a bored cat staring at the garden through the window.
I go secretly crazy when I mention rain and someone responds “Yeah, but we really need it right now.” Shut up, rain lover. Shut up, meow, meow.
Today, I’m going to plant (oops I mean post) 3 or so groups of pictures from my garden that remind me of better times (i.e. days when it didn’t rain). Click on any photo to see a bigger version of it. (More pics here.)
Stupid sexy rain.
Hates severe weather warning alerts.
Lots of prep-work to avoid the frost early this morning. Backyard garden had to be completely covered too. (Glad I did though because it dipped down to 27 degrees!)
Hard to believe it got so cold after a beautiful day of sun and warmth. Cold, cold, go away…
A FREEZE WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 AM PST TUESDAY.
* TEMPERATURES: 25 TO 35 DEGREES IN THE URBAN CORRIDOR OF SAN FRANCISCO AND SAN JOSE. 20 TO 25 DEGREES IN THE INLAND VALLEYS.
* IMPACTS: AREAS OF BLACK ICE MAY ALSO BE POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY ON BRIDGES AND OVER PASSES. SENSITIVE VEGETATION COULD BE KILLED BY THE COLD TEMPERATURES.PLEASE TAKE OUTDOOR PETS INTO CONSIDERATION DURING THESE COLD TEMPERATURES.
PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS…
A FREEZE WARNING MEANS SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE IMMINENT OR HIGHLY LIKELY. THESE CONDITIONS WILL KILL CROPS AND OTHER SENSITIVE VEGETATION.
Happy Garden Blogger’s Bloom Day to you. This is the first time I’ve submitted my URL to May Dreams Gardens. (Thanks, MDG for hosting!) I’m looking forward to participating the 15th of each month.
After a beautiful week of continuous sun and warm weather, a gloom has settled in today. Yeah, sad, but still a fine day to go rock hunting up in the hills for the garden with my pooch, Lola.
Anyway, during the occasional break in the clouds, I was able to tippy-toe out and sneak up on some flowers to snap a few pictures. Hope you enjoy the bright colors, if your day is as dreary as ours.
Hello. My name is Mark R. and I'm an addict—of succulents. It's been less than one hour since I went outside and looked at my succulents and tried to think of ways to squeeze more in-between those which I've already planted. Aw, Lord, give me the strength…
