Category Archives: agaves, woody lilies
Foliage Follow-Up December 2010
When asked only for a show of leaves, my zone 10 garden in December can give a much less angst-ridden performance than, for example, yesterday’s post, which was drawing solely on flower output. Today I realized I forgot to include … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Plant Portraits, succulents
Tagged angelica pachycarpa, Annies Annuals, Begonia luxurians, Canna 'Bengal Tiger', Canna 'Intrigue', Coprosma 'County Park Red', Euphorbia characias, Foliage Follow-up, Helleborus argutifolius, Mangave 'Bloodspot', Rachel Warne, Tibouchina heteromalla
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Extraordinary Pots for Extraordinary Plants
I was in the area for work-related business so decided to pay a late-afternoon visit to the California Cactus Center in Pasadena. I’ve had aloes on the brain since visiting the Huntington and wanted to check on the CCC’s aloe … Continue reading
Potting Up
Real estate may still not be improving much, but in the garden houses are always moving, as with this Agave americana var. medio-picta ‘Alba’ that has been upsized to a new home that can be comfortably inhabited for several years, … Continue reading
Some Agaves and Aloes
From a recent visit to the Huntington Desert Garden. I was quite excited to see the blue-leaved form of Agave attenuata. There’s some discussion on the nomenclature of this foxtail agave from San Marcos Growers, which indicates there’s varieties with … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden visit
Tagged Agave attenuata, Agave attenuata 'Huntington Blue', Agave schidigera 'Durango Delight', Agave victoriae-reginae, Aloe aculeata, Aloe berhana, Aloe bussei, Aloe sinkatana, foxtail agave, Gardenweb, Huntington Desert Garden, San Marcos Growers
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Glasshouse Dreams
With the cold snap on in the western U.S., and the heat temporarily off in our home pending repairs, the Saturday after Thanksgiving found us heading for the warmth of conservatories. Last night’s temp inside the house was 57 (Fahrenheit), … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, garden visit, succulents
Tagged Henri Rousseau, Huntington Botanical Gardens
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One Smooth Agave
Not just one but a regiment of smooth agaves, A. desmettiana in bloom, a dynamic but also hauntingly melancholy sight. As we agavephiles know all too well, flowering heralds their death, the definition of monocarpic. I wonder if the Museum … Continue reading
Foliage Follow-Up November 2010
Hosted by Pam at Digging, where we’re regularly treated to the best in Austin, Texas gardens. I have to confess that it’s not just fall that brings leaves into prominence in my garden. Though I give it my best shot, … Continue reading
While You Were Away
I swing between elation and despondency upon returning from an absence to be confronted by a garden that obviously carried on beautifully while I was away. Bravo, everyone is alive and thriving vs. sniffle, I am clearly superfluous. As usual, … Continue reading
Fail Better (Summer Recap)
I admit it’s a little early for a summer recap, but there is a penultimate feel to the garden today. By this time, whatever plans I’ve laid have either happened or failed to happen. It’s time to admit this is … Continue reading
Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Plant Portraits
Tagged Allium senescens, Coreopsis 'Full Moon', Manihot grahamii, Musa 'Siam Ruby', Papaver rupifragum, Polygonum orientale, Prostanthera ovalifolia, Rose 'Bouquet d'Or', Salvia 'Limelight', Solanum rantonnetii, Tibouchina heteromalla, Xanthosoma 'Lime Zinger'
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Stolen Garden Kisses
The one-foot tall agave and the giant Polygonum orientale, Kiss Me Over The Garden Gate, would seem fated never to meet, to exist in separate physical planes, forever divided by height and differing moisture needs. But meet they do, and … Continue reading