Tag Archives: Tetrapanax papyrifer

tracking down a tillandsia

Up to as recently as a few weeks ago, I confess I didn’t pay much attention to the various species of tillandsias (aka air plants, bromeliads adapted to a basically rootless life as epiphytic tree dwellers.) The darlings all curl … Continue reading

Posted in plant nurseries, plant sales | Tagged , , , , , , | 6 Comments

tetrapanax in bloom

I know a lot of Tetrapanax papyrifer in zones colder than my zone 10 have their blooms regrettably cut short by winter. Let me just ease your zonal envy a bit, as you gaze on these bodacious panicles, and fully … Continue reading

Posted in Plant Portraits | Tagged , | 15 Comments

compound interest

Image found here I don’t have a lot of botanical vocabulary at my fingertips anymore, but I do know a compound leaf when I see one*, since I’ve always had a pronounced weakness for them. If you’ve got a potted … Continue reading

Posted in design, Plant Portraits, science, shop talk | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Bloom Day November 2013

By November my garden has turned into a curiosity shop of oddities and seedpods. Like the racks of antler-like blooms on tetrapanax, seemingly more blooms than leaves this years after I clipped away some of the sunburnt foliage. Limbing it … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Bloom Day, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

tricks for the plant collector

A garden book among the many I’ve read that I’m reminded of almost daily is Pamela Harper’s “Color Echoes.” My synopsis goes like this: The eye is lonely and craves relationships, and will wander around restlessly to seek them out, … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, design, journal | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

porpoising (sunday clippings 11/18/12)

Surfacing briefly, like the porpoises I watched slicing the surface of the ocean on the ferry boat crossing to Catalina Island Friday. A visit mostly all business*, the pleasure coming mainly from the 30-minute walk to the conference room at … Continue reading

Posted in clippings, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

under overcast skies at last

We’ve been watching an old Swedish detective show, Wallander, which is subtitled in English. I’m crazy for that soft, muted Swedish light, which I can only imagine is similar to what we’ve been getting the past few days, creating a … Continue reading

Posted in agaves, woody lilies, Plant Portraits, pots and containers, succulents | Tagged , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Bloom Day May 2012

Carol’s hosting of Bloom Day is one of the highlights of the month in garden blogdom. Yes, blooms can be had year-round, but instead of scratching around to find them as we do some months, May delivers them by the … Continue reading

Posted in Bloom Day, Bulbs, MB Maher, plant nurseries, Plant Portraits, pots and containers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

Good morning, tetrapanax

Everything gets to be dewy and succulent for a moment, however brief. And if you play it right, it’s just enough. (Barely.) But enough. (Happy weekend!)

Posted in Ephemera | Tagged | 5 Comments