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<\/a><\/p>\nGardeners are by definition rooted and bound to their gardens. Leaving home can mean missing out, and we don’t want to miss a thing, especially in summer.<\/p>\n
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Like this Puya mirabilis’ first bloom in my garden. <\/p>\n
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Why, hello, you beautiful, lime-green trumpets, all flaring scrollwork and dangling clappers.<\/p>\n
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In fact, aside from Puya laxa’s tiny, navy blue flowers, which would be underwhelming to anyone but a hummingbird, this is the first puya to ever<\/em> bloom in my garden. In a genus notorious for taking its sweet time to bloom, (as much as a decade for some species), Puya mirabilis is a standout for accomplishing that feat in a year or so after planting. I would hate to miss that.<\/p>\n Aloe elgonica had its first bloom too. I’d hate to miss that as well. (Pardon the jungle — I have been cutting back a bit since this photo was taken last week. Ahem<\/em>, moving on…)<\/p>\n But like clockwork, August always fires up a relatively contented, stay-at-home temperament with the burning itch to travel, an urge to go, leave, v\u00e1monos. Which explains why I feel strongly compelled to immediately book a flight to Madrid to see its spectacular Desert City. Could I find such a sight fairly local here in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Santa Barbara, Palm Springs? Of course. But it’s August, so of course I’m daydreaming about Madrid.<\/p>\n “Designed by local firm GarciaGerman Arquitectos, Desert City is a biotechnology nursery that celebrates all things xerophytic (plants that require little water to survive) through educational, cultural, and commercial events in an expansive complex that includes a greenhouse, garden, exhibition space, a restaurant, shop, and offices<\/em>.” (photo and quoted material from Curbed<\/strong><\/a>.)<\/p>\n 54,000 feet celebrating cacti and succulents! Madrid’s winters are supposedly colder than the norm for Spain (43F for the low in January), but its mediterranean climate would seemingly support a huge variety of North American cacti, along with other succulents like euphorbias and aloes from other parts of the world. <\/p>\n “Prefabricated elements, along with sustainable solutions like photovoltaic glass, geothermal power, and water recovery systems combine to create a dynamic center that not only exhibits, grows, and breeds cacti, but also offers the public a range of activities<\/em>.” (photo from inhabitat<\/strong><\/a>, quoted material from Curbed<\/strong><\/a>.)<\/p>\n There’s also the International Meeting of the Landscape and Garden in Bergamo, Italy<\/a>, September 22-23, 2017 (simultaneous translation provided). And I’d love to attend the Perennial Plant Conference<\/a> in Pennsylvania at Swarthmore College this October 20th, to hear plantsperson extraordinaire Derry Watkins speak, jog over to Longwood Gardens, and possibly make it over to Chanticleer too.<\/p>\n Not that there aren’t distractions enough here at home. I found this blushing Tillandsia capitata ‘Roja’ at Rainforest Flora when attending the South Bay Bromeliad Associates Show & Sale last weekend (see Piece of Eden’s post here<\/a>.)<\/p>\n But it’s August, and my passport is freshly renewed and ready to go. I think I love that feeling of infinite possibilities almost as much as the going. For the short term, though, I’ll be heading to the InterCity Cactus Show & Sale<\/a> this Saturday at the LA Arboretum.<\/p>\n <\/big><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Gardeners are by definition rooted and bound to their gardens. Leaving home can mean missing out, and we don’t want to miss a thing, especially in summer. Like this Puya mirabilis’ first bloom in my garden. Why, hello, you beautiful, … Continue reading ![\"](\"http:\/\/i52.photobucket.com\/albums\/g23\/botanizeme\/august2017\/P1016696.jpg\")
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