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Cold! Nearby snow!
What was supposed to be even more rain, after a lavish Christmas week four inches (100 mm) divided between two storms...
...turned out to be a dry, cold Santa Ana wind event.
Thanks to that wind, the Dasylirion longissimum flower stem from 2015(!) finally snapped off the plant. It is 15' long (4.7 m), and being very dried out, doesn't weigh more than 10 lbs (4.5 kg).
Too cold and windy to garden, so time for an after Christmas garden center tour. They were all transitioning from holiday sales (Christmas trees, decor, poinsettias) back to the good stuff (garden plants).
Plant Depot is redoing its pond.
The Pyrostegia venusta was in full flower.
There are just two small holes knocked in the asphalt for the Pyrostegia root systems. This likely keeps this very vigorous species somewhat in check.
Piece of Eucalyptus branch stuffed with succulents. Bareroot fruit trees for sale in the background, standard for January in SoCal.
Oh! Are...those...Proteas?!?!
Seems like that vertical wall used to be an elaborate, patterned design. Now its just a lot of really happy plants.
The plant purchase: Protea labeled as "Pink King". Hopefully it is not 'Mini King'. 'Mini King' has been a
big disappointment (three times, no less). There were plants labeled 'Mini King'. Skipped those.
On to Roger's. Nothing much new in the way of plants. Lots of Christmas stuff discounted to sell off quickly.
Train for the kiddies:
Cyclamen
The tender plant side of the vertical wall looked stressed from the recent cold/wet/windy weather.
Spiraled Cereus there on the lower left. Nifty and pricey.
The succulent side of the vertical wall looked better. The guy was deadheading the Senecio mandraliscae.
Nice healthy specimen of Grevillea 'Long John' for sale. No, didn't get it.
The real highlight were the Aloes in flower out on the street. Maybe Aloe arborescens or maybe Aloe x princeps aka A. salm-dyckiana, a naturally occurring hybrid of ferox and arborescens.
Look what they did to the Chondropetalums. Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Some gorgeous Agave ovatifolia 'Vanzie's out there, too. Now that's an Agave!
No pictures from a small neighborhood garden center, but two new bare root roses I planted straightaway. The pleasure of planting new plants straightaway cannot be overstated. No sitting in pots for you two.
Another 'Firefighter', because fragrance.
And a rose called 'Queen of Elegance', because it seemed like it might be good. The small plants coming up in front of the rose, under the green wire (rabbit protection) are the Freesia bulbs I bought a few weeks ago.
Fingers still sore from getting squished, but usable again, if used very slowly.
A planty New Year can't be all bad.
Lots to love here. Did you take the first pix from your house? I can see all the trails I used to walk at Christmas Bird Count very clearly. Plant Depot and Pyrostegia are new to me. The brilliance of the Aloes at Rogers just shouts. Orange is clearly the color of the day! Oh, your fingers again. How did you hurt them?
ReplyDeleteNo, that is from Tustin Ranch Road at I-5. Saddleback must be a fine place for bird counting.
DeleteSensors went out on the garage door and I was opening and closing it by hand and accidentally squished them between two sections. They are getting better.
Wow, an upcoming visit to Roger's may be in order just to catch that Aloe display. I made plans to visit the local botanic garden on Friday to see what's happening with the Aloes there but I'm not expecting a showing as good as that offered by Roger's. Disappointed by the plant inventories throughout the South Bay garden centers, I've been focusing on garden clean-up again but I'm going to pop into the local store tomorrow just in case they've had a delivery since they cleared out the Christmas trees...
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your smashed fingers are recovering. Happy planty new year, HB!
Quite a mess here from the wind. The growers are probably cleaning up from the rain, cold, and wind, too, so new stuff might be a bit delayed.
DeleteHave fun in the garden!
A planty new year is the best kind of happy new year!
ReplyDeleteThere's nothing like a garden for happy.
DeleteIt is good to hear that your fingers are feeling good enough to putter in the garden. Those aloes are gorgeous blooming but I love that vine with those orange blooms. Also the Agave that looks like it was pleated. That would be one I would love to try to grow. Of course it couldn't be outside during winter here.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa. Pleated is a good description--the leaves on that Agave are fantastic. No, not super cold hardy unfortunately.
DeleteYes, the spiraled cereus does quicken the pulse...as does the price!
ReplyDeleteCool plant, but overpriced. They are not slow growers.
DeleteYowza! Both both the Pyrostegia and those breathtaking Aloes... And good for your for getting everything in the ground right away! I have not yet ventured out to a nursery this year. I shamefully admit that I still have unplanted things in pots. I'm thinking maybe this week, weather permitting.
ReplyDeleteWell the roses got into the ground right away. The Protea is waiting, but I think I have the spot for it. A few more things from spring still waiting in pots, so if you are shameful so am I.
DeleteOh to be able to shop for plants again to get through the winter doldrums. Nothing much happens in my cold climate until late February. Have never heard of the Pyrostegia but what a knockout! Enjoy planting. Using your hands will help speed up the healing process.
ReplyDeleteIt warmed up here after a couple of cold weeks--daytime temperature under 60F (15c) does not happen very often here. Now back up to low 70's again (21c) , makes for delightful gardening. February is not that far away!
DeleteJust have to be careful with the fingers, wearing gloves but fear a nail is going to fall off, it was the most damaged one.
That mass of Aloe blooms... wow. Did you see many pollinators? All the bees are dormant around my parts... only hummingbirds left to enjoy the winter blooming Aloes.
ReplyDeleteA few there at Rogers, but at home thraskii had a cloud of bees, I made a video, should see if it turned out and post it if it did. It was cold and overcast enough to keep them in their hives for about 10 days, but first sunny day, they were back. There is a big feral hive just down the road that has been there for decades, and a neighbor has two or three cared-for hives as well.
DeleteIt just occurred to me that the Aloe flowers are so similar to Kniphofia. Love their bright orange color, also the Pyrostegia - I can see where the "pyro" comes from.
ReplyDeleteAnd Kniphofias are from the same part of the planet (Southern Africa) as many Aloes.
Delete"Pyro" is easy to remember, and one common name is "flame vine".
Cupcake restios - a bit sad.
ReplyDeleteI winced when I saw those.
Delete