I've been making the annual, late May, trip to Rare Plant Research since before I started writing this blog. I think my first outing was in 2006, if not then, than definitely 2007. There are years I've gone by myself, with my former plantlust.com partners, with out of town friends, and with my husband. This year I had the pleasure of attending with Peter...The Outlaw Gardener.
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He stopped to look at some containers and I wandered into the first greenhouse. It would be quite sometime before we'd see each other again.
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Last year those bright rusty-red plants were a hit with me, and most everyone I know. Of course I bought one, even though it wasn't yet rooted. Research after the fact told me it was probably Ananus lucidus or Ananas lucidus 'Lava Burst'. Mine finally met the yard waste bin in late August (never did root), still, I carried one of these around for awhile before realizing I really didn't need to buy it again.
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Aechmea odorata, which I have — bought here several years back. Mine isn't looking this dreamy however.
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Tempted by all the lovely Aeonium...
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But I managed to walk away.
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As I probably say every year, eavesdropping is great fun at this event. I smiled as I heard a pair of older ladies exclaim "what lovely daylilies those are" (!) as they fondled some fancy-pants Hippeastrum. I ducked to the side as a fellow carried out one of these humongous Dasylirion, saying "Danger! Spikes! Danger! I've been spiked already...don't let it happen to you!".... hehehe, you're calling my name!
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Who knew Agaves come in so many colors?
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Or as Peter said..."stressed much?"
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The ones in gallon-sized pots seemed much happier.
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Scadoxus puniceus, tempted — but I've been there, done that.
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Aloes and Daylilies... (yes, that's an attempt at humor).
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Every year I take a dreamy (to me) photo of the Watsonia, every year I resist the temptation to buy.
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Baby Tetrapanax are so cute.
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Ditto for baby Yucca rostrata.
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I zoomed in and swooned over these. Then remembered that I'd done the same a couple of years ago. When I mentioned that to Peter he nodded and agreed, guess they really should be mine (price dammit!).
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So shopping-wise I started to focus on the Bromeliads.
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I've got a project I'm working on and wanted a couple more.
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Or a couple dozen, really...
![]()
Evidently Peter had been doing the same. I'd walked by, and admired, this haul not knowing it was his. There's nearly a dozen Bromeliads there! Plus a trio of custom containers.
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Here's my modest haul, just five plants! There will be close-ups at the end of this post...
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But first, as tradition holds, we had to visit the house and it's gardens — just a shot walk up from the nursery proper.
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It's amazing the things you can do when you've got a whole nursery of plants at your disposal.
![]()
Furcraea, I've given up trying to keep them happy — but that doesn't stop me from lusting after them.
![]()
This photo was supposed to be all about those amazing spikes on the right, but that darn dragon snuck into frame.
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Pond, dragon, rocks, house...
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And blooming water lilies! I'm not sure how he pulled this off, since it's been so cold here.
![]()
This was how the back of my car looked after a couple additional nursery stops on the way home. Funny almost everything I see doesn't belong to me! The Polystichum setiferum (Alaska fern) and Sarracenia, in the lower right-hand corner are all I see that's mine...
![]()
But back to my RPR haul. Aloe aristata
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Mis-marked Agave (I won't tell you what it was being sold as), but I believe it's Agave 'Baccarat' or Agave montana 'Baccarat'.
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And the Bromeliads, I bought three. These two tall ones...
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And this short, but sort of crawling along, one. They were so cheap!
![]()
Weather Diary, May 22: Hi 91, Low 56/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
He stopped to look at some containers and I wandered into the first greenhouse. It would be quite sometime before we'd see each other again.
Last year those bright rusty-red plants were a hit with me, and most everyone I know. Of course I bought one, even though it wasn't yet rooted. Research after the fact told me it was probably Ananus lucidus or Ananas lucidus 'Lava Burst'. Mine finally met the yard waste bin in late August (never did root), still, I carried one of these around for awhile before realizing I really didn't need to buy it again.
Aechmea odorata, which I have — bought here several years back. Mine isn't looking this dreamy however.
Tempted by all the lovely Aeonium...
But I managed to walk away.
As I probably say every year, eavesdropping is great fun at this event. I smiled as I heard a pair of older ladies exclaim "what lovely daylilies those are" (!) as they fondled some fancy-pants Hippeastrum. I ducked to the side as a fellow carried out one of these humongous Dasylirion, saying "Danger! Spikes! Danger! I've been spiked already...don't let it happen to you!".... hehehe, you're calling my name!
Who knew Agaves come in so many colors?
Or as Peter said..."stressed much?"
The ones in gallon-sized pots seemed much happier.
Scadoxus puniceus, tempted — but I've been there, done that.
Aloes and Daylilies... (yes, that's an attempt at humor).
Every year I take a dreamy (to me) photo of the Watsonia, every year I resist the temptation to buy.
Baby Tetrapanax are so cute.
Ditto for baby Yucca rostrata.
I zoomed in and swooned over these. Then remembered that I'd done the same a couple of years ago. When I mentioned that to Peter he nodded and agreed, guess they really should be mine (price dammit!).
So shopping-wise I started to focus on the Bromeliads.
I've got a project I'm working on and wanted a couple more.
Or a couple dozen, really...
Evidently Peter had been doing the same. I'd walked by, and admired, this haul not knowing it was his. There's nearly a dozen Bromeliads there! Plus a trio of custom containers.
Here's my modest haul, just five plants! There will be close-ups at the end of this post...
But first, as tradition holds, we had to visit the house and it's gardens — just a shot walk up from the nursery proper.
It's amazing the things you can do when you've got a whole nursery of plants at your disposal.
Furcraea, I've given up trying to keep them happy — but that doesn't stop me from lusting after them.
This photo was supposed to be all about those amazing spikes on the right, but that darn dragon snuck into frame.
Pond, dragon, rocks, house...
And blooming water lilies! I'm not sure how he pulled this off, since it's been so cold here.
This was how the back of my car looked after a couple additional nursery stops on the way home. Funny almost everything I see doesn't belong to me! The Polystichum setiferum (Alaska fern) and Sarracenia, in the lower right-hand corner are all I see that's mine...
But back to my RPR haul. Aloe aristata
Mis-marked Agave (I won't tell you what it was being sold as), but I believe it's Agave 'Baccarat' or Agave montana 'Baccarat'.
And the Bromeliads, I bought three. These two tall ones...
And this short, but sort of crawling along, one. They were so cheap!
Weather Diary, May 22: Hi 91, Low 56/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2017 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.