The day after the 2019 Garden Bloggers Fling wrapped, Andrew and I headed to the Denver Botanic Garden. I'd had a painfully short time to explore during the Fling, and Andrew was being a good sport. Once there, we bumped into Panayoti Kelaidis (all around amazing plantsman and Senior Curator and Director of Outreach at the garden), before I knew it he'd connected us with Kelly Grummons, for a tour of Kelly's private garden. After we finished at the DBG we called a car and shortly after arrived at a stranger's door.
When Panayoti was arranging the visit he excitedly said "Kelly has an Agave gracilipes that's blooming" I appreciated this shorthand for "you're gonna love this garden," here's the blooming agave...
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Plant...
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Bloom...
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Allium altaicum
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I wish I could tell you what these blooming plants are, some sort of yucca, I believe (*update, Yucca rupicola, thanks Bob Nold*). This was day five of our Colorado adventure and my brain was full. Kelly was an unbelievably knowledgeable man (Panayoti called him "arguably the best horticulturist in the Rocky Mountain region") but I simply was on information overload and could not keep up with him. I wish I had recorded our visit, seriously.
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This little cutie! I also wish I could remember her name (I think she is a she...), she was very entertaining and playful.
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Crambe maritima, I believe.
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Looking back...
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Looking forward...
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That Agave parryi v. neomexicana x utahensis, or as Kelly calles it "deep blue form New Mexican agave" was a beauty.
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I came home with one, and you can have one too...(available here)
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The veggie garden...
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Kelly (on the right) told me where to get these large wire frames, but I cannot remember, anybody know? Oh and that's Andrew on the left. We both donned our plastic capes as the skies opened just as soon as we arrived at Kelly's. We looked ridiculous, but stayed dry.
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The opuntia house was total spiky magic!
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Opuntia davisii x kleinii 'Golden Lion'
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Opuntia aurea 'Mandarin Sunrise'
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And a few more that I didn't catch the name of...
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Here's Kelly's website, it's worth perusing...
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Moving into another propagation area...
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This! OMG this. He was okay with me taking a photo, and believe me it felt as textural as it looks. Kelly has taken steps to get it into production, hopefully we'll be able to purchase one soon.
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More from inside the greenhouses...
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Back outside...
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And there's sun!
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I believe this is Yucca elata...
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I think this was a camera accident, but I rather like it.
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Eremurus was a stunner all through our Colorado travels.
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Opuntia polyacantha 'Peter Pan', so called because it never matures and never blooms, forever staying in this, it's juvenile form. I ordered a pair as soon as I got home (Kelly didn't have them onsite).
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Just a few more photos before we depart...
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The moral of this story—in case you haven't already figured it out—if Panayoti Kelaidis suggests you visit a garden, do it!
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Weather Diary, Sept 16: Hi 69, Low 56/ Precip .01"
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
When Panayoti was arranging the visit he excitedly said "Kelly has an Agave gracilipes that's blooming" I appreciated this shorthand for "you're gonna love this garden," here's the blooming agave...
Plant...
Bloom...
Allium altaicum
I wish I could tell you what these blooming plants are, some sort of yucca, I believe (*update, Yucca rupicola, thanks Bob Nold*). This was day five of our Colorado adventure and my brain was full. Kelly was an unbelievably knowledgeable man (Panayoti called him "arguably the best horticulturist in the Rocky Mountain region") but I simply was on information overload and could not keep up with him. I wish I had recorded our visit, seriously.
This little cutie! I also wish I could remember her name (I think she is a she...), she was very entertaining and playful.
Crambe maritima, I believe.
Looking back...
Looking forward...
That Agave parryi v. neomexicana x utahensis, or as Kelly calles it "deep blue form New Mexican agave" was a beauty.
I came home with one, and you can have one too...(available here)
The veggie garden...
Kelly (on the right) told me where to get these large wire frames, but I cannot remember, anybody know? Oh and that's Andrew on the left. We both donned our plastic capes as the skies opened just as soon as we arrived at Kelly's. We looked ridiculous, but stayed dry.
The opuntia house was total spiky magic!
Opuntia davisii x kleinii 'Golden Lion'
Opuntia aurea 'Mandarin Sunrise'
And a few more that I didn't catch the name of...
Here's Kelly's website, it's worth perusing...
Moving into another propagation area...
This! OMG this. He was okay with me taking a photo, and believe me it felt as textural as it looks. Kelly has taken steps to get it into production, hopefully we'll be able to purchase one soon.
More from inside the greenhouses...
Back outside...
And there's sun!
I believe this is Yucca elata...
I think this was a camera accident, but I rather like it.
Eremurus was a stunner all through our Colorado travels.
Opuntia polyacantha 'Peter Pan', so called because it never matures and never blooms, forever staying in this, it's juvenile form. I ordered a pair as soon as I got home (Kelly didn't have them onsite).
Just a few more photos before we depart...
The moral of this story—in case you haven't already figured it out—if Panayoti Kelaidis suggests you visit a garden, do it!
Weather Diary, Sept 16: Hi 69, Low 56/ Precip .01"
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.