Inspired by Gerhard's ×Mangave roundup and the cold temperatures in our forecast (they didn't materialize to the frigid depths that were predicted) I walked around the garden and snapped photos of my ×Mangaves, a surprising amount have made it into the ground. Will they live through the winter? Well, that's why they call it "trialing", I was sent these plants from Hans Hansen at Walter's Garden and I'm trialing them to see how they do...
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This cutey is ×Mangave 'Bad Hair Day', it had more spots when the weather was hot and the sun was shining every day.
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One of the more cold hardy ×Mangaves I was sent is this ×Mangave 'Navajo Princess', theoretically hardy to Zone 7. What, you don't see her?
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There she is! When I planted her the yuccas had recently been hacked back, I'll have to be careful to not let her rot this winter. She's planted on a steep, well-draining, bit of land—but air circulation could be an issue with the yucca leaves crowding her.
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Here's ×Mangave 'Whale Tale', I figured it would like being right next to the sidewalk, a bit of reflected heat and dry too if it can get it's roots under there. What I wasn't thinking about, in May, when I planted it...if we get snow and Andrew shovels the sidewalk it's probably doing to be buried.
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This guy, ×Mangave 'Moonglow', wasn't looking very good in a container so I stuck him in the ground. He's better now, but I'm not sure how the winter drainage will be in this spot.
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This trio of ×Mangave 'Inkblot' were moved here when I wanted to put my Agave 'Mateo' in the container they were in.
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They've already braved a few winters outdoors, but I'm not sure how they'll like being crowded like this.
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We shall see...
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Moving to the back garden now (ugh, things are a mess!)...
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I think this one is ×Mangave 'Blazing Saddles'.
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There's a pair of in this shot, along with a piece of an aloe that broke off a containerized plant, and I stuck in the ground (the light green plant under the very yellow agave). I pulled on it (the aloe) the other day but it's so well rooted now it won't be easy to get out. I might just leave it (more trailing).
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Anyway, here's ×Mangave "Femme Fatale'.
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And ×Mangave 'Frosted Elegance'.
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Moving a little to the north...
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When I planted this I called it ×Mangave 'Iron Man' but now I believe it's actually ×Mangave 'Falling Waters'. I think 'Iron Man' kicked the bucket before it even made it out of the gate.
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×Mangave 'Snow Leopard' has great spots...
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My ×Mangave 'Tooth Fairy' was in a decorative metal cachepot all summer, now it's hanging out in the Shade Pavilion Greenhouse.
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This one just might be my favorite, and in case you're wondering I think my second fav is 'Bad Hair Day' (despite its ridiculous name).
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Now we're in the basement. I made up this trio of dish planters back in 2016, I really intended to freshen them up this spring, taking out some of the cramped plants and giving their roots room to spread. Sadly I never had the time. Oh well, they're doing okay.
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×Mangave 'Man of Steel' (another fav, and it's not blurry in real life).
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Under the variegated Agave angustifolia 'Marginata' pup is ×Mangave 'Catch a Wave'.
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Another ×Mangave 'Bad Hair Day'.
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And another ×Magave 'Catch a Wave'
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Stuffed in this container is a trio of ×Mangave 'Lavender Lady' (yes, I also planned to break them up, but never had the time).
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And ditto for this pair of ×Mangave 'Purple People Eater' and singular ×Mangave 'Silver Fox'. If (when?) the ones I've been brave and planted out in the ground die, maybe it's time to give these a chance to stretch their roots and see how they do.
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Finally, ×Mangave 'Carnival'. And that's a wrap on my ×Mangave report!
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Weather Diary, Nov 7: Hi 62, Low 37/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
This cutey is ×Mangave 'Bad Hair Day', it had more spots when the weather was hot and the sun was shining every day.
One of the more cold hardy ×Mangaves I was sent is this ×Mangave 'Navajo Princess', theoretically hardy to Zone 7. What, you don't see her?
There she is! When I planted her the yuccas had recently been hacked back, I'll have to be careful to not let her rot this winter. She's planted on a steep, well-draining, bit of land—but air circulation could be an issue with the yucca leaves crowding her.
Here's ×Mangave 'Whale Tale', I figured it would like being right next to the sidewalk, a bit of reflected heat and dry too if it can get it's roots under there. What I wasn't thinking about, in May, when I planted it...if we get snow and Andrew shovels the sidewalk it's probably doing to be buried.
This guy, ×Mangave 'Moonglow', wasn't looking very good in a container so I stuck him in the ground. He's better now, but I'm not sure how the winter drainage will be in this spot.
This trio of ×Mangave 'Inkblot' were moved here when I wanted to put my Agave 'Mateo' in the container they were in.
They've already braved a few winters outdoors, but I'm not sure how they'll like being crowded like this.
We shall see...
Moving to the back garden now (ugh, things are a mess!)...
I think this one is ×Mangave 'Blazing Saddles'.
There's a pair of in this shot, along with a piece of an aloe that broke off a containerized plant, and I stuck in the ground (the light green plant under the very yellow agave). I pulled on it (the aloe) the other day but it's so well rooted now it won't be easy to get out. I might just leave it (more trailing).
Anyway, here's ×Mangave "Femme Fatale'.
And ×Mangave 'Frosted Elegance'.
Moving a little to the north...
When I planted this I called it ×Mangave 'Iron Man' but now I believe it's actually ×Mangave 'Falling Waters'. I think 'Iron Man' kicked the bucket before it even made it out of the gate.
×Mangave 'Snow Leopard' has great spots...
My ×Mangave 'Tooth Fairy' was in a decorative metal cachepot all summer, now it's hanging out in the Shade Pavilion Greenhouse.
This one just might be my favorite, and in case you're wondering I think my second fav is 'Bad Hair Day' (despite its ridiculous name).
Now we're in the basement. I made up this trio of dish planters back in 2016, I really intended to freshen them up this spring, taking out some of the cramped plants and giving their roots room to spread. Sadly I never had the time. Oh well, they're doing okay.
×Mangave 'Man of Steel' (another fav, and it's not blurry in real life).
Under the variegated Agave angustifolia 'Marginata' pup is ×Mangave 'Catch a Wave'.
Another ×Mangave 'Bad Hair Day'.
And another ×Magave 'Catch a Wave'
Stuffed in this container is a trio of ×Mangave 'Lavender Lady' (yes, I also planned to break them up, but never had the time).
And ditto for this pair of ×Mangave 'Purple People Eater' and singular ×Mangave 'Silver Fox'. If (when?) the ones I've been brave and planted out in the ground die, maybe it's time to give these a chance to stretch their roots and see how they do.
Finally, ×Mangave 'Carnival'. And that's a wrap on my ×Mangave report!
Weather Diary, Nov 7: Hi 62, Low 37/ Precip 0
All material © 2009-2019 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.