As you've no doubt figured out, the last half of 2014 was pretty California-centric for me. Before our week and half in Southern California over the holidays we spent a week in the Bay Area in September. Today and tomorrow we're heading back to Berkeley and our visit to the University of California Botanical Garden.
This was our second visit to this garden, the first was back in 2009.
As usual I took way too many photos and then was unable to edit them down to a manageable number, thus there will be two-parts and they're both very photo heavy. Today we start by wandering through the California Garden, on to the Mexico and Central American sections and briefly touch on South America and Australasia. Looking at this map I can't help but think we missed things, I guess that means we'll just have to go back again!
Agave Shawii, there was a lovely and informative post about this agave recently on the blog Piece of Eden.
This Dudleya hybrid helps to illustrate just how dry parts of the garden were. I could have taken many photos of dried up and dead plants but chose not to, it certainly did drive home just how dry things in California are.
Lyonothamnus floribundus ssp. Asplenifolius, Catalina Ironwood
Love the bark, love the foliage.
The newly emerging leaves of the Gunnera insignis were quite striking too.
And the size of this Podocarpus matudae caused me pause. I think I allowed enough room in my garden for mine to achieve this height.
It's such a beautiful tree.
Beschorneria albiflora
The Mexico/Central American section of the garden is very densely planted. Spikes and leaves all co-existing peacefully.
Agave polyacantha
Bocconia latisepala
I've never met a Bocconia that I didn't love and wish I could grow them all (I do have one, a B. frutescens, in a container).
Andrew took a break from the sun and drew for a bit. We unexpectedly ran across the drawing a few weeks ago, he does such great plant shapes.
Eryngium alternatum
Fabulous!
Agave chiapensis
I was zooming in for a close up of the burgundy leaf-tips when I noticed this little guy.
Agave ovatifolia
Yucca faxoniana
This section of the garden makes mine look sparse!
I think it's a blooming nolina?
Agave montana
Agave shrevei ssp. magna
And these! Poor tossed aside (probably bloomed out) agaves...
Odd to have left them right along a main pathway.
Lush, the green version.
Lush, the tawny version.
Puya coerulea
There were many lizards running about, this was the only one who posed for me.
Araucaria araucana, or as I like to call it (because I can pronounce it better than Araucaria araucana) the monkey puzzle tree.
There are spots in the garden where you get a glimpse across the bay at the golden gate or downtown San Francisco.
Lavandula canariensis
Aeonium balsamiferum
Another bocconia (I couldn't find a label to tell me which one).
The shot of bright color was appreciated.
There were multiple signs around the garden about the blooming Puya raimondii, I think it was nearing the end of the show when we were there in September, the flowers started opening in June. Evidently this plant doesn't usually flower in the wild until it's 80-100 years old, this one is only 24. They aren't sure why it's flowering so young but since it's monocarpic it signals the end.
Eryngium pandanifolium var. Chamissonis
Salvia confertiflora
Dicksonia antarctica
And so concludes today's post, check back tomorrow for Southern Africa and the New World Desert...
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