Cones and pods and such...

One of the best parts of gardening is observing the strange things plants do. My most recent discovery involves my Magnolia laevifolia, after the flowers faded these started to develop all over the plant…

Okay not really everywhere, just where there had been flowers. Some are double, others are single…

There are lots of pairs.

And there's a good sized cluster.

I did some investigating and couldn’t find any images, or mention, of these online. Of course what you typically see develop on a magnolia is cone shape with brightly colored seeds. Here’s what the ones on my Magnolia macrophyllia look like right now.

Click here for a great image after the cone has dried and the orange seeds are visible. Finally I learned this isn’t a cone after all: “The fruit of the magnolia looks like a cone. Is it actually a cone or what is it? Although it may look like a cone, it is actually an aggregate fruit that is woody. This flowering structure has changed little over millions of years. Magnolias are some of the most primitive of all flowering plants, but the seeds are enclosed in the fruit during their development, and therefore they must be classified as angiosperms, not as gymnosperms-the group to which conifers belong. As the fruit matures, scale-like areas on it split apart and the seeds, covered in a red fleshy aril, are exposed as they are in gymnosperms.” (source)

Since we're looking at interesting pods and cones lets take a peek at a couple of others. The Alstroemeria isabellana is crazy with Martian eyes! The hummingbirds love the flowers on this plant, is it normal to have one, or two, buzz a plant like every fifteen minutes?

I am thrilled that my (less than a year old) Amsonia hubrichtii is producing these cool bean-like seed pods.

My friend Bridget gave me this Cardiospermum halicacabum (Heart seed/Balloon vine), I've got it growing up a dead Musa basjoo stalk and I'm so excited to see those green puffs (and eventually the heart seeds).

It's an excellent year for the Hesperaloe parviflora, I think there are 9 seed pods on 3 plants.

Even the Manfreda undulata 'Chocolate Chips' has gotten in on the action. Looks like four make that three (the little one fell off after I took this picture) pollinated flowers!

So back to my Magnolia laevifolia, naturally I cut one of the little berries open and discovered the outside is just a thin coating, like an M&M (a little thicker) and then inside is a pea sized green seed. I’m pretty excited to watch how they mature. Will the outside turn darker? Will they eventually crack open or fall to the ground before they open? I’ll be watching. This stuff is better than TV…

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Meet the newest member of the family…

Andrew and I are pleased to announce…another Yucca rostrata has joined the family! Meet Alberta…

Alberta came to us from the Cistus Nursery adoption agency. It was a tough decision whether to adopt Sally…

Or Alberta...

But in the end Alberta was the one, you could say we made a connection. Getting her home involved a little bondage, but since she knew soon (very soon) she would be allowed to spread out her roots and grow big and strong she underwent the indignity.

Actually she looks kind of cute with her up-do.

You've probably guessed where Alberta will be living?

So you've met the newest member of the family, I'm wondering if you've been formally introduced to the rest of the gang? Meet Sammy, our oldest Yucca rostrata. We're so proud of him.

lil’ Sanford...our second trunked Y. rostrata. He's kind of a punk.

Clifford, the big leaf Magnolia.

Mr. Big, the Agave americana 'Variegata' (he used to be much bigger please don’t let him know he’s shrinking with age).

And I think this might also be the official debut of Louis, the newest palm…

He’s made a previous appearance here on the blog but I don’t think I identified him by name. If you’re wondering if this Louis owes his name to this Louis, yes…he does…it was only right. So that’s our family, tell me…do you name your special plants?

All material © 2009-2013 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited.

Elk Rock Garden at the Bishop's Close

The Hardy Plant Society of Oregon offers small classes or workshops to its members throughout the year, a couple weeks ago I finally attended one called “Winter Walk at Bishop's Close Garden." I’d never been to this garden and figured it would be a great opportunity to get out, explore and shake the winter blues. Bonus...it was sunny day!

A little history… “The Elk Rock Garden of the Bishop's Close is the name that was given to the Peter Kerr estate when it was given to the Diocese of Oregon in 1959. Located in the Dunthorpe area about two miles north of Lake Oswego, the estate sits on a high bluff on the western bank of the Willamette River. The property includes approximately six acres of a cultivated English-style garden that was designed by the landscape architectural firm of Olmsted Brothers of Brookline, Massachusetts. It is widely known for its many varieties of magnolias as well as for outstanding examples of many other native and exotic plants. The term "close" as it is used in this instance derives from British usage where it describes an enclosed area around a church or other sacred space which provides a place for quietude and meditation.” (source)

We were a little early to appreciate the magnolia collection, but the timing was perfect for enjoying the hamamelis which I shared photos of here. It was also a great chance to see what other things popped with winter interest and provided a framework for future visits, of which there will be many I’m sure (I’ve got to see all those magnolias in bloom!). From the patio off the back of the house was a fine view of Mt Hood in the distance…

While everyone else was admiring the mountain I was enthralled with this beefy wisteria.

The chapel garden on the north side of the house…

And my new Magnolia obsession, M. delavayi.

Right about here is where everyone else started to coo about the epimedium…

While I was kind of taken by these dark little leaves.

And what a lovely specimen of Edgeworthia chrysantha next to the stream.

I’m hoping to make it back to see it in full bloom, maybe a week or so?

We were told the bamboo was coming out, it’s obstructing the view. What a project that will be!

Pinus bungeana, Lacebark Pine

Stewartia pseudocamellia

The Parterres, where the hamamelis is planted.

These little alpine troughs came from the (now closed) Berry Botanic Garden.

I guess they've had a hard time adjusting to their new home and some of the plants have died. Of course the fact that a couple of them have been ripped right out of the troughs by garden visitors doesn't help. Yes really! The gardener was with us on the tour and she told stories of finding them laying on the ground, some in our party refused to believe a visitor would do such a thing and preferred to blame the wildlife.

See the big graceful conifer in the background? It’s a Taiwania cryptomerioides or Coffin Tree.

It looks soft but wow…soft it is not, those are serious spikes!

That’s it for my visit, if you’re in the Portland area I urge you to see this garden in person, it really is a magical place and I know I’ll be back.