Bromeliads in the garden

One of the many things I found myself wishing for while in San Francisco was a climate where I could grow Bromeliads outdoors year-round. They can, I can’t. However this inconvenient little truth doesn’t keep me from enjoying many of the plants in this family…I just have to employ the seasonal shift. Inside for the winter, summer vacation in the garden (and of course there are a few I've ended up putting in the ground, and just hope for the best).

I was thrilled to come home from San Francisco and discover my Billbergia 'Hallelujah' was going to bloom.

A friend noted,when I pointed it out, "that flower doesn't seem to go with that plant"...it is a rather shocking color combination.

There are several bromeliads crammed in the large container next to the 'Hallelujah' including a large Vriesea imperialis, a couple of Neoregelia hybrids and a Quesnelia arvensis (front center) which was a gift a few years ago from the Rainforest Gardener.

There is also a small IKEA NOID bromeliad...

The color and pattern on this Neoregelia hybrid is a fav.

On the opposite side of the shade pavilion is another bromeliad grouping complete with a Tillandsia xerographica in a cage...

The glowing green color of this one is especially vibrant just before nightfall.

The broms in the tree are doing well.

And look! Another bloom on the way, from a tillandsia this time. Do you see it?

Right there...

I do take most of my tillandsias outside for the summer time. Some of them thank me with bright colors.

This Dyckia 'Burgundy Ice' is in a container. It's burgundy-ness seems compromised.

This one is in the ground (has been for a year and a half) and remains true to it's 'Burgundy Ice' name.

Here's a tiny pup Pam sent me last year. I can't remember if she said it was a puya or a dyckia but I do know she called it hardy and it sailed through last winter.

Hechtia podantha, this one has spent it's life with me in a container.

However this Puya coerulea has been in the ground since 2010. Once upon a time there were three but this is the only one to have survived.

I'm kind a hoping to see a bloom someday.

Also in the ground, but just planted this spring, Puya chilensis. My research says this one isn't quite as hardy as the P. coerulea so I'm not sure if I'll leave it or not.

It only cost me $5 so maybe I'll call it an experiment.

Plus I have a back up P. chilensis in a container.

This one is Puya mirabilis and was also a $5 steal. Since it's in a very protected spot right next to the house I think I'll leave it in the ground and see how it does over the winter (that's it on the far right).

There are many more plants from the bromeliad family in my garden (most in containers) but I didn't want this post to get too long, perhaps I'll feature them someday down the road...

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

Monkey see, monkey do…

Clifford, our big-leaf magnolia, has been calling out for a little extra summer lovin...

You see he has the perfect lower branch structure for tucking in of a couple tillandsia, which you’d notice when walking to the patio. I’d tried in the past to make it work but the project needed much larger plants than I had (or was willing to purchase…the big tillandsias are expensive!). I did however pick up some Tillandsia usneoides thinking it might be cool draped over a branch.

And then I saw a post on A Growing Obsession: kokedama for slackers. Denise had taken a couple of bromeliads, some moss, and raffia and created the perfect summer accent! Naturally I had to copy her.

I kept a handlful of moist soil around the roots of the bromeliads, wrapped it with moss and then secured it with with a couple wraps of twine. I didn’t like the way the twine looked (to obvious and bright, the same when I tried rafia) so I finished up using a thin wire which practically disappears.

Hunting for more moss around the garden (this is Oregon after all, there is always moss) to hide the twine I found some with bits of sedum growing in it, I think that takes things up a notch!

Knowing me I'll probably be tucking in more things (tillandsia, another bromeliad, a frog...ha kidding on that last one) all summer long...

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

Rare Plant Research, 2013

The last few years my enthusiasm for the Rare Plant Research Open House had somewhat dwindled, a fact best illustrated by my declining purchases (maybe I already had all their cool stuff?).

However this year I felt a renewed excitement about the event, due primarily to the fact I was attending with my plantlust.com partners. Nothing like fellow plant nuts to encourage your addiction!

Well, that plus cool plants.

No doubt the fact I actually had a list of a few “must haves” helped too, for instance I knew I wanted another couple of bromeliads.

See those light green almost-glowing ones? They were even better in person.

Had to have one.

Oh Furcraea you taunt me so, yes I wanted to take you home but you know you won't be happy there...

The time had finally come, I took the plunge and grabbed one of these Asparagus Ferns...

This beauty was in the "look but don't even try to buy" section. Not that I could have afforded it anyway.

Blooming bromeliad, so pretty.

The trunking Yucca rostrata drew quite a crowd. There were both gasps of delight at the $150 price and gasps of shock. It all depends on your perspective I suppose.

This little beauty was sitting all by itself, not another like it anywhere. I was smitten. And I walked away.

But I came back, and someone else was picking it up! (NO!!!) But then it bit her and she put it down, looking at her finger where it drew blood. That's when I knew I had to have it (insert evil laugh here).

Haemanthus humilis ssp. hirsutus

Yucca whipplei...mine!

Now that's a lot of spikes!

Beautiful colors of Eucomis leaves.

Shocking!

Here's my co-plant lust'er Megan as she swings her purchases around to be paid for. Can that woman shop or what?!!

Makes my haul look downright pathetic! In my defense there is one other plant you can't see, a dark burgundy dyckia is hiding next to the orange aloe. Clockwise from the top...big NOID Bromleiad, Asparagus Fern, that cool variegated yucca,  Aloe dorotheae, Fire Ball Neoregelia (bromeliad), and the Yucca whipplei.

If any one has a guess on the I.D. of the variegated yucca I'd love to hear it, here's another close-up. I asked the owner, Burl, and he said Yucca aloifolia 'Variegata' but then started doubting himself. The Yucca aloifolia  that I'm familiar with has a wider, flatter, softer leaf. These are very narrow, hard and sharp.

Here's the car all loaded up with our purchases...it's a little deceiving too because that's a wagon, deeper than a normal trunk.

Even the backseat was full...I'd call that a successful outing!

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