Ever wonder what your neighbors are up to behind the fence?

If one looks closely there are hints this isn't just an any other Portland home. Signs that something different might be going on just out of sight, after all it's not every parking strip that has a blooming Crassula falcate.

Or a cute little pair of Aloe 'Blue Elf' (I think)...

Although opuntia aren't all that rare around here these days (yay!).

And not everyone knows that Agave attenuata melts at temperatures much below 30F.

Big healthy Musa basjoo can be seen above fence lines all over town...

But rarely does a Euphorbia ammak var. variegata peek over to greet passers-by.

For those that didn't see the signs, or already know, it must have been a bit of a shock when Luther, owner of Kara Cactus put up some tables in his side yard, filled them with treasures, and invited anyone who happens to read his blog to stop by and have a look.

So many amazing things!

I bought this one (below), and I'd love to tell you what it is, but sadly I've lost the label. If any of you know I'd love an i.d....otherwise I suppose I'll have to check with Luther and admit my negligence.

I really wanted this speciman Aloe plicatilis (Fan Aloe), but it wasn't for sale.

Euphorbia milii 'Fireworks'

Kalanchoe orgyalis

Cephalocereus senilis (Old Man Cactus) always crack me up.

Lithops

Gasteria 'Lime Warty'

Here's Andrew checking out the goods behind the fence...

I'd attempt to tell you the name of this tiny agave but really it's easier just to show you the tag.

Here's the bottom of that Euphorbia ammak var. variegata, which was for sale...if you had $150.

The sun was lighting up this Echeveria agavoides 'Lipstick' (I think) so perfectly, I'm tempted to end with this image.

But if I did you wouldn't get to see what else was hiding behind the fence, Ladybug their miniature horse. You just never know...

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

Unexpected succulent and unexpected places…

I don’t think there’s another group of plants that have been quite as tortured and manipulated as succulents. If you doubt me just take a quick look at Pinterest! Our first exhibit today is one that caught my eye as I drove home. Nah…it couldn’t be (I thought) so I doubled back to take a look, and it is!

A grafted cactus in a minimalistic hell-strip.

There’s the cactus, a couple of lavender and a tree…

And a couple of craggy rocks on end, that’s all.

In this next example someone took the time to shove a bit of soil and some sedum and sempervivium into the cracks of this building.

Sadly the dry weather we’ve had this spring has done them no favors.

Hopefully the rain this week will perk them up a bit.

If not I might take to carrying my watering can when I walk Lila this way. Maybe I’ll even harvest a few succulents from my garden and add to the spare plantings. That could be fun!

These unexpected sightings had me thinking about the sedum someone/thing planted on the bricks of our chimney. I hadn’t looked at it for months.

It appears to be doing just fine.

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

Squid, Sardine and Coconut Jam

My husband Andrew recently moved into a new office with a nice big window, being a smart man he figured this was the perfect spot for a few plants. I would have been happy to fix him up with a fine selection (in fact I’d already bought a couple I thought he would like) but he had a vision of his own…

Which as it turns out is far cooler than anything I could have come up with.

First there's a Squid, in natural ink.

Which holds a Pachypodium.

The Sardine, in tomato sauce.

With an Aloe bowiea and a pair of Gasteria batesiana.

And finally the Coconut Jam.

With an Aloe divaricata.

Pretty darn cool I think. I wonder if I can get him to design another set for home?

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