Monday 13 August 2012

weekend fun (palm shopping)

What a weekend! I keep saying that. But really, weekends are wonderful.  I really feel as though weekends are the time where I am most me.  That is, free from the coffee making world of the siren and able to meander at my leisure and spend time in the garden (and of course no weekend is complete without heading into Vancouver). And so what else would I do but wake up on Saturday morning and go to town. Literally and figuratively. Go to town as in head West young man, and then go to town as in go plant shopping of course!  Do you guys feel anxiousness if you don't get to a nursery at least every other day? I do. Anyways, it was good nursery going this weekend.

Why you may ask!? well check out the new chamaerops humilis 'cerifera!' It was only on my list of plant lusts for 2012.  The blue foliage is simply irresistible.  Too bad they were all out of the brahea armata or I might have succumb to it.


It's just a baby, but I already can't believe it has not been here all along! It belongs!  I love that feeling... when you unload a plant from the car and all you can think or say is simply "yes."

But there is one problem with this palm - there is only one.  And I'm going to be honest, I don't wan't another one, I wan't another two or three.

look what else, melianthus major! This is a first for the garden! It's actually shocking to me that I have not had one of these growing all along! I love them.  But I have to be honest that I don't know much about growing them. What should I expect? Care?


What's not to love about this luscious foliage?! *sigh* It belongs.

I even whipped out the old hipsta when I stopped at the Park and Tilford gardens Jj bean.  I had to see if they still had the agaves I spotted last fall.  They were there (but in smaller numbers).


Park and Tilford had some exciting suculent plantings going on.

Like this Succulent rubbish bin. Can we do this to all of them around town?! PLEASE!? It could be apart of some sort of govt. funded make work project. Civic Beautification!?

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11 comments:

  1. Desert Dweller13 August 2012 at 16:21

    I need to do a plant-shopping-Saturday! Maybe this is the weekend to start?

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    1. Louis13 August 2012 at 18:15

      Oh that sounds fun. Yes, I most definitely think this is a good weekend to start. How much longer till its cooled down enough for planting for you guys?

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  2. Unknown13 August 2012 at 20:33

    That Melianthus has some great foliage on it. Wonderful plant for some diversity in the garden. Love it. LT

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    1. Louis13 August 2012 at 23:51

      I think that's why I like it so much. It should definitely add some interest.

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  3. outlawgardener13 August 2012 at 21:19

    Yea! Another palm! Melianthus, in a sheltered location in a warm winter, will be evergreen. In a harsh winter, it may die to the ground but usually will come back as soon as the weather warms up. I've heard that you should plant them a lot lower than they were in the pot covering up about 1/2 of the plant to stimulate more root growth along the stems thus increasing survival. Haven't noticed much difference myself. They do like good drainage in the winter.

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    1. Louis13 August 2012 at 23:52

      Another palm is a great thing! Good to know on the melianthus. I think I have just the spot. Sheltered, sunny and great drainage!

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  4. Chaparral Earth14 August 2012 at 07:35

    I wish Swedish Shopping Malls which aren't exactly the most luxurious, would create more indoor Tropical or subtropical scenes as themes inside. Sweden is not exactly an outdoors activity place, especially this year which truly weather-wise sucks. Cold and rain for most of this year and not one bush (currant, gooseberry, bluberry, etc) or fruiting tree (Cheery, Applile, Pear, etc) is worth a darn this year either in the domestic garden or out in the wild.

    Surprizingly we do well with a number of succulants like Sedum *Autum Joy' etc. Also Lavender do incredibly well here and I would have thought it strictly Mediterranean.

    Do you have to dig up some plants or take in any pots in winter time there ?


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    1. Louis14 August 2012 at 11:43

      I'm sorry to hear you guys have had such miserable weather. Hopefully things will turn around for you. We had a really cool spring but summer has been warm and sunny so things seemed to catch up around the yard.

      I don't really dig anything up here. We are USDA zone 8a and some of my plants need some protection in cold years. One's like chamaerops humilis, butia capitata, and dicksonia antarctica need some help in cold winters. I do have a few USDA zone 9 plants or tender zone 8 plants that are potted so that I can bring them inside on really cold nights. I tend to be a 'zone pusher,' that is, I plant on the edge of what is considered "hardy" here.

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    2. Chaparral Earth15 August 2012 at 01:51

      That's kool. I like pushing things too thru experimentation. That's why I like creating microclimate habitats. I actually have a couple more posts on Faux Desert Themes from examples at Göteborg's Botanical Gardens the next couple days. These would truly work where you are. So as not to spoil it, I'll leave it there and explain in my article as it will be lengthy.


      Great site once again.


      Kevin


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  5. danger garden14 August 2012 at 08:43

    Score on the Chamaerops humilis 'cerifera!' I agree completely with Mr Outlaw as to the Melianthus care and planting. I would add that a little extra mulch around the base in winter (esp. if its a cold winter) is a good thing.

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    1. Louis14 August 2012 at 11:45

      Thanks! have you gone to see if you can get one for any cheaper yet? I'm glad to get some good consensus on melianthus. I have the perfect spot for it (at least I hope its perfect :P ).

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