Kicking back to relax...

Some days I find myself like an eager beaver.  Digging, hauling, amending, planting, etc.  But then there are those days.  You wake up to the sunshine coming in your window, you put off all work that you ought to be doing and you just kick back.  Today is that day.  The sun is shining and the temperature is reaching into the 80's.  One cups, two cups, three cups of coffee and more - I plan on relaxing and taking in this glorious day! Happy aloha Friday everyone!

Looking down at the side yard while kicking back the morning joe.

 Mt. Baker to the south east of us... apparently one of the snowiest places on earth! yikes! it sure looks beautiful - especially in the summer sun.

drive by surprises

I was driving along, minding my business a few weeks ago when to my surprise two towering trachies just jumped out at me!! Along one of the busiest roads, someone appeared to have just planted two massive palm trees! While I don't condone most of what else is going on here, these palms are absolutely stunning!  So screech went the brakes, out came the camera phone, and here they are...

You can tell a lot of work actually went on here and so maybe it's still in pre-liminary stages. We shall wait and see.

Wacky Trachy Wednesday

Some things in life must be treasured.  Whenever I see trachycarpus blooms that's how I feel.  With their creepy lobster claw-like arms stretching out to from their trunks, whats not to love?  It's such a weird and wonderful sight to behold.  I have been holding my breath this year hoping for just one palm to be female so I can get trachy babies!  Around here, typically female palms are a few weeks behind males.

Early on in their bloom cycle its hard to tell, but once the flowers are completely opened up a male will drop pollen when lightly shaken.  I'm guessing male.

My largest palm has been flowering for years now and is a male.

But whats this?! could it be?! A palm tree much farther behind the others?  Still too early to tell, but possible.

This one is way behind the others as well! That means possibilities.  Another tell tale sign of a female trachy is a more upright flower stalk. Could this be what I've been waiting for all along!? Again it's still to early to tell but there are more reasons to be hopeful.

 So I know this is cheating, this one is a chamaerops but equally weird and wonderful.

Check out these claws!  At this stage I could even paint fish faces on those bloom stalks and they would look like parrot fish.  In just a few short days they will reveal their secrets... I hope this is the elusive female trachy I have been waiting for!

 These palms never cease to amaze me.  Have a happy wacky trachy wednesday!

Pacific Northwest Palm and Exotic Plant Society Sale / Phoenix Perennials

On Saturday I was able to attend the Pacific Northwest Palm and Exotic Plant Society (PNWPEPS) plant sale.  I had been debating on whether or not to go.  Of course every part of me wanted to see what wonderful things I could find.  On the other hand, there was that fear of losing all sense of control and spending way too much money.  With the sun shining the latter seamed highly probable.  That coupled with the fact it was being hosted at Phoenix Perennials - plant mecca - I knew there would be temptations.  But would that stop me, of course not!

From the moment I walked in and saw these needle palms I knew I was in for a treat! Needle palms are just not seen in these parts.

Now this is something I have been contemplating purchasing for quite some time.  I love the blue green colour of chamaerops humilis cerifera.  I can see it all potted up in a beautiful terra cotta... Remember my dreams of a mediterranean overhaul?!  Do you ever notice how when you've been thinking about buying something you somehow pre-condition yourself to spending the money?!

I found myself saying similar things of pretty much all the plants... "oh I want that!"

I was able to pass on the true tropicals like these coconut palms... But as for agave medio picta alba, that is a little harder. I didn't buy one and have been regretting it.  Next time.

It's nothing new that I have a thing for tree ferns.  I think its all in the drama.

These Dicksonia Antarctica had me stopped dead in my tracks... and only $30! I love plant society sales!

I was so taken away with all the many treasures I might purchase at the sale that I had to walk around Phoenix Perennials to ponder my plant lusts.  Naturally I found myself rummaging through these wonderful agaves.

I had never seen this before ... yucca gloriosa "lonsestar."  I usually have my phone with me so I can do some impromptu plant investigations but I forgot it.  So I passed on these with the adage "next time."

This ... wow! What's better than one trachycarpus? Two! They actually came in clumps of three which was aesthetically much more pleasing.  Phoenix Perennials gained "legit" status in my books for this one.

I think they were speaking to me here with the hesperaloe, chamaerops, and agave medio picta alba!!!  It's like something from my happiest dreams.  I even love the pots!!!

I really wish I could say I purchased this.... It would be right at home with my new agave bovicornuta.

Wow. I think thats all I can say ...

Speaking of drama....

I can't say enough about the wonderful people I met at the plant sale.  I have followed the PNWPEPS for a few years now but have never been apart of it.  This year I took the plunge! I can truly say I look forward to getting to know such knowledgable and passionate people.  That and I somehow feel much more legitimized in my palm craziness.

So what did I buy at the sale?! You'd be surprised to hear that I was incredibly disciplined.  I managed to go home with just one of the Dicksonia Antarctica.  Here it is all planted up.

This spot was actually the home of my other tree fern that was moved down by the bananas.  This one is much bigger and can be better appreciated here.

I was given a tip from a society member that tree ferns love regular feedings of fish fertilizer!  Apparently dicksonia antarctica can put on several inches of trunk when given regular feedings of fish fertilizer throughout the growing season.  I got some epically nasty smelling bio fish fertilizer.  So bring on that fishy stank!!!

Beach Day, White Rock BC

With all this sunny weather it was only a matter of time before a beach day was in order.  For me, that means White Rock BC.  It's a special kind of place with fantastic fish and chips, ice cream (or in my case coconut gelato), wonderful coffee, and of course lots of palm trees!

You can see some small chamaerops humilis that are doing really well.  I believe these are the pups from a larger palm that was damaged back in the 2008 Snowmageddon.  They are coming along nicely.

This beachside planting always brings me joy.

But this house I have claimed as my own.  It has a mediterranean kind of feel and of course is surrounded by palm trees.

The view looking towards the Canadian Gulf Islands and US San Juan Islands.

There's something so soothing about breathing in the ocean air.  Especially with an ice cream cone in hand...

This yellow home with palm tree has a South Beach feel to it.

There are rows of homes with towering palms ... albeit a little ratty from the wind.
White Rock actually has been used as a stand in for Santa Barbara in the TV show Psych.

Bring on Beach Season!