An update from Berkeley

13 Jul '07 5:09 pm

Hi, Mark-

Great pictures! I think I have the same variety of Escheveria as you do! I'll post a picture of mine, as they are just now coming into flower! I love that very spidery tender plant that you have; does it bloom for a long time? And I gather that the Agastache is the one with the orange flowers? I've never grown it, as I think it would get too large for my garden (as a certain Persicaria is proving to be!! Twisted Evil

), but I think they must be wonderful plants. The paint colour on the walls and ceiling of my little computer alcove is called "Agastache", after the colour of the plant's leaves.

I'm told that tomorrow is absolutely the last day for my job, but I've been told that twice already! I hope it really is, though, as I'm getting behind with my gardening and other jobs that I have to do while the weather is dry.

Perhaps you could post some before and after pics of the jobs you were mentioning; it would make the rest of us feel better that your garden, like ours, has its ups and downs!! Very Happy

It's nice to be able to see the progress without searching back through pages of other stuff.

Cheers!

gordonf

14 Jul '07 4:13 am

Yes the orange one is the Agastache. I planted two a couple years ago but this is the only one to have survived and this is as big as it's gotten. I found it in a catalog from New Mexico called the High Desert Garden. Since it had no problem with our freezes this past winter I guess it is pretty cold hardy. Below is a detail of it. The spidery flower belongs to Yellow Bird of Paradise bush, Caesalpinia gilliesii. It is supposed to grow to ten feet and spread to eight feet, but it isn't recommended for my area. I've had it for maybe 4 years and every winter the ends of branches die off from cold and it grows back from lower live wood. The front of my old greenhouse is about 4 feet tall so you can see below about how big it is.

You're right about before and after pictures. I'm not much of a shutter bug by nature and only seem to get inspired enough to go look for the camera when things are looking paricularly good. I do wish now that I had more before pictures for comparison and just to remember.

14 Jul '07 4:10 pm

Mark, The close-up of the Agastache is great! It looks somewhat like an orange Penstemon, don't you think? I'll bet the hummingbirds love it! The picture of the Caesalpinia is also a good one, and it sounds as if it behaves for you like my hardy fuschia does for me! It usually dies to just about ground level, then grows back to about two and a half feet tall by the end of summer, when it is covered with blooms until late in the autumn.

Check my thread today for an up-to-date picture of my Morina. Now, that's a plant you ought to try in your garden! It comes from the region of Turkey, so your climate shouldn't be a problem, and it has really quite lovely pink and white flowers. Not at all what you'd expect from such a thistly-looking plant! But check it against the list of noxious weeds for your area first as, for all I know, it might be listed there! If you DO want one but can't find a plant, let me know and I'll try to save you some seed from mine.

All the best with your many projects!

Cheers,

gordonf

19 Jul '07 4:06 am

Hi Mark! Such a delight seeing all your lovely photos! Absolutely fabulous and exotic plants/flowers you have in your lovely garden! My favorites are the Caeselpinia gilliesi, Guardsman, Dierama and Opuntia cactus flower, though the rest are equally close! All so beautifully presented and I especially like pic #186 with the sunlight on the Gunnera leaf which highlighted its beautiful textures! Wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing! Very Happy

19 Jul '07 4:35 pm

It is always so encouraging to receive your responses, much like receiving a warm hug. I'm glad if I could show you some plants to delight you as you have shown me so many exotic and beautiful plants from your beautiful corner of the world.

19 Jul '07 10:37 pm

Sneaked into the forum to play catch-up during a free period - and now seem to have managed to sneak into "log-on" (impossible for MONTHS, so I've had to post from home). So this is just to say HI and thanks for all the pics and sharing, including the Tom Kipping (I think it was) set of links! As I am thinking of the garden for my sister the Namibian when she turns 50 in three years, these 'rocky' gardens and your bright, richly coloured flowers are a great source of inspiration as to what I wish to achieve in a 'not-desert desert garden'

20 Jul '07 9:01 am

Are you already back teaching? We're off for about ten weeks minus various meetings and some planning time.

I look forward to seeing what you do for your sister. I'm advising my brother about his garden but with a new baby he can't give it a whole lot of energy right now. Is she in an area with Mediterrainean climate? (You are, right?) It sounds like she is an area that has to deal with a lot more heat than I do. Well every place has its challenges and advantages.

Good to have you back.

An update from Berkeley

Escheverias

Hi Gordon,

Agastache

Hi Jacqueline,

Hi Mark

Welcome back Jack.