Over the last few years I have become an admirer of the smaller growing Agaves. When most people think Agave the first plant to come to mind is likely Agave americana (Century Plant). The Century Plant can grow to have a spread of 8 feet; it suckers profusely, and in certain soils can spread with…
A large Jubaea chilensis (Chilean Wine Palm) is one of the Holy Grail palm trees in the plant world. I have seen an exceptional specimen sell for $30,000. Why would a palm tree garner that much attention or command that type of price tag? For starters, it is a slow-growing palm tree. It can take two…
OK, so the title is misleading. Of course there is no “perfect” potting soil mix that will work well for every type of plant you grow under pot culture. I would love for it to be that simple, but it just isn’t the case. Over the years I have been tweaking my own custom mix…
You just know when something isn’t right with a plant. It is almost a sixth sense. One day while walking the garden I noticed one of my Foxy Lady Palm’s (Wodyetia x Veitchia) was browning on the lower two fronds. I have found this to be the result of one of two things: 1) The…
We must be getting close to spring time. Like clockwork my Cymbidium orchids are in full bloom and one of the highlights of a garden in transition. The winter-flowering plants, like many of my succulents and aloes, have finished their show. I am still a few weeks away from the spring-flowering plants taking center stage. So…
Let’s be honest. We all plant something we were told most likely wouldn’t grow in the garden. But we gardeners are a stubborn folk. Even though I fully understand my stubbornness can lead to heartache and wasted time in many cases, I have found that not listening to collective wisdom has allowed me to reap…
This weekend I took the camper out for a little weekend family camping time. We headed north to stay at one of our favorite spots, which happens to be fairly close to the house: Vail Lake Resort. Vail Lake Resort offers quite a few fun activities to keep the kids busy, like fishing, horseback riding,…
‘Ohi’a lehua (Metrosideros polymorpha) is the most common and variable of all native trees found in Hawaii. Because it is such an extremely variable plant, this plant in its native habit ranges from a large shrub to a towering tree that blooms in shades of red, yellow, orange, salmon, or even pink. I grow Metrosideros…