Plant of the week: Aristolochia gigantea

Ever thought of getting a Brazilian?  Vine I mean...

This not so weekly plant of the week features Aristolochia gigantea or giant Dutchman's pipe, Brazilian Dutchman's pipe.  The largest Aristolochia I know of, it doesn't really resemble a pipe as some of the others in the genus, like our native A. californica does.  What it does resemble is fairly appropriate for the month of October and Halloween. Large fleshy inflated liver looking blooms swell until they pop,  when they turn from lifesize livers and to open lungs. The flower's bloody color and veiny appearance really elicit opposing impressions from visitors of either wonder or disgust. I measured the blooms today, incredibly they are 11 inches wides and a whopping 15 inches long! The vine itself has pleasant heart shaped leaves.

I've written about this plant before, but I felt it was time to mention it again.  It's hard to get the real A. gigantea, as opposed to A. littoralis which is more available and often listed as the former.

Notice my tiny hands next to this gentle giant

Boundries

Hey there,

Sorry I have been away for so long.  I won't bore you with the details why I've been gone.

Progress has been in fits and starts but moving forward in general.  Here's a little update on glorious glorious boundaries.   You of course remember my post thinking outside box on fencing and how I was looking directly in on the four units to the north of me here is the new fence and a freshened up garage wall. Then I needed a front fence and gate.  And I wanted to improve the growing conditions for my smaller plants! (a big thanks to my buddy Jay for all his help with these)

                                      My other bit of progress for boundaries is the new front gate!

And finally two grow tables to keep my plants tidier!

Interesting things to do to dull plants

A little while back I was making my way out of a gated community in Laguna Beach. Imagine my surprise when I saw something inventive and fun!

Here is a great solution or alternative to dead heading... Just color the seed heads and voila! You have a whole extra season of interest.

I will admit I saw things like this done in Seattle circa 10 years ago by people like Daniel Sparler and the dynamic duo of Withey and Price. I was shocked, for one because there were so many new plants to me at that time.... I mean why couldn't there be a metallic blue flowering grass with glaucous foliage!? Cheats!  :-)

Anyway.  Something to think about. Enjoy!

P.S.  I love the way the Hydrangeas confuse the issue further!

Interesting combo...

Here's something interesting I discovered at the local mall.  A very interesting combo.  The planting can't quite seem to choose which it wants to be dry or wet. It's funny to see petunias and impatiens planted with Agave americana.

Just wait until the Agave grows to full size. Good luck getting out of your car!

The lawn chair gets press

Fresh Dirt Lawn Chair

Southern California's Best Garden Blog reward!

Well, after I don't know how many months I finally got Denise from A Growing Obsession her reward for being voted Southern California's best garden blog!  As you recall there was a vote for the reward and the plant that won was Furcrea macdougalii.

Today I brought said succulent to Denise's beautiful garden.  Below are a few quick shots.

Handsome thug

Today driving through Laguna canyon I spotted a large clump of something I've been looking for.  It's an evil thug that is clogging up California's water ways. Arundo donax is a large reed from the Mediterranean, it's the reed that makes the wind instruments work. Growing 12 feet tall and taller, it's an impressive grass.  The variety I have been thinking about is the variegated form.  I have spotted it off of Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu,  the 101 freeway near the Hollywood Bowl and now Laguna canyon.  This was my first chance to grab some divisions.

I know you're going to ask me why I would do such a thing?  Well, for one I love the way the plant looks. Secondly it's very tough and drought tolerant. Thirdly, The height will help to screen out my neighbors.  If I lived anywhere near anything that resembled nature I would not plant this grass.  And just to be safe, I will never allow it to bloom.  I potted up several plants.

Occasional wow

Driving around the other day I spotted this interesting landscape.  Monoculture or brilliant bold planting?
You decide. This landscape is 100% Calandrinia grandiflora.  I do love Calandrinia grandiflora, that's all I'm going to say.  

Plant of the week: Bouteloua dactyloides 'UC Verde'

I've been testing the 'UC Verde' buffalo grass.  After planting a small patch along the driveway, I decided that I liked it enough to plant some more. This time I will see how it does with the difficult center area of the driveway where it will be subjected to all manner of abuses.

Bouteloua dactyloides or buffalo grass is a short prairie grass whose range spans much of the middle of the country and southwest.  It has the look of a softer, more polite cousin of Bermuda grass. I like the slight blueish hue that it has. It's also very nice under foot. This 'UC Verde' cultivar was developed here in California (though I can't find any info on where or how exactly it was developed) and is supposed to have a shorter dormancy than other varieties. Another benefit is that the grass has growth habit of 4-8" tall, so there isn't a lot of mowing needed.  I my experience so far, it doesn't need any mowing, in fact it's only about 3-4"tall. Oh and of course the big reason why it is gaining popularity is that it's very drought tolerant.

Since I planted it in the autumn, and being that it is a warm season grass, it basically sat doing zip for 6 months.  It didn't really go brown but just lots a bit of color as I recall. And then several weeks ago it turned on with the heat.  And that's when I thought it would be nice to plant some more.  A week and a half ago I dug up some of the plant to be divided and replanted in some 2" pots.  In a week they had roots poking out of the bottom of their little pots.

We shall see how hey do!

                                Original patch

                                Hair plug-esque planting

Thank Gawd!

OK. No photos just one gasp of relief.  Thank Gawd, the jacaranda tree has run out of blooms (hands pulling hair out)!

Jacarandas in bloom are a lovely thing to admire... from a far.  Do not under any circumstances live under them.

Harumpf!