On the Move

This is my first attempt at transplanting an Acanthus mollis (Bear's breeches).  This one in particular I believe is A. mollis 'Hollard's Gold'.  I tried to make the root ball about the size of Kentucky because I've heard they are impossible to move.  I transplanted it to a place where its foliage blends in more with the foliage of the plants around it.  And after 24 hours, it's not dead yet...

A Field Trip to Seattle University

Akebia trifoliata

It's not really a field trip...I am lucky enough to live only a couple blocks away from Seattle University, where they have an incredible selection of plants growing throughout their 48-acre campus.  Above, an Akebia trifoliata grows on an arbor at one of the school's main entrances.

Helleborus orientalis

Their selection of hellebores is fairly extensive.  Above, clumps of Helleborus orientalis are growing to perfection.

Iris foetidissima & Acanthus mollis

The evergreen leaves and red berries on Iris foetidissima give it a bit of a subtropical allure.  In the background is Acanthus mollis (Bear's breeches).



Daffodils blooming three weeks before the end of winter!

Helleborus argutifolius

This might look like a grouping of 10-15 separate hellebores, but the light-green flowered hellebore in the center of the picture is growing from one solitary clump.  It's giaganitc!  I believe it is a Helleborus argutifolius.  The Helleborus orientalis growing in the foreground is of normal size and shows just how big the other one is.

Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa'

They have several very, very large Hollywood Junipers (Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa').

Juniperus chinensis 'Torulosa'

When I first saw these, I thought they were miniature greenhouses:

They are in fact skylights to an indoor corridor below, which makes this a green roof.  Look at the size of those pine trees - not bad for being on a roof! 

There were a number of azaleas in bloom all throughout the campus.

Finally, I was thinking how odd it was to have a rail going into grass, as if anyone needing a rail would want to walk around in the grass.  But I'm now realizing this is probably some artistic symbolism.  I thought the way the kept their grass with weeds and all was actually very attractive.

Ah, Poor Bird

October must be "Critter Calamity Month". After last week's fish fiasco, I was witness to the murder of this little sparrow, who didn't mind me getting up close to take his final picture. Moments after I had snapped the shot, Noel dashed out of nowhere and clenched the poor bird in his unrelenting jaws, escaping to the safety of underneath my car where he devoured his catch crunch by crunch. For an eight year old cat, he does pretty well at this.

The Acanthus mollis (Bear's breeches) below is approaching two full months in bloom.

Finally, one crop that did very well over the cool spring and summer were potatoes. Pictured below are Solanum tuberosum 'adirondack blue' and a white variety whose name is escaping me. The blue ones, by the way, have made excellent french fries. I dyed some of the white potatoes with red beet juice for the 4th of July and made red, white, and blue "freedom fries" which was a big hit to say the least. After doing some searching on the internet, I discovered red-fleshed potatoes. So next year's freedom fries will be 100% authentic and natural and not tampered with in any way - although maybe that's too un-American...

Even gardening has its gruesome side

This murder would be less of a mystery if this fish had just disappeared altogether because that would mean it had met its maker via something logical like a blue heron. The body of the dead fish was found lying on the bottom of the pond Thursday afternoon while blood spatter and scale remnants were found on the top of the skimmer. My best guess is a raccoon clawed the fish but before being able to enjoy his dinner, the fish was able to wiggle free and escape back in only to die later from blood loss. Rest in peace little guy - try swimming a little closer to the bottom of the pond in your next life.

The other three fish were hanging out under the bridge where they think no one can see them.


On a happier note, the Escallonia hedge (Escallonia x exoniensis 'Fradesii') has made a quick recovery after dying to the ground last winter. At some point I hope it will realize it is supposed to be a hedge and not a perennial.


This Acanthus mollis (Bear's breeches) has been in flower for well over a month, and at over 6' tall, has never looked more stunning than it does right now. The flower spikes are very similar to foxglove. Unlike a foxglove, they are very long lasting.

Finally, this Purple elephant grass (Pennisetum purpureum) has certainly grown better than I expected (from a 1 gallon pot to over four feet tall in four months), but it is a mere shadow compared to its potential height of over 10 feet. So I am going to divide it up and over-winter it, with the hope of seeing it in its full glory next year.

I like big leaves

I also like taking pictures of them with my new ipad.



Although the ipad's camera isn't as good as the camera in my aging iphone 3GS, it is incredibly fun having a full view of the final photo as it is being taken. It's a necessity for compositional morons.

Now back to the plants....


I'm not all that big on flowers (I'm more of a leaf person), but Brugmansia (Angel's Trumpet) is one flower that continually lures me. First of all, just being able to bring an Angel's Trumpet into bloom in the Northwest carries bragging rights with it since it must be overwintered indoors here. Once it is in flower its intoxicating scent can be carried as far as 25 feet away, which is most intense in the evening. It's a staple in an exotic garden.

As I write this, I am listening to a segment on Coast-to-Coast AM about the disappearance of honey bees and the conspiracy to cover up the root of the problem caused by infection from commercial pesticides. If bee populations are half of what they were a decade ago, I think there is something we are doing wrong and I'd also put pesticide use at the top of the list. I'm not just talking about commercial farming pesticides. I think residential pesticides - the kind you buy at Lowe's or Home Depot - are just as detrimental.

Having said that, seeing the raspberries covered in honey bees was a welcome sight.


But back to big leaves....

I bought a piece of horseradish root several years ago after seeing it at a nursery, not having any idea what the plant looked like. To my surprise, it has huge leaves and happens to be hardier than just about anything. The leaves shoot up early in the spring and tolerate cold spring conditions really well. The leaves grow to about four feet tall and get about 8-10 inches wide.


Philodendron Selloum is remarkably "hardy" for a big-leaved evergreen tropical plant. It can take some cold - even down to freezing - without damage. I would peg its hardiness to be in the same ballpark as Strelitzia nicolai (Giant bird of paradise).


Finally, this Acanthus mollis (Bear's breeches) is leaf-hardy during a mild Northwest winter, and will quickly sprout back from the roots after a cold Northwest winter.