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Although this could very well be a picture of me finding a new treasure at a favorite nursery, it's actually an illustration by David Catrow for a children's book called Plantzilla.

Friday, July 22, 2016

New Plants Show Up!

Looking at weird plants online late at night sometimes leads to packages of unusual greenery arriving at the door.  On the same day that I discovered that the plant thief (I think I know who she is) had stolen several more sempervivums from a pot and from a raised bed, a couple of which were moved there to replace the ones previously stolen, a package arrived at the post office.  (Packages can no longer be left on porches here as they are promptly stolen.) This particular package came from a new to me company called Planet Desert via Ebay.


Loree once said, "If it's weird, it's probably a euphorbia."  I've found this statement to be true more times than not.  Here's Euphorbia suzzanae.

With cute little squiggly leaves that make you giggle a bit is Euiphorbia decaryi var. spirosticha.

Euphorbia esculenta looks like something from the bottom of the ocean.  All of these plants are wearing raincoats.  Must be they knew they were coming to the pacific northwest. 

The last unusual character is Stapelia situla or Starfish Cactus.  


Now I should probably remove those plastic raincoats and let these cuties breathe. Planet Desert sent the plants promptly, they were well wrapped, arrived unscathed, and were exactly the size and condition advertised.  Two thumbs up from me!  Happy Friday all and have a great weekend!

16 comments:

  1. I cannot believe someone - anyone - LET ALONE A GARDENER???!? would steal plants from you! That's gardener sacrilege....and not very nice...

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  2. What came immediately to mind was the installation at the San Diego Zoo a few years back --I think it showed up at the Phildelphia Plant Show or a similar place, too-- that had succulents arranged with some interesting props to mimic an undersea setting.

    Can you put up one of those wildlife cameras to 'capture' the plant thief? Or maybe just a sign that says something like, "Plant Theft here is under observation and may soon be Prosecuted."

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  3. So bummed to hear that there have been further plant thefts. But also amused that you look at plant porn late at night. That first plant looks like something you would use to scrub dishes. My favorite weird Euphorbia is E. obesa. I found a teeny-tiny one a while back at Watson's, and it's actually grown quite a bit, and is apparently thriving.

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  4. I wonder if there is a way to booby trap those plants like a hidden mouse trap or some urushiol on the pots. Urushiol is the irritant in poison oak and allies. I've read that the Asians use it as a coating on the gold tiles on their temples to prevent theft.

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  5. Wierd says it all and yet, quite appealing in a quirky way.

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  6. If that E. esculenta disappears, it wasn't me. I don't LOVE that plant at all, and it's not a MUST HAVE for me...

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  7. The plant world is so amazing! There is something for everyone. I suppose your new babies will go into the green house? I used to own Stapelia plants, I got a little obsessed with them. They have the most fabulous and unusual flowers but they emit a stench like decaying meat :-) Maybe you can take them outside during the blooming period...

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  8. Oh boy, another mail order plant nursery to add to my list! I'm sorry the plant thief's karma hasn't caught up to her yet.

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  9. What weird little gems!
    So sorry to hear about the plant theft. You may have to chain the new additions down.

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  10. I started a garden at the entrance to our condos, and most of the plants have gotten established, but when I tried to add some cool heathers last spring, they were uprooted. Planted more, same thing. We have a restaurant nearby so it really could have been anyone, but my feeling was it was an employee, who came by there regularly but didn't live in the neighborhood. A perfect situation. I have a plan to plant very dormant perennials to fill in this winter, such as geraniums and maybe an anemone or two, but all with no leaves evident, and hopefully they will be well rooted by the time they leaf out. With our up and down springs, I'll have to time it carefully to get the dormancy right. I wish you luck, and hope your new treasures go to a protected spot.

    SilverLakeSue

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  11. I said that? Huh, kinda smart. I love the E. esculenta, it's fabulous!

    As for the possible rethieving plant thief, is it someone you might be able to catch in the act? Do you have a plan if you do?

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  12. I can't believe someone has come and stolen your replacements! CCTV definitely needed or a nature Webcam!

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  13. Yeah, our mail box is no longer safe too. Stealing plants should rate worse than stealing mail, beyond a federal crime. We just rustled a giant, tree-sized euphorb/pencil cactus that had been abandoned on the curb when a business sold, but that's not stealing, that's rescue. For something hard to kill, this one was very near death, but knock wood, it might be recovering. Love the euphorbs!

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  14. Sorry to hear you have a plant thief in the neighborhood. Your new acquisitions are very cool. Looks like your suzannae is blooming! Mine never has.

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  15. A cool collection of new plants! I agree with Loree about Euphorbia. Is it my imagination or is that E.esculenta giving us the finger?

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  16. Peter, you find the coolest plants! I never knew such things existed, almost alien. I agree on the cameras, time to find out who the plant thief is.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to comment! I love to hear your thoughts.