Rare Plant Research Annual Spring Open

So, way back in May, after shopping at Marbott's I met my pal Loree at her Danger Garden to have a plant shopping play date.  Our first stop together was the Rare Plant Research annual public open.  A wholesale grower of unusual plants, RPR is only open to the public once a year and visiting the sale has become a bit of a tradition.  Previous posts with more information here. Both Loree and I were in the market for a few bromeliads and as we parked we joked that this guy had bought all of the ones we wanted.  Why didn't we get there sooner?  Let me just say that I know how to get to Loree's from Marbott's but let the lady in the phone tell me where to go.  It seemed like I was going the wrong way but sometimes the GPS knows a better route.  It became apparent that something was amiss as I crossed the bridge back into Washington State.  Did you know that there's an address identical to Loree's  in Vancouver, WA.  Oops.

 Fortunately there were still plenty of plants for us!

Euphorbia  mammillaris

Aechmea odorata

 Cryptanthus 'Elaine'

Agave americana variegata

Aeonium 'Sunburst'  

Gasteraloe 'Ox Tongue' 

More Echeveria than you can shake a stick at.

You want to be pretty careful walking through a field of opuntia!

Scadoxus puniceus just beginning to bloom.  Glorious flower for a while. The meh foliage of mine is now about five feet tall, has produced offsets and is once again setting seed. It's hardy to zone 7 but needs excellent drainage.

More agave.

Loved the color of this stressed specimen.  

Canna 'Tropicanna' 

This sphere came home with me.  Still haven't found a really good place for it. 

"Once, ownership of this banana was restricted to Hawaiian royalty, but today anyone can own one. Despite its widespread release, Musa 'Ae Ae' is still one of the most highly sought-after bananas for ornamental purposes."  -Description from Plant Delights Nursery.

Part of Burl's personal collection of caudiciforms, what Alison (Bonney Lassie) calls "Fat bottomed girls."

 Furcraea

An even bigger specimen. These are so gorgeous. I've kept mine alive for a couple of years but it doesn't look as good as either of these. 

Inside the solarium. 

Folks enjoying themselves.  The grounds are also home to a winery, Villa Catalana Cellars, and wine is available by the bottle or glass.  No wonder everyone was in such a good mood.

Recent studies have shown that a moat and a dragon are a greater deterrent to potential burglars than posted home security signs.

Loree and I got a few things and there were still more nurseries to visit!

Plant shopping is so much more fun with an enabler like-minded plant enthusiast, don't you think?