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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.

Tuesday, October 2, 2018

Dances With Agaves: The Migration Has Begun

The small collection of a few non-hardy plants has grown both in number and size over the years.

2011




2012


2013




2016


2017

 2018


On Saturday, I had a free day to start moving the succulents inside for the winter.   This picture was taken in July and I was surprised that the plants had grown even more during our hot dry summer.  That's what you get for repotting, feeding, and watering plants.   It took the entire day to move all of these to various spots for the winter.  Where did they all go?  Stay tuned for another post.

Next spring, I'll severely cut back the foliage behind this area which blocks a bit of sun and perhaps find a different place for the Trachycarpus fortunei currently in a large pot. Evergreens that were stashed in other parts of the garden for the summer now fill part of the area. I'm experimenting this year with leaving Agave 'Mr. Ripple' and an aloe whose name I've forgotten outside for the winter.  Mr. Ripple's pot is now pretty big to be moving around and it's hardy to 10-15 degrees.  It had pups that I potted up and will keep inside for insurance. 
There are still some plants outside that need to come in for the winter but the Danger Gardenette is tucked away for another year. Have you started your plant migration or are you smart enough not to bother with such silliness?

25 comments:

  1. Good grief, I had such a bad run in with an Agave I got rid of them - all except the blue Tequila Agave.(allergic to spines)

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    1. Agaves can be dangerous - Sometimes love hurts:)

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  2. I keep having friends come over and so I keep putting off dealing with my potted plants, so the garden looks less like it's on the downside. A few annals will become compost but my big hostas and two baby trees will be put in the ground for the winter. The one poor Hosta has had its draining hole plugged from the last rains and now the top layer of the pot is under water. Crikey! Those first two groupings of plants are beautiful and I can see why you are hooked on them.

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    1. It may be time to pare down the collection a bit.

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  3. Now that I've finished eating breakfast I was just contemplating whether I have the energy to start sorting out the greenhouse and beginning my own migration. It's hard to get started knowing that it always leaves the front porch looking so desolate.

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    1. On the bright side, you have some agaves that can stay out there under the porch all winter long.

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  4. Mr. Ripple in a pot? You are a brave man...

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  5. That annual comparison does tell a story. I admire your devotion - and fortitude!

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    1. A story of too many plants that really need to be growing in California...

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  6. The migratory season has begun here too. Fortunately our flock is considerable smaller that yours.

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  7. I've been giving away some of my migratory creatures, pot and all, just to cut down on the moving chores. Our windowsills thank me, even if I occasionally feel slightly bereft.
    rickii

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    1. I took a few to the plant exchange but think more should have made the trip!

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  8. Oooo, pretty! You have an amazing collection! All lined up in the pots with the sunglasses...nice touch!

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  9. Nice work! The basement migration is complete, well, of the xeric plants. The Bromeliads still need to come in, and talk of an early frost has me concerned. I’ll be watching the weather closely. As for the shade pavilion greenhouse dwellers, they’re in waiting. Andrew is building a new version and it’s slow going (I’m trying not to fret).

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    1. Can't wait to see Andrew's new version of the shade pavilion greenhouse. Early frost? What up with that?

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  10. I brought my tender plants in when we suddenly had frost in mid September! No agaves for me, just echeverias and aeoniums.

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    1. Yikes, frost so soon? Glad that your tender plants are safely inside.

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  11. Wow, that is a growing family you have there, Peter! I got tired of the migration a few years back and now just have a few pelargoniums and succulents that I bring into our sunspace. Debating on whether to bring in a few coleus... with the new kitten, she will most likely batter any new additions to the indoor garden. Yes, love does hurt sometimes! ;)

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  12. Your small collection had grown so much over the years. So cool to see it year to year! I have a single Begonia, a gift from a blogger friend :-), to move into the garage. That is by design of course, until a greenhouse appears in the garden, which is highly unlikely.

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  13. That is an inexpressive collection! I can't wait to see how you manage them inside for the winter. We've actually shrunk our collection of plants that need to go inside...thank goodness. We never planned as well as you and were often caught outside the night before a frost making final preparations.

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  14. I am well in to the silliness, and no, the migration has not begun :)
    I also like to wait until the night of the first frost. You would be surprised how fast the work gets done when you're underdressed, cold, and wearing inappropriate footwear. It's also a great way to limit how much you take in.

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  15. One of nature's miraculous migrations: the Monarchs, the Hummingbirds, and your Agave.

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