The Outlaw Gardener

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Rare Plant Research Part 2: The Place

Yesterday we walked through the greenhouses and lower part of RPR; today we'll walk up the hill and explore a whole different world. The driveway is lined with eucalyptus and laburnum (Golden Chain Tree.)

Rockery where bromeliads are plunked in along with hardier permanent residents.

Rhapsody in blue - ceanothus and iris.

More iris begging to be photographed.

Front of the house which now has the name Villa Catalana.

Walking around the right side of the house there's this lovely view of one of the man-made lakes.

I love the contrast of spiky dangerous cacti with their delicate-looking flowers.

Looking up from the cactus bloom. How does one make a lake one wonders.

Sweet ribbon of Kalanchoe thyrsiflora. No, these aren't hardy here but they can be dug up and wintered over under glass or plastic as the case may be.

Sitting on the side porch/pergola there's a fab view as well.

This rose is grown all over the walls of one part of the garden. Anyone know what it is?

Growing almost poetically on this balustrade.

Furcraea gigantea 'Variegata' is so handsome!

Looking back at part of the porch/pergola from below.

An herb garden 'round the back of the house.

Love this combination of purples and gold!

Down the path a bit is this view of a garden shed across another man-made lake.

The ducks seem to enjoy it!

View across the first lake back at the house. The steps form a kind of amphitheater. Great place for a wedding, concert or to sacrifice your children to the lake god as the mother in this picture is obviously preparing to do.

All that and pond lilies to boot.

This is a bit random - below the pergola/porch is a great terrace also enjoying the stellar views. This place was made for entertaining! There's also a vineyard on the grounds.

I like how other people's combination pots look as mine never work out as well.

The walk between the lake and the vegetable garden.

Can you believe that Burl built all of these "stone" walls? Don't they look ancient? From exotic blooming bromeliad to common vegetable garden. Not really so common, this veggie garden is larger than my entire yard.

Asparagus, yum!

A laburnum allee.

Across from the veggie garden are steps up to an even higher lawn which gives way to meadow and trees.

Kitchen? door leading out to the herb garden.

A new favorite combination: Setcreasea with neon yellow geraniums (pelargonium.) I think it's 'Crystal Palace Gem.' Can you imagine the riot when the fluorescent pink blooms join the mix. I've gotta try this, especially since I have both of these kicking around.

Inside the solarium. These Musa 'Ai Ai' were less than half this size last year. It's truly an experience to see these huge, beautifully leaves! You can buy and drink wine in this area which is another experience.

There are several specimens of this rarest of all bananas in the solarium. I couldn't stop staring at them. Others were in the queue for the wine bar and were more interested in that. Can you imagine?

Back outside.

Walking from the back of the house approaching the porte-cochère of which I didn't take a picture. If you'd like to see it, Loree posted a great picture of it here.

Nice niche!

After building lakes, this must have been a piece of cake.

We're back at the front of the house.

What a special place! Burl has incredible vision! This didn't all happen at once, but over time. I remember seeing earlier pictures of the grounds on the RPR website years ago. The transformation has been amazing and each year I visit, something new has been added!

If you'd like a chance to see RPR, there's an end of spring open and sale on June 20. Also see their website for information about their summer dinner series. Wouldn't it be grand to dine on the terrace?

Hope you enjoyed our little walk around these beautiful grounds.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Rare Plant Research Part One: Plant Porn

This was my second year to attend Rare Plant Research's spring open house. Although I'd purchased plants from RPR at Jungle Fever and Dig, I'd not gone to the open house until last year. Primarily a wholesale nursery, on one magical weekend each spring, Burl Mostul throws open his greenhouse doors to the public. See previous posts here.

Dasylirion wheeleri were so large and handsome. If I only had space...

Agave utahensis v. kaibabensis

Scadoxis puniceus just past blooming.

Love them or hate them, one must admit they're interesting!

Sinningia leucotricha. Beautiful color combination!

Euphorbia with tiny succulents. (Kalanchoe daigremontiana?)

Alluaudia montagnacii. Gorgeous!

Interesting stick looking plant whose tag I couldn't read.

Dig that cool orange hat!

Pachypodium fabulously weird!

Dudleya brittonii gets nearly two feet across. Can you imagine a chalky white succulent rosette that large? This had to come home with me.

A few bromeliads.

A mountain of tropical foliage.

Bromeliad tree.

Aeonium somethingorother

Field of Lewisia

Field of Opuntia

Field of dreams, I mean neoregelias.

There are always lots of great plants but what one wants to arrive early to see is Burl's new concrete creations. This year he did these pumpkin planters and also great concrete colored rectangular planters which he made using old towels. Cool stuff!