Monday, March 18, 2024

Agaves, aloes, cactus and euphorbia at Lotusland

A friend recently visited Lotusland and shared a few photos on Facebook, that got me to thinking about the fact I hadn't finished coverage of my November '23 visit. Today's post is a plant-centric one looking at agaves, aloes, cactus and euphorbia around the garden. First up some magnificent Agave victoriae-reginae.

Aren't they just perfection?

I think these are Aloe dorotheae, then again it's kind of laughable that I would even attempt to ID an aloe, my knowledge of the genus is paper thin.

I do know an entire garden area devoted to them ends up looking rather other-worldly.







Agave bracteosa

There are a few Agave gypsophila at the bottom of the photo, and that tall cactus on the right is actually a euphorbia.

Euphorbia ammak 'Variegata' 

Euphorbia polygona (I believe)

On the other side of the driveway are the cactus. So many cactus.

Closer to the house (now offices).

I love the golden barrels.

I started to type "even better when they're under a Dracaena draco" (dragon tree) but then realized no, I like the ones against the house better. These two shapes aren't complementary to my eyes.

There is an entire section of the garden devoted to cactus, that's where these next five photos were taken.

Opuntia galapageia var. profusa

Cutest short opuntia tree!

Cutest tall opuntia tree (Opunita galapageia var. galapageia)

I didn't get the name of this one, but it's the cutest droopy opuntia tree.

Agave franzosinii

These could also be A. franzosinii, but I'm not sure.

Blooming Agave franzosinii.

The entrance to the blue garden.



I don't remember this small cactus garden from other visits. Perhaps it's new? 

Or maybe I've been in such a hurry to get to the bromeliads that I missed it (the bromeliads and ferns are my last remaining Lotusland '23 post).

The Agave attenuata lining the drive are usually one of the first things I see at Lotusland, but for this visit I entered the garden from a different pathway so I saw them as I was leaving.


And this big boy was outside the wall.

To receive alerts of new danger garden posts by email, subscribe here. Please note; these are sent from a third party, you’ll want to click thru to read the post here on the blog to avoid their annoying ads. 

All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

Friday, March 15, 2024

VanDusen Botanical Garden

On Wednesday I heard a story mentioning the day—March 13th—was the 4-year anniversary of COVID-19 declared as a national emergency and lockdowns going into effect. That brought a flood of emotions, but something else sounded familiar about March 13th. Then it hit me! Wednesday was the 15th anniversary of my first danger garden post back in 2009! My blog is 15 years old! Crazy. Today's post is my 3,673rd, wow. Thanks for making this fun and staying with me all these years! 

Now back to our regular programing:

Sunday morning of the Study Weekend event in Vancouver BC I skipped the lectures and took off for VanDusen Botanical Garden

It was a beautiful late June morning and I hadn't been to VanDusen since 2010. It seemed criminal to sit indoors, although I later heard that I missed a really inspiring talk.

After a quick pass thru the gift shop I emerged from the visitors center and stopped to admire these low planters. What an interesting planting scheme.

The first one planted exclusively with agaves...

Yes, mangaves are now considered agaves—and that's just the tip of the iceberg as far as the agave family tree and how it all fits together.

The second full of colorful begonias.

And the third showing off the very different looks of the senecios.

Well done!

Pseudotsuga menziesii 'Pendula' (weeping Douglas fir)

Looking across to a peninsula that is home to the Southern Hemisphere gardens...

Before crossing over to the peninsula there was a seasonal planting that included several fine agaves.


Happy gunnera backed by monkey puzzle trees, Araucaria araucana.


Close-up of the Araucaria araucana's spiky branches.


Acaena inermis 'Purpurea' and something that I swear was signed as Veronica lyallii, which it's obviously not if you look up that name.

Wollemia nobilis with mounds of Muehlenbeckia complexa (maidenhair vine), that I wanted to call wire vine but is not. Wire vine is Muehlenbeckia axillaris. 

A lovely leucadendron, I wonder if they lift it over the winter or just leave it to see what happens? (cause there's no way that's hardy there).

Onward!

There were may groups of people posing for photos here, all dressed up in their Sunday best. This shot was taken just before 10am, I imagine the crowds get much thicker as the day goes on.

In case you forgot where you were...

Okay, time for some ferns and other shady characters.

And a waterfall with something very rare in the pond. Can you spot it?

Ah yes, the rare floating plastic water bottle! (or really not so rare, ugh)

Arisaema ringens foliage...

...and flower.

Arisaema tortuosum

Close up


Blechnum penna-marina (aka Austroblechnum penna-marina)

Dryopteris cycadina, shaggy shield fern


Dryopteris sieboldii

Polystichum setiferum 'Dahlem'



Dicksonia antarctica

Dead tree ferns as edging?

There was a pyrrosia! Sad as it was.

And ostrich ferns, Matteuccia struthiopteris. I love them so much, but they don't love my garden (too dry).

To receive alerts of new danger garden posts by email, subscribe here. Please note; these are sent from a third party, you’ll want to click thru to read the post here on the blog to avoid their annoying ads. 

All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.