Monday, January 28, 2013

Meanwhile, back at the Cactus Ranch...

One of my must-see destinations when we visit T or C, NM, is the Exotic Cactus Ranch. It’s not that they have anything all that special, but they are an oasis of desert plant love and that’s enough for me.

His Yucca rostrata seemed well priced at $350(ish), those trunks are pretty beefy!

Notocactus magnificus (Balloon Cactus)…one of these became mine.

Euphorbia polygona cv. 'Snowflake'… ghostly beautiful!

I brought a couple of these home.

Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Mother of Thousands) flowers.

Euphorbia horrida

These big Agave parryi v. truncata were going for $69

Fun desert shapes outside of the greenhouse, as seen through the shade fabric.

The patient (bored?) husband…

I’ve always wanted a couple of huge Mexican Fence Post Cactus (Stenocereus marginatus)…

They’re not huge but I also grabbed a container (that’s 3 plants) of these.

There were several tables throughout the nursery with cactus like this displayed for sale.

These were the hardest to leave behind. If we’d been driving instead of flying…

No of course I have no idea what I would do with them!

Oh the plants that have passed through this place…

Here are my treasures! These plus a half-dozen Opuntia (from this post) made for a colorful (and very full) suitcase!

30 comments:

  1. It is desert cactus love. Pretty good quality in their selection and looks like they were having a sale. $350 is pretty good for that size Y. Rostrata, I've seen those from $499 up at the higher end garden centers.

    I can see we need to take the southern route next time we drive through NM.

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    1. I hope you do take the southern route, there are some great landscape quality plants there for you to enjoy!

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  2. Gorgeous pictures! The bare root cacti sure look tempting! Does the Exotic Cactus Ranch do mail order? Lots of great plants in this post. I especially like the golden-haired cactus. Cacti with fur make me giggle thinking of mad scientists with their hair all akimbo. I had no idea that larger Y.rostrata were so expensive. Beautiful for sure!

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    1. No mail order...yep tall Y. rostrata's are not cheap. He estimated these to be about 20 yrs old...seed grown too!

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  3. Dang!!! That's pretty phenomenal. I could handle those yucca rostrata just fine! I love your choices.

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    1. Maybe we should make a road trip down and buy all the Y. rostrata!

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    2. That's a great idea!!! but unfortunately I just broke me yucca budget buying tickets to Maui!! My heart needs the warm sunshine sooo badly!!!! I found myself curled up in the fetal position the other day shaking while looking out the window.

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    3. OMG...I'm so jealous! But happy for you too!

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  4. This is just the post for a soaking-wet Portland Monday. I can't imagine how one transports those Euphorbia horrida, even just to somewhere in T or C. I feel your pain in having to leave the golden barrel cactus(?) behind...

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    1. Several layers of thick long sleeved clothing I would imagine, and maybe a tarp or two!

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  5. What a perfect stop for the Danger tour! Can you get those weapons through security or do they make you check the bag?

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    1. I took them through security in my carry on. After inquiring and getting lots of great advice (thanks David @ desertedge.blogspot.com) I decided to just got for it. The opuntia were the most dangerous and I trimmed the super long spikes (3") off before hand so as to show my lack of desire to cause trouble.

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  6. They don't have anything special? I beg to differ!!! What a fabulous place. That Ferocactus glaucescens for $89 (image # 145) is a real bargain. In the Bay Area I've seen specimens much smaller for much more. The Yucca rostratas, while expensive, are well-priced too.

    You need to drive the next time!!

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    1. Yes I guess you are correct. What I suppose I should have said is that it's a small, well curated collection! Let me know when you're driving over and I'll put in my order!

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  7. You made some great purchases! I love the Euphorbia 'Snowflake", I wish I could find something like that here. And all those interesting swirly shapes on the cacti and succulents are such fun.

    Doesn't your husband have any games to play on his smartphone? That's always Nigel's fallback time-killer. Or his Kindle.

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    1. Good question! Yes he does, chess being a favorite and he usually has a book. He was actually right there with me for the most part, enjoying the difference shapes and colors but I think for a moment he was overwhelmed. He is a very good sport when it comes to plant shopping/gawking.

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  8. Fantastic haul, and the place is such a spiky heaven! That Euphorbia 'Snowflake' is gorgeous, I want one (or a few) myself!

    Bless Andrew! :)

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    1. I actually wanted to get three of the E. 'Snowflake' but decided not to go too crazy...it might just be my imagination but I think they are already starting to turn a little bit greener without the powerful sunlight...darn.

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    2. Hopefully they will turn bluer (or grey-er?) again once it gets more sun as spring approaches. At least you have two, I want several and at the moment we have none, lol!

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  9. So did you bring an extra suitcase, or is there a garbage can somewhere in T&C full of "no longer needed" clothing? ;-)

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    1. I do have a tote bag that folds flat which I slip in my suitcase for emergencies like this. That way I could box up the plants and put them in the bottom of my tote and put my handbag in there too. Still just one carry-on and a "personal item"...there was no way I was paying $25 to check a bag. Oh and being able to bare root the plants helps too!

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  10. I must confess, I'm having a good time imagining The Terrorists using an Optunia as their weapon of mass destruction.

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    1. Be careful, keep talking like that and the next thing you know you might end up on the no-fly list!

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  11. What a steal for those amazing Euphorbia horrida, so developed and oldgrowth. I love cactus nurseries, I would have had a hard time leaving with such a modest bounty. Sometimes flying encourages discretion, which might be a blessing in disguise. What a cool spot!

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    1. Indeed with a car we could both get into a lot of trouble!

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  12. Nice photo angles, and glad the ol' ranch took care of y'all. Andy is simply fearing the next trip, when you drive with a medium-sized u-haul *all* the way down...you might even luck into one with the Arizona scene on the side? Euphorbia horrida - nothing horrid about that $49, except I go to El Paso Thurs but can't add anything to my future moving contents.

    I need to forward you a school objection to my using Dasylirion, when I get a chance! (and it wasn't the spines)

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    1. Ah come on...a couple more plants never hurt anybody!

      I'd love to see the objection...to a Dasylirion!?

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  13. I would drive there just to pick up ALL of the Trichocereus hybrids so I could have a flying saucer flowering party on a breezy, Texas May evening.

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  14. There is a special place in heaven for the patient spouses of plant junkies, don't ya' think?

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