Tag Archives: rock garden plants

Hardy Cactus…thoughts

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We've got a thing for hardy cactus in the garden, but haven't propagated many to offer yet. One of our many favorites is Notocactus apricus.  Above is our 17 year old clump in the garden, which is 4" tall x 15" wide.  We've grown a few from seed, but are curious how many folks might consider purchasing one?  We've only been to 7F since 2000, so we don't know if it will take colder temperatures or not.   Visitors to our spring Open Nursery and Garden this year got to see the amazing Trichocereus 'Irridescent Watermelon' (bred by local cacti specialist, Mike Papay) in full flower (hardy so far to 7 degrees F).  Offsets are almost non-existent, so we decided to grow some from seed. Each plant will be different, but all should be quite nice.  So, if we offered these as a seed strain, would you purchase some, knowing each will be slightly different? Read more [...]

Final Summer Open Nursery and Garden Weekend

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We hope you’ll be able to visit during our final open weekend for summer, Saturday July 15 (8-5) and Sunday July 16 (1-5).  The gardens are looking quite fabulous, especially our new crevice garden.  The greenhouses are also quite full of an assortment of perennial treasures!

Garden design changes

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Many of the changes you'll see when you visit the garden next time are driven by Anita's suggestions to open up many of the overgrown garden spaces around the sales area. This new section is where 150' of Nellie Stevens hollies were removed last fall/winter. Despite only being in a short while, the plants are beginning to settle in.  The wonderful rock work, was done by our Research and Grounds horticulturist, Jeremy Schmidt. Here's a fun seep area in the same space that Jeremy dreamed up.  We hope you'll check out these and more new additions when you visit during our upcoming July open nursery and garden.     Read more [...]

Scenes from Juniper Level Botanic Garden

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Here's today's view of our first alpine berm garden installed in 1997.  Even within a small space, you can have incredible plant diversity.  One of the many features you'll enjoy when you visit Juniper Level Botanic Garden during one of our open days.   Here's a vignette from our Southwestern garden, which gives the feel of a Southern California landscape.Here is one of our rain gardens that captures 5 acres of water runoff from both nursery irrigation as well as surface runoff.  This makes a perfect place to grow many of the water iris (Louisianas and blue flag) which are in flower now, soon to be followed by the Japanese iris.   Read more [...]

Genista in full flower today

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Genista sagitalis in flower2

 

 

The amazing Balkan native Genista saxitalis is in full flower today.  This amazing groundcover has been brightening our rock garden for a couple of weeks.  Genista is easy to grow with plenty of sun…hardiness is Zone 4a-8b.

Hardy Cactus in bloom at Juniper Level Botanic Garden

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  For those who didn't get to our Open Nursery and Garden last week, here are some of the hardy cactus you missed in the new Souto Garden section.  We're passionate about hardy cactus, and have been so since we were hooked by a jumping cholla about 45 years ago.  I hope you enjoy the photos of this amazing group of plants. Echinocereus nivosus Echinocereus reichenbachii var. caespitosus Echinocereus triglochiditis v. mojavensis Gymnocalycium 'Bridal Showers' - a Mike Papay hybrid Gymnocalycium doppianum Gymnocalycium 'Panama Pink' - a Mike Papay hybrid Notocactus paucidentatus Notocactus submamulosus Opuntia basilaris v. aurea 'Golden Carpet' Opuntia 'Claude Arno' Opuntia polycantha 'Crystal Tide' Opuntia polycantha var. hystracina Opuntia 'Little Monk' Opuntia sp. nov. pink flowers Trichocereus 'Big Time' (a Mike Papay hybrid of T. bruchii) Trichocereus 'Irridescent Watermelon' - a Mike Papay hybridTrichocereus Read more [...]

Sempervivum ‘Oh My’

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Sempervivum Oh MyWhile gardeners in colder zones take growing hens and chicks for granted, those of us in hot, humid climates are thrilled when we find a variety that lives for us.  Here is a photo from the garden today of one of the best in our climate….Sempervivum ‘Oh My‘.