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Rest Stop

Quercus douglasii, blue oak

Rhody, Carson and I took Highway 101 for most of our recent trip from here to the Los Angeles region. We typically drive on more of a variety of highways between here and there, but for this trip, I wanted to drive on Highway 101, as was more typical when I was in college in the late 1980s.

Rhody enjoys rest stops, perhaps as much as our destinations. Because the rest stops near Gaviota remain defunct, only the Camp Roberts Southbound Rest Area was in service on our route. We stopped there, of course.

The old facilities that I remember were replaced years ago. I would prefer the old original buildings. I can not imagine why replacement was necessary. Nor can I understand why the more elaborate associated landscape was necessary. This new landscape, with its cliche crape myrtles, carpet roses and a bit of lawn, is irrigated so generously that the old coast live oaks are deteriorating and succumbing to rot. Most are now surrounded by irrigated lawn, after surviving with only annual rainfall for half a century or so. Like so much about California, not much of the familiar remains.

However, besides the deteriorating mature coast live oaks and a few seemingly younger California sycamores that are also within the landscaped areas, a few familiar native oaks remain beyond the landscaped area. Some seem to be older than those within the landscaped area, and if so, were there prior to the development of the rest stop. Most are coast live oaks, and a few are blue oaks.

I met the blue oak in the picture above in 1985. Although it has not grown much since then, the disproportionately large cavity within its trunk has. I am impressed that the trunk can still suspend the healthy foliar canopy above.

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Alocasia or Colocasia?

Alocasia odora

‘A’ or ‘co’? What is the better prefix for ‘locasia’? There are certainly differences between the two, but information regarding such differences and characteristics is confusing and potentially misleading. It is amazing how much less information is available now that so much more information is so much more available than it has ever been before.

Alocasia generally develops big leaves that point upward. Colocasia generally develops big leaves that point downward. Alocasia prefers a bit of partial shade. Colocasia prefers more direct sunshine. Alocasia generally has more colorful leaves. Colocasia generally has bigger leaves. Of course, these are generalizations, and some species of each of these two genera seem to be species of the other genus.

Colocasia gigantea supposedly develops the biggest leaves and can get twenty feet tall. Alocasia macrorrhiza supposedly is the biggest of its genus and can get fifteen feet tall. It is difficult to know what to believe.

One the edge of a pond at work, we would like to grow whichever of these massive perennials develops the biggest leaves. If we grow Alocasia, we can put it in a partially shaded situation. If we grow Colocasia, we can put it in a sunnier situation nearby. If we grow Alocasia, we can put it a short distance from the edge of the pond. If we grow Colocasia, we can put it right at the edge of the pond. We only need to know which cultivar of which species of which genus we should grow.

I am inclined to grow Colocasia gigantea. We have a few months to decide, since we do not want to plant it during autumn or winter. We recently acquired this Alocasia odora. Also, another similar but unidentified perennial that seems to be a Colocasia must be relocated from another disproportionately compact landscape.

Posted on by tonytomeo · 10 Comments

Six on Saturday: Los Angeles to Los Gatos II

Ilex opaca, American holly would have been a better topic for Six on Saturday this week. Woodland Gnome of Our Forest Garden sent me six seedlings from Williamsburg! They are now happily canned. I will share their pictures next week. For now, these are a few of the many goodies that I brought from Southern California. I sadly needed to go there for a memorial for an old college friend.

1. Carson is a 1994 Buick Roadmaster touring sedan, not a pickup. He diligently brought all this from Southern California anyway. It includes so much more than these six below.

2. Pimenta dioica, allspice is apparently quite rare. Brent had me trim his so that I could process these scraps as cuttings. However, it is dioecious, so requires a mate to set fruit.

3. Solandra maxima ‘Variegata’, variegated cup of gold vine was acquired in accordance with one of our collegiate traditions; theft. I processed these two scraps into six cuttings. Incidentally, I was uninvolved with its initial acquisition. I will merely grow the cuttings.

4. Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Variegata’, variegated Boston fern or tiger fern is a smaller copy of the mature specimen that provided picture #4 of my Six on Saturday of last Saturday.

5. Hedychium coronarium ‘Variegatum’, variegated white butterfly ginger should bloom with white flowers comparable to those of white butterfly ginger from Woodland Gnome of Our Forest Garden. However, I suspect that it is actually ‘Tahitian Flame’ with peachy bloom. To its right, Alpinia galanga, galangal is a culinary ginger with mundane bloom.

6. Canna of an unidentified cultivar is likely the most important of all these acquisitions. It was acquired by the same means as the variegated cup of gold vine #3, but worse. It is from the Baptist Church that hosted the repast for the memorial of our deceased friend.

This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/

Posted on by tonytomeo

Fireplace Season

Firewood must be seasoned by now. Fresh wood will be seasoned for next year.

There are several reasons why fireplaces are not nearly as commonly used as they once were. Modern building regulations have prevented construction of newer fireplaces (except pellet stoves). Many fireplaces that were ruined by the Loma Prieta Earthquake were never replaced; partly because there are other more efficient sources of heat, and partly because of the concern of air quality. The fuel that was once relatively easy to obtain from orchards that were getting removed to relinquish their land for urban development has been exhausted.

Regardless, those of us who use fireplaces need to be certain that they do not become overwhelmed by trees or climbing vines. Cypress, cedars, pines and some fan palms are remarkably combustible and hazardous when they get too close to chimneys, particularly if the roofs below are covered with old fashioned cedar shingles.

All trees and vines should be pruned away from chimneys so that they are out of reach of sparks and heat. The more combustible trees should get more clearance than deciduous trees (that are bare through winter) need. Nearby Monterey pines, Cypress and any trees that tend to accumulate debris should be groomed of debris, even if their limbs are already pruned back for sufficient clearance.

Trees should also be pruned for clearance from roofs and gutters; and any accumulated debris should be removed. Even before the weight becomes sufficient to cause damage, the motion of limbs in the wind is abrasive to roofs. Older roofs, particularly cedar shingles, will deteriorate under any accumulation of organic debris, particularly as it gets wet from rain.

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Horridculture – Diet

Dinnerplate dahlias should be about ten inches wide.

Mail order scams are a topic that I have been avoiding. I do not want to consider that some of a few items that I purchase by mail order may not be what they were sold as; and, if so, I will not know until they grow, bloom or produce fruit. Furthermore, I want to believe that if such items are not what they were sold as, that the situation is merely accidental.

This was no accident.

It began with the purchase of thirty rhizomes of ‘Red King Humbert’ canna last year. They were the cheap sort that become available after their primary season. I did not expect them to be of exemplary quality. Nor did I expect them to bloom. I only wanted them to grow a bit during the remainder of their season so that their rhizomes could survive winter dormancy to grow and bloom for the following season, which would have been last spring.

They grew as expected, but seemed to be virused. I tried to believe that the supplier would not send me virused stock, and that the striations of their foliage were normal. However, as growth resumed last spring, the foliage was very obviously virused.

Also, as they grew, they were very obviously not ‘Red King Humbert’. They grew only about two feet tall, and bloomed with scrawny orange flowers. ‘Red King Humbert’ gets about six feet tall, with big and billowy orangish red bloom.

The supplier gave me a credit for the expenditure, to spend on more of their products, I should have requested a simple refund. Instead, with the credit and a slight bit more for the difference in price, I purchased two dozen rhizomes of assorted dinnerplate dahlias.

As with the canna, I did not expect exemplary performance from these dahlias so late in the season. I only wanted them to survive and grow enough to store enough resources to survive their winter dormancy, to grow and bloom for the next season.

Most were completely necrotic and mummified upon arrival. Because this was after my experience with the canna, the supplier agreed to refund what I spent, but then only refunded a random amount of a dollar and a few cents. When I asked about the refund, I was informed that it was comparable to the cost of the one rhizome that I sent a picture of, as if I was expected to send a picture of every rhizome that I wanted a refund for. I explained that almost all of the rhizomes were comparable the the one that I sent a picture of, but received no more response.

I still have heard nothing about it. I decided to be satisfied with the few rhizomes that survived, and just accept the loss. The time that I had already wasted on pursuing a refund was worth more than any refund that I would have gotten.

So, . . . a few of the dinnerplate dahlia rhizomes survived and generated a bit of growth to partially recharge their resources prior to their next dormancy. Two actually bloomed. Apparently, these are very special dinnerplate dahlias. Instead of producing blooms that are about ten inches wide, the largest bloom is less than three inches wide. I have never seen such a dinky dinnerplate.

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Unhappy Fishtail Palm

Now that the foliar color has improved, the foliar density is deteriorating.

Fishtail palm is never completely happy here. It is not much happier in Southern California. Even the happiest are discolored to a minor degree. Many are more significantly discolored. Some are so very discolored that they are visually unappealing.

No one seems to know why. I suspect that they would prefer more humidity. Perhaps they prefer more humid warmth. They may dislike the pH of the soil.

Furthermore, fishtail palms are monocarpic. Each trunk dies after bloom. Clumping sorts develop new trunks prior to the demise of a blooming trunk. Those that do not develop replacement trunks die completely.

The illustration above is obviously not of exemplary quality. I took it from the car while driving. This was on northbound Highway 101, at the northern extremity of Pismo Beach. The palm to the upper left of the sign for Spyglass Pointe, with the yellow arrow pointing at it from above, is a fishtail palm. Until recently, it had been famously chlorotic.

Colleagues who drove through Pismo Beach typically asked me about this palm after seeing how chlorotic it typically had been. This it he least chlorotic that I have ever seen it. However, it may be naturally deteriorating after its primary bloom. Although I have not observed any bloom, I can see that new leaves are not developing on the same rate that They had in the past. This picture shows it with only a single open leaf, with another foliar spike extending from the terminal bud.

This particular fishtail palm is not very old. I can remember when the associated residential buildings were constructed less than two decades ago. landscapes and associated trees were added shortly afterward. Since then, the fishtail palm had been unhappy. This likely why fishtail palm is not more commonly available here than it is.

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Mousers

Kitties are very proficient with mind control techniques.

Rodents have become a problem at home without Darla the mouser kitty. I do not know if Darla actually caught many rodents, or merely deterred them from inhabiting her territory. It is irrelevant. The absence of rodents was more important. Now that she has gone to live a domestic lifestyle in Santa Clara, rodents of various types are damaging some of the vegetation within the nursery, particularly young perennials.

A pair of feral kitties are supposed to be relocating to our facility. They do not need to stay within the main building, although they will have adjacent shelter. I do not care how they intend to eliminate rodents and prevent them from returning. I only care that they do so. If they are half as effective as Darla was, I will be pleased.

Brent, my colleague down south, recently procured three little kittens, supposedly to work as mousers like Darla did. They seem to be too friendly and playful though. I can not imagine them catching rodents. They certainly do not seem like the sort of kitties who rodents would fear. They are too playful and too nice.

If rodents avoid situations that are occupied by kitties, then any kitty could be effective. If rodents must be exterminated, then more diligent mousers would be necessary. I have no idea how instinctive mousing is for kitties. I suspect that it is different for each kitty, which is why some are better mousers than others.

At least these three little kittens are delightful. I mean, who would not appreciate such cute kitties in the garden? I regularly remind them that I am none too keen on kitties, but like all other kitties whom I have ever met, they do not care. They know how to get me to do whatever they demand.

Regardless of how weird kitties can be, they always seem to be dangerously cute.
Posted on by tonytomeo · 15 Comments

Six on Saturday: Los Angeles to Los Gatos

Six on Saturday is hasty for me this Saturday. The last few days have been rather hectic. It is now about midnight on Friday. I am presently in Los Angeles, and will be returning to Los Gatos in a few hours. It is a long story. I did not get many pictures.

1. Washingtonia robusta, Mexican fan palm is the most familiar palm of the Los Angeles skyline. This one is very unique though. It grew under the onramp from the northbound Harbor Freeway to the westbound Santa Monica Freeway, on top of an embankment on northbound Toberman Street. It grew vertically until it encountered the underside of the onramp. It then crept along the underside of a merge lane toward the south. It resumed vertical growth after reaching the edge, and escaping from below. Countless commuters who drive past it, and perhaps also over it, are unaware of its extraordinary contortions.

2. Coleus scutellarioides, coleus is still performing nicely within Brent’s garden. Autumn is a bit later and significantly milder within Los Angeles than within Los Gatos or Felton.

3. Coleus scutellarioides, coleus is familiar among my generation because it was popular as a houseplant through the 1970s. It is likely more popular in home gardens nowadays.

4. Nephrolepis exaltata ‘Variegata’, variegated Boston fern or tiger fern is one of several species that I will bring back from Los Angeles because I can not procure it in Los Gatos.

5. Three little kittens are new residents of Brent’s garden. I doubt that they are related to those that Los Gatos is named after. They will eventually help with rodent management.

6. Rhody is normally terrified of kittens. He does not seem to be aware that they are just small cats. Now that we are about to leave, he is much more tolerant of their playfulness.

This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/

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Horridculture – White California Poppy

White California poppies are naturally very rare.

California poppy is the official State Flower of California. Most Californians are familiar with it. We certainly know what color it should be. With few exceptions, it is bright and clear orange. Some, particularly within desert climates, are golden or more yellowish. White and pastel purple California poppies are rare aberrations. When I was a kid, finding one or the other was comparable to finding a four leaf clover for kids in Ireland. They were even a bit better though, since plants that bloomed with variant color bloomed with more than a single flower.

When I was about a freshman in high school, I found both a white and a purple California poppy just a few feet apart from each other. They happened to be at the Portola Monument in Montara, near where the Portola Expedition discovered San Francisco Bay. It was too early for seed, and I did not return for seed later. Besides, most of such seed produces plants that bloom with typical orange floral color. Nonetheless, at the time, I was very pleased to have found two very rare aberrations.

In more recent years, varieties of California poppy were developed. Some bloom with white or purple bloom. Others bloom with pink, red or yellow flowers. Some have double flowers. They are readily available from mail order catalogues and nurseries, as well as online. White or pastel purple California poppies are no longer rare or special. This sort of takes the fun out of finding one.

I suspect that the white California poppy in this less than exemplary picture is natural. Poppy seed was not likely sown here intentionally. Nonetheless, I do not know. Now that it is no longer special, its source is not so important. Realistically, their typical bright orange floral color is the best anyway.

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‘Borrowing’

This particular situation is both too compact and too shady for these items.

Yellow and purple ‘Karma’ iris did not work out so well. To be brief, Brent and I ‘borrowed’ rhizomes of pink bearded iris after their bloom, and prior to their removal and disposal, but they bloomed yellow and purple for the following spring. Apparently, we ‘borrowed’ the wrong rhizomes, and were victims of ‘karma’ that was appropriate for the manner in which we ‘borrowed’ them.

Of course, that experience has never dissuaded me from ‘borrowing’ what I want to grow in my own garden. I am a horticulturist. I can grow just about anything that will grow here from seed, cutting or other sources of propagation material. Some is from situations from which it must be removed anyway. Some is from greenwaste piles. Some is from seed or cuttings that I find while out and about. I purchase almost nothing from nurseries.

Much of what we grow for the landscapes at work is recycled from other landscapes at work. This particular portion of a landscape is in front of a residential staff cabin. The Australian tree fern and elephant ears were installed here by a former resident who no longer resides here. Unfortunately, this situation is both too confined and too shady for them. Not only do the leaves extend over the adjacent walkway and steps, but, in response to the shade, they also grow larger and therefore more obtrusive than they otherwise would be. Because it would be impractical for them to remain within this landscape, I am not at all hesitant about recycling them into other landscapes. I am merely waiting for cooler and rainier winter weather, when they will be more conducive to relocation. The elephant ears should be dormant. I know which landscape the fern will relocate to. The elephant ears may remain canned for propagation.