the miserable gardener

in the evening

Here’s Mentzelia (or Nuttallia) nuda, a biennial that’s common in sandy places on the Great Plains. The flowers open in the late afternoon.

I tried to take a picture at 10 p.m. last night but discovered that taking pictures of a flower you can’t see is not very productive. I knew where it was, sort of, but not exactly, and in the process also discovered that using the flash to help find the flower does not result in a clear picture. When I finally got a fairly acceptable picture, I noticed there was a gigantic earwig right in the middle of the flower.

This one is certified earwig-free.

trip to Timberline, part one

For my birthday, which is today, I decided to do what I wanted to, and went to Timberline Gardens. It wasn’t a difficult decision. There are so many plants …….

I think this is Salvia transsilvanica (white)

Think this is a lot of agaves? Just wait until I post pictures from the greenhouse where these grew up. Agaves parryi, havardiana, and palmeri here.

Timberline is famous for cactus, among other things. Some cool named varieties here. You have to get to this table before I do.

rock garden plants

gauras

beebalm

heucheras

a new centaurea

Sugar. When my wife first laid eyes on Sugar, it was love at first sight. I had to tear her away, kicking and screaming. “No miniature horses in the back yard, my dear.” Sigh.

Spice

Shrubs

Shade house, out in back.

Out in back. They do a lot of their own propagation. Need any semps?

One of the greenhouses they try to keep me out of. Cool stuff is being propagated here, and there’s a real danger I might snap it up before cuttings can be taken.

Like these manzanitas, being grown as mother plants.

In the greenhouse attached to the store

And now, since I’ve found myself in the greenhouse where annuals are propagated, I’ll call it quits, for today, with a bunch of coleus pictures. Cindy loved coleus, and used to plant them in large containers on the patio.