Replanting a massive Agave

Back in April I repotted my oldest and largest agave. Those of you who've had to deal with potting thorny plants understand why I had to write an entire post about potting this plant. It really can be a pretty big project. Agave desmettiana 'variegata' fortunately are not too sharp, you just have to watch out for the tips!

As you can see in this picture, it was definitely worth risking a few bruises because this plant was surviving on an incredibly small amount of soil.



Here's the final result!





I was amazed at the ability for this plant to be growing in a half empty pot and look so healthy. Agaves are fantastic plants and even a person with a brown thumb can create a piece of the tropics with a few of these around!

Rutgers Gardens Plant Sale Haul

Last week I went to Rutgers Garden's annual plant sale. If you live in the NYC metro area and love plants, this plant sale (which happens in the first weekend of May every year) is the place to be. Great prices and a great variety of plants for sale. I am almost finished planting all of these plants out and will make a post soon showing where all the plants ended up! Here are a few of my favorite purchases!

Colocasia illustris, Colocasia Tea Cup, and a variety of Begonias


Passiflora incarnata and Fatsherdra (tree ivy) are both hardy to zone 7. I'm looking for a warm microclimate in the yard for both so a cold winter will not knock them out!



Passiflora incarnata


A colorful variety of coleus


I've been looking for Banana cannas for years and they had beautiful clumps for sale at the plant sale. I am so excited to have these growing in the yard this season.



These hardy delosperma ice plants will look great in a sunny spot. I'm also really excited to have these in the yard.



Tibouchina grandifolia is one of my favorite annuals. I really fell in love with these plants in Florida, the fuzzy leaves are hard to miss and the bluish flowers are just another great plus.



These tassel ferns should stay green year round in my gardening climate. The foliage is really beautiful and I have the perfect spot for them so I am very excited to get these in the ground!



I've been looking for Musa zebrina for a long time now as well and finally found one. Bananas grow so much in a single season that this plant will be unrecognizable in a few weeks if all goes well!





I went to Rare Find Nursery a few weeks ago and while I found some great plants I was disappointed that they were sold out of Magnolia ashei. Rutgers Gardens had them for sale though! This magnolia is not evergreen, but the massive foliage, huge, fragrant blooms, and low growing habit makes it perfect for bringing the tropics to a small yard. I am so excited to finally have one!



Another really cool purchase were these Farfugiums! These plants are so weird and beautiful and also are documented to have decent cold tolerance. They are way too rare for me to attempt them in my zone 7 yard outdoors so I'll be keeping them in pots and bringing them into the garage over the winter for now.



Farfugium japonicum 'Gigantea' has massive foliage


Farfugium japonicum 'Aureomaculatum' has yellow specks on the leaves making it great for adding a bit of color to a shady spot.


Another exciting purchase was this Musa Basjoo. This is definitely the largest basjoo I've ever seen offered for sale (nearly the size of my garage door!). The price was very fair. I'll be putting it as the centerpiece of my front yard. If all goes well this could become the tallest banana I've ever grown in a few more months! The fact I won't have to dig it up in the fall is such a nice plus!



This cabbage tree is not cold hardy but it sure looks cool. I had to get one!



I'll end with these hardy ground orchids (Bletilla striata). I think only plant nuts like me can really get excited about the idea of having an orchid survive the winter outdoors, but everyone can appreciate the beautiful foliage and modest blooms of this species.  Native to Japan and one of the easiest orchid species to grow, they should get more beautiful with age! they will breeze through NYC winters.


I hope you approve of my plant purchases. Get excited because the growing season is here!!

Snow + March = Smarch?

I am not too happy to see snow in march especially after enjoying temperatures in the 70s and 80s so recently. Fortunately temperatures were mild enough to keep my less tender potted plants outside and it did make for a very nice scene. Here is proof that you can have a tropical look and still enjoy winter! 

My potted livistona palms in snow. 

Although the snow didn't stick to the ground vegetation definitely received a good coating.

My trachycarpus 

Cordyline Australias

My needle palm 

My budding Rosa Rugosa 

Yucca gigantea 

Pansies 

Loquat Tree

European Fan Palm

Daffodils 

Thanks for looking!

A few March Blooms

March is a very transitional month here in NYC. We've had our share of warm Marches where it's warm enough to start taking the plants back outside - and we've had our share of cold Marches, that feel like an extension of February.
This march has been pretty mild overall so far and definitely mild enough to make planting pansies a worthwhile effort.

Potted Hyacinth slowly waking up. 

The Daffodils are blooming in full force! 

My loquat providing some green as my other trees start to bud 

Things are doing well indoors too. My Gardenia and Confederate Jasmine have brought the scents of spring in the southeast into our living room. 

My coconut palm looks happy but I am sure it is looking forward to the hot and humid days of summer!

My various other tropicals are also definitely ready for summer also. My Spindle Palm looks like it is ready for a great season. This will be it's 4th summer which is the longest I have kept a spindle palm healthy for! 

Thanks for looking!