Comments on: Still raiding the old garden

By: lostlandscape(James)

lostlandscape(James) — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 05:32:28 +0000

Congratulations on assembling a renter-proof garden. The rental next door to me is a scary mess of overgrown junipers, ice plant and dead grass planted by the owners a few decades ago. It sounds like you’ve chosen plants that not only survive, but also look good.

I don’t know if it’s renter-proof yet, James, as it’s only been a few months since we rented it out. But they do seem to be taking good care of the garden. Regular pruning was the main maintenance chore in my old garden, and I’m making sure to keep up with that until we sell the place. —Pam

By: Jim Long

Jim Long — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 19:00:31 +0000

I enjoy your photos, Pam. And envy your agave babies. Love that two color leaf!
Jim

Hi, Jim. Isn’t it great? It has racing stripes! —Pam

By: Kathleen

Kathleen — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 17:08:18 +0000

oh what a bummer your old (beautiful) house hasn’t sold Pam. The market must still be soft there? It’s turning around a little bit here but slow still. Maybe 2010 will be the year? At least you have it rented ~ I can’t imagine paying two mortgages. Yikes. Great the garden is still going strong too. Those raiding parties would be fun ~ I’d like to accompany you! I wish you a Merry Christmas too without any incidents (didn’t you husband have to go to the hospital last year?)

We’ve been renting it out for several months and will likely put it on the market again next summer, Kathleen—if the market seems recovered enough. Austin is pretty strong compared to much of the country, luckily. And yes, you have a good memory. The DH is very much counting on not spending this Xmas in the hospital! —Pam

By: Loree/danger garden

Loree/danger garden — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 19:09:20 +0000

Ah great harvest Pam! My large Agave americana v has only 1 pup so far, and I am a little concerned about trying to get it out of the pot. I think I will just leave it until there are others to make it worth the trouble.

I just yank ‘em out, Loree. No matter if a leaf breaks or you get only a smidge of root—it’ll be just fine. But it is best to wait until warmer weather if you have the choice. —Pam

By: Kathleen Scott

Kathleen Scott — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 03:57:54 +0000

Wonderful to have the continuation. The agaves will be extraordinary and you’ll feel good about sending them out.

It’s hard to throw away a great plant, even if everyone you know already has tons of it! —Pam

By: Elephant's Eye

Elephant's Eye — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 20:32:17 +0000

I am sure your bare root Agaves will survive. When we moved gardens, sorry house, we brought bits of Aloe. NO roots. Kept the bits in the shade for a year, while we rented until the new house was built. And if you read my Karoo Koppie post, there they are, flourishing. And flowering. And making more pups!

Isn’t it wonderful how tough succulents are? I’m not worried about these pups at all. They’ll come roaring back as soon as they get a bit of dirt and sunlight on them next spring. —Pam

By: Dee/reddirtramblings

Dee/reddirtramblings — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:07:03 +0000

If I lived close by, I’d be raiding your garage. Glad the garden still retains its bones.~~Dee

I wonder if this agave is a little more cold-hardy than the one you’ve been trying, Dee. Come on down for a visit next spring and I’ll send you home with one to try. —Pam

By: Frances

Frances — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:25:55 +0000

Oh happy day, Pam! All those goodies for free, and no shovel even! I hope the passionvine takes hold for you, what an asset on a trellis or fence. Are you sure there couldn’t be a mass planting of the agave, that would be too cool, or am I misunderstanding the spacing needs here? The bulbine makes my heart beat faster, good to know you will plenty of it at the new house too. What fun! :-)
Frances

If your zone were warm enough, Frances, I’d send you some. Bulbine is coming out of my ears these days, just like those agave pups. A mass planting of that agave would look smashing for about a year. And then they would have an explosion of growth to 5 or 6 feet tall and wide (maybe bigger!), pupping out little agave babies like Tribbles, and take over my entire garden. They’re lovely as an accent plant, but I must be careful about giving them a long leash—unless I want to create a thorny thicket around my house. ;-) —Pam

By: LU

LU — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 05:04:08 +0000

I have that wonderful outcome of being able to raid the old garden, one benefit of the housing markets downturn. I think I am going to send my renters seed this year and ask them to just toss it in somewhere so I can come and bring the plants back to Texas. It was so easy to grow anything in GA, I could just use the old garden as my nursery! I did bring a whole trailer load when I moved to TX, but could always use more… So nice that your old home is near. Love the passion flower, good luck, I hope it grows for you.

Thanks, LU. I’m glad the old house is close by too; it makes a good garden raid so much easier. Having to go to Georgia for your seedlings—well, that’s a long way! :-) —Pam

By: Lola

Lola — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 03:21:30 +0000

Great going. Nice to be able to get those freebies. I’m sure you won’t have any trouble giving them away.

I don’t know, Lola. I may have saturated the local market already. ;-) I’ve given away an awful lot of this agave’s pups to local gardeners, and lots of people already have one anyway. —Pam