Category Archives: Blog

Repot.

Hello! Just like the plants need dormancy and re-potting, so does this blog from time to time. Another year, another decade… another blog format? Hell, why not.

This blog iteration has been upgraded to the archives. Heads up – there were some server changes during digital dormancy. Some links may not work. Some content might be missing or may not display correctly. Oh well. At least, one thing that isn’t missing is that botanical passion. You can keep up with the latest botanical shenanigans over here.

Let’s grow.
-Rob

Stranger Sarracenia

Inspired by the Netflix original series – Stranger Things.
Because I like strange plants.
This is dedicated to all of the the stranger Sarracenia.

Here are some of the freaks.
You might even find some of these growing in the Upside Down…
feasting on Demadogs.

Stay strange.

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Sarracenia “Smurf”

Sarracenia “Smurf” at season’s end. Still a freak in dormancy.

Sarracenia leucophylla ‘Bris’

Sarracenia leucophylla ‘Bris’

Sarracenia flava lidless seedling

Sarracenia flava. var ornata – lidless

Sarracenia flava var. rubricorpora – lidless

Sarracenia flava – lidless splotch throat

… And then there is this beyond-strange flavaesque thing SO freaky even Demagorgons stay away.
Perhaps one of the strangest Sarracenia I’ve seen so far.

So strange.

Yes. It is functional and catches prey. The pitchers are generally very open  (as you can see) then twists shut approaching the base. This completes the weird pitcher formation. Here we have a digested fly in one of the pitchers. There are smaller insects at the base that the plant is feasting on.

And this is where we must leave off for now. With all this strange-ness in the Sarracenia gene pool, I wonder what other strange creatures may appear in future seasons?

Stay tuned for Stranger Sarracenia – Season 2. 🙂

 

Underneath the Harvest Moon

Earlier this month, on 5 oct 2017, was the Harvest Moon. This is the full moon that occurs closest to the Autumnal Equinox. While out there, couldn’t help but snap some long exposure Sarracenia shots and even threw in some light painting (with the mobile device) for fun.

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Harvest Moon – 5 Oct 2017

Light scribbling under the harvest moon.

Harvest Moon 5 Oct 2017

Lecuophyllas are lit.

Harvest Moon 5 Oct 2017

Sarracenia purpurea ‘Sorrow”

Harvest Moon 5 Oct 2017

Harvest Moon over the Sarracenia leucophylla TAHBWG clones

Harvest Moon 5 Oct 2017

Sarracenia leucophylla “Purple Lips”

Harvest Moon 5 Oct 2017

Sarraceniia leucophylla ‘Hurricane Creek White’ – Clone F

Harvest Moon 5 Oct 2017

Sarracenia leucophylla – Alabama

Harvest Moon 5 Oct 2017

Sarracenia leucophylla “Helmuth’s Delight”

Sarracenia ‘Saurus’

Sarracenia ‘Saurus’

The mighty and monstrous Sarracenia ‘Saurus’ – adjusting quite well to the PNW. Cross by Phil Faulisi. For more info, see the official cultivar description here.

The Seedling – It Calls to Me

“Take me home, Rob!”

Last month, a few fellow Carni-heads and I went to meet up with the Great Sarracenia Grandmaster Wizard of the Pacific Northwest, Jerry Addington. (Yes. A future post to follow.) Anyway, there was one seedling that I was particularly drawn to. Out of the thousands of plants – there was this one that I had this unexplainable attraction to.* At first glance, I didn’t know what the plant was and the tag was not visible. The tag was buried and hidden by a mass of other seedlings. But still, there was just something about this one. When I asked bout it, Jerry wasn’t sure what it was off the top of his head, but he was kind enough to let me bring it home with me. **  I then pulled the pot, and then looked at the tag. OHHHH. DAYMN. It was a cross I did a couple of seasons ago, then gave Jerry some seeds from the cross back then. Sarracenia ‘Saurus‘ x ‘Legacy‘. Even without knowing what it was at first sight, it was almost like the seedling was calling me. Weird. I know. But weird in a cool way.

It is still young and I’m looking forward to seeing it develop. It doesn’t have the rich and ominous coloration of S. ‘Saurus’, and it does not have the clear throat splotch of S. ‘Legacy’, but I think what I found familiar was the seedling shape – especially the mouth. See last photo  below of S. ‘Legacy’ from 2010.

Here’s a few things that I’m watching with this baby that I’ll leave here on the blog so a few years from now I can look for this post and figure out how I did:

1.) Shape – I like the wide mouth and the smaller lid to mouth ratio. The mouth at this age really reminds me of the shape that S. ‘Legacy’ had in 2010.

2.) Size – this seedling was a bit taller than the others, and even taller than some of her siblings that were in the same pot. With S. ‘Saurus’ genes in the mix, who knows what this one will do.

3.) Coloration – Again, this the deep color from S. ‘Saurus’ did not carry over and the splotch of S. ‘Legacy’ is not really present (if you look closely, some coloration from the splotch is very very faint) — but this baby has this quiet and subtle pitcher coloration I like. The upper portion of the pitcher and inside is white with red veins running throughout. Should be a sweet contrast. The lid still maintains a bit of bright yellowish green. There is a main stripe down the middle, in the throat. When S. ‘Legacy’ was a baby, she also had one very prominent main stripe in the middle of the throat that developed into a beautiful splotch as she matured. (See last photo for reference.)

Again, this is still a baby but with those genes all up in the mix, who knows what it will do. For now, will just watch and wait. Thanks for germinating and growing this baby Jerry!

Sarracenia ‘Saurus’ x ‘Legacy’

Sarracenia ‘Saurus’ x ‘Legacy’

Sarracenia ‘Saurus’ x ‘Legacy’

For reference, the pollen parent in the above cross as a youngster. Sarracenia ‘Legacy’ photo from July 2010.

* The Rocket Man Ron Spores was with me when it happened. He witnessed the whole thing! Forreals!

** Funny enough, in the rush of packing things up and leaving that evening  – I had left this pot and realized this only when I was on the road that something was missing. Thankful that fellow Sarraceniaphile and neighbor, Calen, visited Jerry later on and was able to bring this one back. Thanks again C-dawg!)

 

Hello!

The Pitcher Plant Project - June 2016

Hello there, nice to see you again. Oh my. It has been a while, hasn’t it? I hope you’re all doing well! I was taking some time off from blogging here, but hope to update this blog more often. Ever since the move up to Oregon, there has been no shortage of activity and I’ve been keeping quite busy. Repotting, cleaning, dividing, building, sorting. Non. Stop. What is really cool is that the plants are finally growing in full force!  This is such a welcome sight to see, especially after one helluva winter. (See previous post.) I mean, back in California – I was doing pollinations as early as January. My first flower this year was in June. (Again, one helluva winter that set this growing season back a month or so.)

For now, here’s a snapshot of how the plants are coming along. There’s still plenty of work to do. As you can see, a few tables have been built and about half the collection has been cleaned/ repotted. A few more tables are going to be built, and the other half of the collection will eventually be repotted. 🙂

It is such an incredible feeling to be able to grow plants right in the backyard. Definitely something that I cherish and do not take for granted. For the first time in a very very long time, I feel like things are aligning and I can finally grow properly. The simple joy of just being able to walk out there and to watch the plants do their thing – fantastically beautiful.

So hey – thanks again for checking in! I’m alive, doing well, and the crops be growing quite splendidly up here. So stay tuned, more updates to come!

Happy Growing!

Sarracenia’s First Snow – Dec 2016


There are so many new things that I’m experiencing here in the wonderful Pacific Northwest playground – and my Sarracenia are also having some interesting new experiences as well. Such as — snow! WHOA. Congratulations, Sarracenia – snow level achievement unlocked! Yes. Snow. It’s a total trip. The botanical babes have gone from sheltered greenhouse growing in the past few years (See: Summer Sanctuary 2014) to the real world of outdoor growing. And now, they get to experience some literally cool stuff.

“But wait – oh WHAT? I thought they’re tropical plants n’ shit?” you may be saying to yourself. Nahhh fam, they may look kinda cold and sad and depressed for the moment, but quite honestly they’re quite tougher than what most folks give them credit for. >>Insert a life metaphorical comment about plant and life parallels here.<< I put together a little video and a few images below for your viewing enjoyment. Oh, don’t mind the mess in the yard by the way, I still need to level the yard and get tables built. Kinda hard to do that when it’s a giant mud pit full of black berries… so for now they’re just resting in tubs until I figure that out. Glad I could capture these bae-bay’s first snow days. More snow expected in the forecast here in Portland this week, I’m sure the plants are looking forward to it. Brrrr! Happy growing all yous wonderfuls peoples out there. Stay warm!

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Sarracenia's First Snow - Dec 2016

Sarracenia's First Snow - Dec 2016

Frosty Flytraps

Sarracenia's First Snow - Dec 2016

Sarracenia seedlings just… chillin’.

Sarracenia's First Snow - Dec 2016

Sarracenia's First Snow - Dec 2016

The Dogwood encased in ice. It watches over the Sarracenia like a crystal chandelier.

Sarracenia's First Snow - Dec 2016

Sarracenia's First Snow - Dec 2016

Sarracenia's First Snow - Dec 2016

Sarracenia's First Snow - Dec 2016