Category Archives: Blog

BACPS Show and Sale – 15 Jun 2013

This last weekend I had a chance to attend the 2013 BACPS (Bay Area Carnivorous Plant Society) Show and Sale. Saw lots of amazing plants as well as fellow enthusiasts who have become great friends throughout the years. It was also great to connect with a few new people that I’ve been in touch with online and now finally had a chance to meet in person. I got the impression that they thought I was stranger in the flesh. Yeah, I probably am.

Here’s a few photos from the day! (You can also view on Flickr.)

As an added bonus, here’s some video from the day too! I figured this was a great opportunity to *finally* start a Youtube channel and give this video blogging thing a shot. It’s kinda rough, but it’s a start. Dahlia came along and gave me some help and encouragement to shoot around a little bit. She started her channel as well! If you want to check out some mixed media art, visit her channel: Makita Studio! It’s something a bit out of my comfort zone as I’d rather be behind a camera. Not in front of one. Anyway, We’ll see how this Youtube thing goes. Mosey on over and check out my Pitcher Plant Project channel! Leave comments below on what you’d like to see and I just *may* upload a few more vids… 🙂

Since Jeremiah was in town and wanted to check out local collections, I was glad to have him, Fernando Rivadavia, and D’Aryt Jov Fränk over at my spot the following day. I was just one of his many stops here in the SF Bay Area. Jeremiah is a legendary grower and runs the Colorado Carnivorous Plant Society. He also partners with Leilani Nepenthes in an effort to make some beautiful and high quality plants available.

Jeremiah and DJ: An honor and a pleasure to have been able to meet you! Thank you for coming by and gracing the greenhouse with your presence.
Fernando: Keep weeding. 🙂

Visit
An amazing weekend full of impressive plants and great company. I’m glad to be part of such a great community of incredible and talented individuals. I certainly wouldn’t be able to make it this far without them. Happy growing everyone!

Feeding the Seedling

Drosophyllum lusitanicumDrosophyllum lusitanicum

Awwww! Isn’t it cute?! Here’s a young plant only a month old or so. I’m feeding it some dried bloodworms for additional sustenance. Yummy! This little seedling sprung up from one of the seeds that came from this colossal beast.  Three have sprouted, but only two have survived. One of the seedlings died after throwing up two leaves for whatever reason, and the remaining two look good. This is the larger of the two seedlings. One thing I’m going to do when I transplant this is put it in a larger pot than it’s parent was in. (Yes, you can transplant Drosophyllum but you have to be very careful not to disturb the roots!) As you can see in this post the roots were pretty cramped. I think it died because the roots got stressed/shocked during one of the hot days and I didn’t keep it as wet as it should of been that day.  Anyway, the circle of life starts again and I’m glad that these genetics are still alive and well.

Better Late Than Never

Darlingtonia californicaDarlingtonia californica

My Darlingtonias have been off to a slow start this year. I’m guessing in part because I’m keeping them on the shadier side of the greenhouse – where it’s cool. If I move them in the middle, they may burn as it can get mighty warm in the sun. They love light, I know… It’s making me miss outdoor growing where I could have it cool and sunny all day. I should probably throw a couple Darlingtonia out in the bright/hot area there to see how they fare. It’s friggin’ June — and while some of the Sarracenia pods are already ripening – the Darlingtonia are only throwing out their new pitchers …now. Oh well. Better late than never…

Angles

Sarracenia 'Reptilian Rose' x (flava var. rubricorpora x leucophylla) - Clone 15Sarracenia ‘Reptilian Rose’ x (flava var. rubricorpora x leucophylla) – clone 15

I was going through some photos from earlier this year and found this angular beast. The photo was taken back  on 27 April. Kinda late, I know. Had to share though…  This peculiar plant has got some crazy angles going on! The cross was done by Dr. Travis Wyman and I started germinating the seed I got from him back in 2008. Phil Faulisi’s creation – S. ‘Reptilian Rose’ has a clear influence on this plant. The spring pitchers on this plant so far are typically the largest and exhibit some of the craziest angles. Pitchers later in the season are a little shorter, but still showcase a little bit of the angular peristome. Sweet.

Sarracenia (leucophylla “Purple Lips” x flava var. rubricorpora”) x “Green Monster”

Howdy! Here’s an update on this little mash up
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S. leucophylla "Purple Lips" x flava var. rubricorpora x Green Monster

Sarracenia (leucophylla "Purple Lips" x flava var. rubricorpora") x "Green Monster"
Sarracenia (leucophylla “Purple Lips” x flava var. rubricorpora)
x “Green Monster”

Sarracenia flava var. rugelii x flava ‘Suspicion’

The quest for more anthocyanin free goodness continues! Here’s one interesting cross that I will be using in future breeding efforts. The parents are S. flava var. rugelii x flava ‘Suspicion’. It’s anthocyanin free recessive (having that “hidden” AF gene) and when it blooms, I am looking to produce more AF plants by selfing it and/or crossing it with other AF or AF recessive plants. I like the slight pin stripe veins, the muddy splotch in the throat, and lip color that some of these plants have. Sweet!

Sarracenia flava var. rugelii x 'Suspicion'
Sarracenia flava var. rugelii x flava ‘Suspicion’

Sarracenia flava var. rugelii x flava 'Suspicion'
Sarracenia flava var. rugelii x flava ‘Suspicion’

Sarracenia ‘Leah Wilkerson’ x ‘Adrian Slack’: Vintage 2011

A new batch of S. ‘Leah Wilkerson’ x ‘Adrian Slack’ are throwing out some promising pitchers. S. “Legacy” is made up of the same cross. I received these seeds from Brooks Garcia a couple of years ago and am really excited to see how they’ll evolve over the next few years. There looks to be some interesting variations already.

Sarracenia 'Leah Wilkerson' x 'Adrian Slack'
Sarracenia ‘Leah Wilkerson’ x ‘Adrian Slack’
Cross by Brooks Garcia, 2011

Sarracenia 'Leah Wilkerson' x 'Adrian Slack'
Sarracenia ‘Leah Wilkerson’ x ‘Brooks Gracia’
Cross by Brooks Garcia, 2011

The one above reminds me a bit of S. “Legacy” as it was growing up. The pitchers are still young and the plant will undergo some maturing through the years. It will be fun to keep track of their growth!