Category Archives: Blog

Sarracenia Bug Bat x Diane Whittaker

Howdy,

Here’s an update on one of the seedlings of a cross I did a while back of Sarracenia “Bug Bat”  and  Sarracenia “Diane Whittaker”.

Sarracenia "Bug Bat" x "Diane Whittaker"
[Sarracenia “Bug Bat” x “Diane Whittaker”]

This particular seedling has a long overarching hood that’s pretty nice. There is a lot of diversity with this cross (along with any other hybrid…)  Here’s a post on this cross from September of 2010.  Also, check out some of the diversity of this cross over at James Soe Nyun’s blog:  Lost in the Landscape.

Hope you’re having a great weekend so far!

Pregnant Pod?

Well, … I most certainly hope so!  I hope there’s a good seed set in there.  It’s that time of year, pods swollen and I’m so looking forward to harvesting seeds! Here’s a photo of a swollen pod of a cross I am looking forward to. It’s S. purpurea ssp. purpurea AF x “Green Monster”.  I’m hoping for anthocyanin free versions of S. swaniana – esque looking plants. This breeding thing is always interesting.  Ya never know what you’re going to get!

Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea AF x "Green Monster"
[Sarracenia purpurea ssp. purpurea AF x “Green Monster”]

Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x ‘Adrian Slack’

 

Happy Independence Day! Let us not forget the women and men that laid down their lives for the sake of our country; freedom isn’t free but came with a price.  I hope everyone has a fun and safe 4th.  And PLEASE, be safe! Don’t burn anything down. (In the words of Beavis, “Fire! Fire!”)

Here’s a few shots of young 1 year old seedlings that are putting up some of their first pitchers. The different seedlings below are finally showing some character.  They will probably change as they mature, but I’m glad to see some of these now coming up.  I hope they add some nice “fireworks” to the collection!

Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x 'Adrian Slack'

Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x 'Adrian Slack'

Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x 'Adrian Slack'

Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x 'Adrian Slack'

Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x 'Adrian Slack'

July

 

Why, Hello July. Nice to see you again.

Geez. It’s already JULY?  What happened?  The year is halfway over and didn’t we just start 2011 not too long ago?  Dude, that’s a trip.  To commemorate our cross over into July, a few random snapshots from  July 1 posted below.   Not all are photos of Sarracenia, however all are carnivorous.  Enjoy!

Sarracenia leucophylla "Purple Lips" x flava var. ornata
Sarracenia leucophylla “Purple Lips” x flava var. ornata

Sarracenia minor var. okefenokeensis x 'Golden Red Jubilee'
Sarracenia minor var. okefenokeensis x ‘Golden Red Jubilee’

Utricularia reiniformis - small form
Utricularia reiniformis – small form

Drosophyllum lusitanicum
Drosophyllum lusitanicum

Baby Venus Fly Traps
Baby Venus Fly Traps

Pinguicula moranensis x ehleresiae
Pinguicula moranensis x ehleresiae

Sarracenia mitchelliana, anthocyanin free
Sarracenia mitchelliana, anthocyanin free

Cephalotus follicularis
Cephalotus follicularis

Sarracenia 'Danas Delight' x areolata
Sarracenia ‘Danas Delight’ x areolata

Dionaea muscipula
Field of traps – Dionaea muscipula

Darlingtonia californica
Darlingtonia californica

Sarracenia oreophila
Sarracenia oreophila

Group randomly throw in a mini-bog
Group randomly thrown in a mini-bog

Sarracenias in the Rain

We’ve been having some really weird June weather here.  In fact, it has been the wettest June of record since 1849.  We’ve had more rain than January! (It’s been quite a dry January for us…) What is going on?!   Anyway, today after I got home, the rain lightened up a little bit enough for me to get out and get a few snapshots of the Sarracenia.  Enjoy!

Rain Rain Go AwayA rainy view from the deck…

Sarracenia flava "Big Mouth"
Sarracenia flava “Big Mouth”

Sarracenia leucophylla "Purple Lips" x 'Royal Ruby'
Sarracenia leucophylla “Purple Lips” x ‘Royal Ruby’

Sarracenia moorei seedlings
Sarracenia moorei seedlings

Sarracenia "Wilkersons Red Rocket" x flava var. rubricorpora
Sarracenia “Wilkerson’s Red Rocket” x flava v. rubricorpora
a cross by Brooks Garcia that I grew out from seed

Sarracenia "Wilkersons Red Rocket" x flava var. rubricorpora
Sarracenia “Wilkerson’s Red Rocket” x flava v. rubricorpora
Cross by Brooks Garcia that I grew out from seed.
Pod sibling to the one above.

Hey, at least I didn’t have to water the plants today! 🙂 Stay dry everyone!

BAPP | Plantgasm Gardens

 

This post is a little bit off the Sarracenia path. This is a tribute and a thanks to a few individuals that inspire me in doing what I do.
Grow on, homies…  Grow on.


[Slideshow: BAPP | Plantgasm Gardens]

This past weekend I had the honor and privilege to get together with a few fellow Bay Area Plant People (BAPP) at the Gardens of Plantgasm.   It is a place of amazing botanical wonder, indoors and out!  Now, you if you know me, I’m not much of an indoor grower, but after my visit, I think I’ll try a couple more plants indoors.  Everywhere I turned at Derek’s place, there was something growing. Climbing a wall. Hanging from the ceiling. Growing in the coffee pot. Jumping off a bookshelf.  Something was growing.  The perfect setting for this gathering of plant addicts.

I’m really glad I was able to attend and meet up with my garden heroes.  We’ve been talking about getting together, havin’ a beer,  and just chattin’ plants for quite some time, and I’m glad we finally were able to.  I would sincerely like to thank Derek and Heather for opening up their home and hosting this event.  Derek (twitter: @plantgasm) is a wonderful source of  great garden inspiration; his passion for the plant is quite contagious. Be sure to visit his site (http://plantgasm.com) and prepare to be moved.

It was also very nice to kick it with Meg and Matti (twitter: @sfgardengirl, @FOFmatti, @faroutflora | web: http://www.faroutflora.com/), Heather (@hchamp) — as well as meet new plant friends: Magdalen, Michelle, Kevin (@joescales), Chuck (@back40feet | http://back40feet.blogspot.com), Carri (@betweenthelimes |http://readbetweenthelimes.blogspot.com/), Kristi (@notsocrafty | http://notsocrafty.com/), and of course Bug and Chieka! (The awesome chihuahua duo!) I can’t believe we were all in one place… ha!

Yes, I grow Sarracenia.  That’s my addiction and obsession. That’s what this blog is about. I’ve always been intrigued by the carnivores ever since I was a kid.  My interest in carnivores and support from my grandparents led me into the world of gardens and the love of growing – not just Sarracenia, but rather all things that I could possibly grow.  My yard indeed is covered in Sarrs; however you can find everything from bamboo to bromeliads, mosses to maples, and cacti to carnivores lurking there.  Meeting with other like minded plant lovers yesterday was simply phenomenal and motivational.  I will continue to plant and grow.

As Derek says, “The second best thing about growing plants is getting to know other people with the same passion.  The first best thing is growing the plants.”


[Plantgasm, Far Out Flora, The Pitcher Plant Project]
(Photo by Heather… Thanks Heather!)

Summer Solstice Seedlings

Happy (belated) Summer Solstice! YES!

To kick off the summer, here’s a few random photos of some seedlings. Most are 1-3 years old.  I snapped these photos during the summer solstice late afternoon. Just a few things here and there, hope you enjoy them.  By the way, I’ve noted who the cross was done by for proper credit down below. Where blank, it was yours truly :).

Not much else to say here except, Happy Summer! Enjoy the sun! (…And Sarracenias!)

Sarracenia courtii x 'Adrian Slack'
[Sarracenia courtii x ‘Adrian Slack’]

 

Sarracenia courtii x 'Adrian Slack'
[Sarracenia courtii x ‘Adrian Slack’]

Sarracenia 'Kilimanjaro' x (rubra ssp. jonesii x  minor var. okefenokeensis)
[Sarracenia ‘Kilimanjaro’ x (rubra ssp. jonesii x  minor var. okefenokeensis)]

Sarracenia mitchelliana x "Leah Wilkerson"
[Sarracenia mitchelliana x “Leah Wilkerson”, Cross by Wes Buckner]

Sarracenia 'Golden Red Jubilee' x purpurea ssp. purpurea
[Sarracenia ‘Golden Red Jubilee’ x purpurea ssp. purpurea]

Sarracenia leucophylla Franklin Co. "A" x  leucophylla Franklin Co. "B"
[Sarracenia leucophylla Franklin Co. “A” x  leucophylla Franklin Co. “B”, Cross by Wes Buckner]

Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x (leucophylla "red" x minor var. okefenokeensis )
[Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x (leucophylla “red” x minor var. okefenokeensis ), Cross by Dr. Travis Wyman]

Sarracenia (leucophylla "red" x minor var. okefenokeensis) x (leucophylla x psittacina)
[Sarracenia (leucophylla “red” x minor var. okefenokeensis) x (leucophylla x psittacina), Cross by Dr. Travis Wyman]

Sarracenia leucophylla x flava
[Sarracenia leucophylla x flava, Cross by Warren Auyong, from seed sent to me by fellow carnivorous plant grower, Crystal Morgan]

Sarracenia minor var. okefenokeensis x "Green Monster"
[Sarracenia minor var. okefenokeensis x “Green Monster”]
Interesting story behind this one above. Read up on it here . Special props to fellow Sarracenia ghetto dude, Mike Wang. (Thanks again bro for letting me use it that one year!)

Sarracenia courtii x "Green Monster", Anthocyanin Free
[Sarracenia courtii x “Green Monster”, Anthocyanin Free]