Tag Archives: BAPP

BAPP III – Far Out Flora Gardens

This weekend, I had the honor and pleasure to attend a BAPP (Bay Area Plant People) soiree hosted by Meg and Matti of Far Out Flora! It was yet another venerable cornucopia of plant goodness; a wonderful culmination of plant nerds geekin’ out.  I was awestruck to have been able to witness the glory of Far Out Flora Gardens in person.  They truly are one of my garden heroes.  When I first started blogging, I really had no idea about garden blogs.  Their blog was actually the first blog I stumbled across that was quite memorable and significant.  I freekin’ wanna be like them when I grow up!  It inspired me to blog more about these weird carnivorous things I grow, and I’m thankful for them.  From there, I continued my horticultural journey and am so glad to have met many other wonderful gardeners and horticultural fanatics.  So, thank you Meg and Matti for doing what you do.

It was great to kick it with fellow bloggers Dirty Girl Gardening, Plantgasm, (Phyteclub, you were missed!), as well as meet some new garden aficionados! Oh man, plants, beer, more plants, more beer… good times indeed.

Without further adieu, here’s a few photos from BAPP III hosted by Far Out Flora!  (Tip: For full screen, click the expand/full screen box, lower right corner of the slideshow…)  Enjoy!

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Sarracenias strapped down!Sarracenias strapped down!

Just a quick note about the Sarracenia I brought to the gathering:  They were all seed grown Sarracenia leucophylla x flava. (Or, also known as Sarracenia moorei, which is a hybrid of those two plants.)  The cross was created in 2008 by fellow carnivorous plant grower, Warren Auyong in Southern California.  He sent some seeds to another fellow carnivore-homie, Crystal Morgan in North Carolina, who in turn, sent seed back to me in Northern California.   I grew those seeds out for 3 years and they are photographed above, strapped down for delivery.  I’ve kept a couple of the seedlings for myself but the rest have now begun their own story with their new homes.  From what I can recall, the seeds were made available on the carnivore boards on Terraforums.  It is a bit hazy but from what I can remember, the recipients of these seeds also agreed to share the plants that came from those seeds.  So there ya go. Well … even if the sharing part wasn’t for this seed set, it’s still good to share!  If you were one of the fortunate ones that went home with one of these and if you had any questions about how to care for your Sarracenia – please feel free to contact me. Comment below or hit me up at sarraceniadude *at* thepitcherplantproject.com! 🙂

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Another thing worth noting:  Speaking of meeting other plant and garden peeps, one thing I have come to realize even *more* now is that — it really REALLY is a freekin’ small world!!!  Here at the gathering of plant nerds, I met the awesome Kristin of Garden Lust. (http://landfieldgardendesign.blogspot.com/).

When she mentioned she was from Atlanta, I mentioned I also knew someone from Atlanta – Brooks Garcia (a major Sarracenia influence of mine and he’s also a F!!CKIN’ rad landscaper!) It turns out that Kristin knows him too! Yo, it’s pretty fresh running into mutual contacts 2,100+ miles away!!! Yes, pretty amazing indeed. Dude, the power of the plant bringing folks together is truly something phenomenal. WORD.

Sexuality in the Garden: Fatal Seduction

 

A few of the BAPP’s crew have come together for a united post. For more fantastic plant/sex posts, check out:

Plantgasm
Dirty Girl Gardening
Phyte Club

And for those of you who don’t really care to read on, that’s fine…
Click here.

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Today we explore some of the more intriguing  qualities of a few Carnivorous plants. Yes, these plants are indeed unlike any other for they employ a wonderful method of seduction to draw their captive audience in. This fatal attraction is nothing short of phenomenal – it’s SEXY… Oh hell yes. These plants literally do make a living off of their HAWT seduction skills!

Check out the oh-so-sensual Sarracenia out for example.

For the lips of an adulteress drip honey. Her mouth is smoother than oil.” (Proverbs 5:3)

Sarracenia leucophylla “Purple Lips” x flava var. ornata

The victims are drawn to her by the sweet aroma she emits, her sexy colors and those hot vein-ey designs tattooed all over her hot pitchers – and  who could resist those sweet wet dripping lips?!?

Sarracenia mitchelliana x “willisii” offering her seducing nectar
to her suitor. They’re busy makin out…

Bug-Dude is enticed and excited…  thinkin’, “I’m gonna get me some action tonight! YYYEEAHH BAYBEEEE!! Let’s get this ON!”  So, Dude throws down and is getting all happy. He starts gettin’ busy making out with the plant and drinking her sweet nectar. He decides to takes this thing up to the next level.

HawtnessSarracenia ‘Leah Wilkerson’ x ‘Wilkerson’s Red’ and the
Bug Dude about to take it to the next level…

It starts to get hot and heavy for both of them. She got his blood a’ flowin’… and her depth of mystery just entices him on. He explores her wonderland of a body. She urges him on to explore her hole.  He can’t resist her powerful seduction, so he thrusts himself deeper…
and deeper…

HawtnessSarracenia moorei urging her suitor to go deeper…
too bad dude here isn’t using protection.
He should of brought a safety net.

Unable to control himself, he keeps going deeper and deeper, getting lost in her seductive embrace. He finally lets his guard down and his world is falling around him.

Spinning… lost in a downward spiral of lustful fatal bliss.

He only lasted a minute then starts to shoot down her throat.  She doesn’t hesitate and swallows … him up.  Oh hell yes.

Sarraceniagasmic.

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She’s good. So good in fact that the payment for her services costs his life.  To every guilty pleasure, there is a price…

The Sarracenia’s fatal seduction claiming it’s victims…

Sarracenia’s seduce their meals by color, scent, and that sweet dripping ambrosia.  Powerful stuff indeed.  The sweet secretion literally is intoxicating. Sarracenia flava nectar, for example, is said to contain coniine. The glands around the pitcher mouth secrete this sweet sexy substance, and lure and urge the prey even further in. As the unsuspecting bug drinks this amazing nectar, it starts to get drunk, and looses it’s foothold her slippery throat and slips in. As the prey slides down her throat, the waxy smooth walls make it difficult to gain a foothold to escape.  And once in, there is little chance of escape. Downward pointing hairs that prevent the insect from climbing back up. Instead it is pushed deeper into the hole by it’s own movements…  only to end up as a meal for the temptress plant.

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Let’s look at a few other sexy meat eaters… like Nepenthes, for example.
A friend of mine called them “Condom plants.” I really have no idea why she called them that.  Where would she get that idea?!

Are you happy to see me or is that a Nepenthes in your pocket?
Un-opened Nepenthes pitcher…

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And recently reported was a Nepenthes munching on a tit. Not just any tit. A great tit!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-14416809

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And of course, let us not forget the lovely Tipitiwitchet!!! (EW EW EW!)

HawtnessTipitiwitchet: What do you see?

A tippiti-whut?? What’s that you ask? I won’t bore you with the details here, but if you really want to know then check out Barry Rice’s explanation here…

Rad. Now go uncurl your toes, read the other blogs, then go plant something. 🙂

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!)