Tag Archives: ice

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

Oh HAIL Yeah!

Ah, just a quick post before I go to bed tonight; something interesting enough I thought would be worth sharing. We just had a heavy hail storm here, at least, by our standards (after all, it’s the Bay Area, Cali … even frost for me is rare…)

We’ve had some rain lately, but I knew this was something else when the whole house was literally vibrating due to the impact of the hail.  I looked out and saw my deck covered in white. So what did I do? I threw on my ski pants and jacket,  ran outside, and frolicked in the streets a bit. I even did my own HAIL ANGEL. Yeah, the neighbors thought I was nuts, but how many of them can actually say they did a hail angel in front of their house?


[My Hail Angel. Hail-a cool, hu?]

And of course, after playing in the ice a bit, I had to check on the plants…. and here they are, a bit icy looking.

Eh, they’ll be fine.


[Sarracenia snow cones!]

Ice Ice Baby!

Sup y’all. As you saw in my last post, my plants are pretty much just… well… dormant, dried n’ brown. I spent some of this weekend actually trimming some back, and didn’t even get to a third of the plants. All good, working on it little by little.  That’s just in that one grow area too… Dude, I still have outdoors and other greenhouse to go through. Fun stuff though! I freekin’ love this stuff.  It’s my winter project right now, to conquer and divide. Yeah, I have lot’s o’ dividing to do as well.

So, while I’m here in relaxing in my mild temps with me Sarrs crispy and dormant; other growers have their stuff in under snow and under ice. Ice Ice baby.

Yeah, eff the big conglomerate corporations selling these awesome plants in death cube cylinders saying that terrariums n ‘ish are needed.  Whatever. These plants are meant for the outdoors and not be behind plastic death cubes. Or thrown under benches to rot.  Not at all my friends. Not at all…

Anyway, just wanted to share some photos of some Sarracenia grown by my friend Aaron Carlson in Wisconsin.  His plants are out there under snow n’ ice year after year, and the plants are fine. (Thanks for letting me share your photos Aaron!)  Being that I’m in the SF/Bay Area – snow, frost, and ice are things that are totally alien to me.   I’m fascinated by it, and even more intrigued by those who grow plants in areas where they have to deal with the stuff year after year.  Anyway,I just thought these photos were pretty rad and it goes to show you that the plants don’t need to be behind glass in order to grow successfully.

Following photos by Aaron Carlson, plants grown by Aaron Carlson.

Hybrid Sarracenia seedling poking through snow
[Hybrid Sarracenia seedling poking through snow]

Sarracenia seedlings poking through the snow
[Sarracenia seedlings poking through the snow]

Sarracenia in the snow
[Sarracenia in the snow]