Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) Karen Oudean Clone x purpurea ssp. venosa

It’s been a while since I’ve seen some of these seedlings, but was pleasantly surprised to see how some were turning out.  Most of the pitchers were already going crisp but the horizontal line in the throat was a consistent feature in the other pitchers of this plant. A nice surprise to find, and I am really looking forward to seeing how this plant will be at full maturity. The rhizome is looking a bit swollen, so I hope that I can get some flowers when it comes time…

Oh boy, can’t wait to see what other surprises await me in the trimming fray!

As you know with all the changes this year, it’s set me back quite a bit on a few things, however I’m glad to finally get around to this project. Stratification! I had a very poor seed count from last year, and I believe this was due to the unusually warm January we had that caused many plants to start to form flower buds early.  Then in February, we had very cold weather, and plenty of hail.  I think that the stress by these weird weather fluctuation affected pollen viability, stigma receptiveness, and just overall seed count production.  Out of all the crosses I did, I only managed to get seeds from half of what I did. And within those crosses, there was a low seed count.

Envelopes (that are not really) full of Sarracenia seeds.  After harvesting this year, I stored the crosses in the fridge.  This helps keep the seed viable.

Left: Seed envelopes and pre-made plant labels.  I wrote the cross of each plant and stuck it in front of the respective seed pouch.

Right: Stratification pouches.  I don’t have the room really to do this the Mother- Nature-Way of laying the seed on the media and having them stratify naturally.  I also didn’t want to mess with damp paper towels (although that works as well!)  So, it’s basically just peat moss and sand.  In the bags are currently a dry mix.  When it comes time to plant, I just dump the mixture onto the potting media in their new pots and will let them grow from there.

Oh, what awesomeness will come from these seeds??  Next I dump the seeds into their stratification pouches.

Here the seeds are mixed with the dry stratification/planting media.  I insert the plant tag as well for proper ID of the cross. I repeat for every seed packet.

So after a while, it gets kinda messy… I just started throwing the bags all over the place.  This is what it looked like as I was going through and getting the seeds into the strat-pouches. At least I kept them in kind of one area!

Sarracenia need damp stratification – so my next step is dropping some water into the mix.  I tried something new this year ( I don’t know if this will make a difference) but I added a little bit of hydrogen peroxide to this water mixture. I’ve heard that it helps inhibit fungus…  figure might as well try it.

Stratification pack: done!

… and when all done, throw em  in the fridge for 4-6 weeks or longer, then plant!

Rhizome of Sarracenia leucophylla – Chipola, FL photographed below.

Here’s one of the plants I was growing in some obscure part of the old yard last year. It became over run with weeds. You can see how heavy those roots are coming out of the bottom of the pot.

So to clean this thing up, I simply took the clippers and went at it. I basically hacked all the pitchers away, and all pulled out as much of that grass as I could, and also stripped the rhizome pulling off dead pitchers.  I used the clippers to also get down into the soil to help pull the weeds out from the root level. Nasty stuff.   Again, I would of used my Katana blade (like this and plants beware like this), but I think that my sword is still somewhere packed up in a box from my recent move…

After pulling the weeds out, it looks much better. Ready for growth in the coming season.  I trimmed the pitchers off  and I also stripped the rhizomes down pretty clean.  I did leave some of the foliage stubs from the pitchers/phyllodia. This will help them in the spring with photosynthesis.  I think. I know some who clip it all off, but I figure, hey, it may help to leave some stubs on there.

Now this is only going to be the first stage of cleaning for me while these plants are dormant. What I’m going to next is actually repot the plants into fresh media.  One of the challenges I have for the next couple months is that the water is harder than my old place.  To help counteract the mineral build up, I’m repotting. (OK, shocker, but it’s reached up to roughly 270 PPM here.)  So, while I don’t have an RO unit system, I am not really watering heavy as these plants are dormant anyway, and when I do water, it’s more of a top watering routine keeping the plants damp.  I’ll write more about the water thing in a later post. That’s just one of the challenges I’m dealing with, but I’ll be OK for a little bit.

It’s good to keep it clean – especially in my new greenhouse environment.  Here it’s more humid and the air circulation isn’t as great as the great awesome outdoors!  Keeping things clean will help combat gross mold/fungi cooties from attacking the plants.  Below is the same tub, but after I went through it trimming things back. I’ll leave it this way while I’m sorting and cleaning the rest of the tubs. Phase 2 will be the re-potting portion!

The greenhouse provides it’s own set of advantages as well as challenges that I hope to negotiate and document here.  Honestly, I really do prefer growing Sarracenia outdoors; however – I’m thankful that at least the garden has a space.

Here’s a few photos from the past few days…

Overgrown seedling tray.  Those seedlings are about a year old, and need to be trimmed, cleaned, then re-potted…

A tub of old pitchers.  The blade is coming to slice em down soon…

Lots of trimming and re-potting ahead…  and no, I really still can’t find stuff I want to find…

One of those nasty pots full of overgrown seedlings… This cross is a Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x catebaei – Sumatra, FL

Same pot as above – Sarracenia (leucophylla x oreophila) x catebaei – Sumatra, FL post cut.   After trimming all these pots, the next step is thinning/shifting the seedlings out to let them grow out for evaluation.

Filllin’ the can up with dead pitchers full of bug guts… delicious.

And if you’re wondering why I haven’t used the katana blade – well, because of the move, I’m having trouble locating it at the moment. But not to worry, it will be in effect once found!

Looking cleaner! I managed to get through only a couple of benches thus far. And that’s only trimming.  I still have quite a few more benches to finish with trimming — then it’s re-potting time! YEAH!

Another angle.  Notice I left some of the phyllodia (those are the flat non-carnivorous leaves that aid the plant in photosynthesis), as well as a couple of pitchers that were still pretty good looking.

Speaking of pitchers… check out a few of these nifty pitchers that are still holding pretty well late in the season!

Recent addition – a couple of *bizarre beasts*, but yet kind of fun and interesting… this is Sarracenia “Smurf”!  From what I was told, it  originated as a tissue culture mutant of S. purpurea ssp. venosa, and later found at Carniflora.  Special thanks to Kevin for these awkwardly insane and strangely weird beasts!  (Uh, yeah… I do have a thing for weird pitcher shapes too…)

Sarracenia purpurea “Smurf”

Sarracenia purpurea “Smurf” — I guess there’s something about those weird pointy hood hook things that I kinda like!

As I was cleaning and trimming – I found some more pots of my cross of S. ‘Golden Red Jubilee’ x purpurea ssp. purpurea.  These were growing in partially shaded conditions. Plants that I’ve distributed to others in the past year have shown some nice veins when they were able to be grown out in full blazing sun. Now that I have more space, I can’t wait to see what these things will do!

Sarracenia minor var. okefenokeensis x “Green Monster” – This is a collaboration cross between an idea that sprang up during a conversation between Jerry Addington and I.  The mother plant supplied by Mike Wang, and pollen from the S. “Green Monster” I had.  What you see is step 1 in an antho free project we have going on… good times!

Sarracenia minor var. okefenokeensis x “Green Monster”

Sarracenia courtii x ‘Adrian Slack’ – a select clone from a cross I did a couple years ago – late season pitcher.

There’s still a lot of work left to do. It’s unending, but it’s “work” that I find fun.  As I remove the dead foliage, there are faint glimmers of hope that appear.  Sometimes I’ll see the beginnings of a new pitcher, or perhaps a slight bulge at the growpoint on certain plants indicating that flowers are just around the corner…

A new year – and a new journey set before me. I am grateful for all those who were able to lend their transportation, their hands, their angry backs, … oh and their beards.  We’re almost done with only a few things left to move but a vast majority of the garden has been transferred.  I’m leasing 1500 square feet of greenhouse space — and at the rate things are going, it mos’ def is not large enough. I’ve had to downsize quite a bit actually! This provides a new environment that I am not familiar with and it will be interesting to see how I will negotiate the challenges of growing plants here.  YES, I do prefer growing outdoors, but under current circumstances for this new season of life, I’ll park my plants here.

This move would not of been at all possible without the support of family and friends.  I wanted to share a few photos that I snapped throughout the moving process.  YES – it was truly insane, but I have this faint glimmer of hope that it will all be worth it.

***

The first plants to move were courtesy of my friend Ruben. The bamboos and a few others plants were the first to go. He loaded up his truck with Phyllostachys, and Yushania anceps.  It literally was a forest on wheels.  I could only imagine what it looked like on the freeway with this thing so full of bamboo…

My homie Jenn let me roll with her Wildflower Farms truck.  This truck has been put to VERY good use – rolling full of plants back and forth 15 or so trips – around a total of 300ish or so miles. (DDEEEEEYAAAAAMMMNNNN!!!!)

Drosophyllum lusitaniucm rolling shotgun.

Sarraceniamobile! Full of dormant Sarracenia that need much cleaning…

During a garage clean out, I found my old Godzilla toy thing from back in my elementary school days.  This dude now has a new home with some anthocyanin free Sarracenia.

Jenn’s truck is indeed fully loaded…

Rollin’ down Linda Mar Ave. full of Sarracenia.  I wonder what that dude behind me was thinking…

As more trips were made going back and forth, an eerie emptiness started to settle in.  I was so accustomed to the yard being so full of plants.  Now these spaces are being filled with memories.

As these places were getting more and more spacious, the new greenhouse started to fill up.

The door to new possibilities.

First plant I moved into the new greenhouse – Brighamia insignis.

Empty greenhouse – about to get pretty full.  There is still A LOT of work that needs to be done.  That’s all part of the fun though.  The space I occupy is only about a third of this particular greenhouse. I hope to one day be able to occupy the whole thing!

A few bamboos and palms I’ll be keeping.  I’ll probably look for some space on my balcony or something to keep a few of these things at my new place.

Derek, the furious beard, and the angry back.

Derek just finished a set of pull ups. Nothing like a good greenhouse workout.  Just kidding, he was actually being an awesome friend and checked the roofing for me.

My homie Mike Wang helping out with a load of Sarracenia.  Yeah, there’s S. “Green Monster” and a few other hawt plants that were rollin’ with the Wang.

Mid move In-N-Out snack thanks to Mike. We needed the calories.  It’s not my typical 4 x 4; I took it easy and just did a double double.

Wiggidy-Wizzaang helping me trim!

My family came by and were kind enough to take some bamboo. Here my uncle is loading up my Black Bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra), Buddha Belly Bamboo (Bambusa tuldoides ‘Ventricosa’ ), Phyllostachys viridis ‘Robert Young’ , Phyllostachys ‘Moso’, and a few others…

Bamboomobile.

Sure would hate to be tailgating this thing…

Thankful for my family who helped me in this move.

This is a portion of what was once the mighty Dahlia garden.  I trimmed them all back as they are now all dormant.

Dahlia pots cleared out…

Yes, MORE PLANTS!!

My cousin Sam seemingly thrilled at the concept of having this forest in the back of my uncle’s truck rollin’ down the freeway.

Dude.

Always thankful for family.  You know, a piece of my garden will always be with them.

Slicing through my forest of Cyperus papyrus.

A void fills what was once the Dahlia garden.  The greenhouse looks so… empty.

This place was once full of Sarracenia and carnivores.

I once thought that this place would be large enough for my collection.  I started off with only a few trays of plants and it exploded.  This place was once my sanctuary where I would go to get away from the daily grind.  There were so many hopes, dreams, and ideas that were born here.  It is indeed sad to see it go, but I hope it will serve it’s next owner well.

The new place, however, is filling up quite quickly…

I know. I need to trim. All these Sarracenia will be mowed down over the next coming months. Spring should be interesting in here.

Yes. I *am* smiling. (I’m just really tired actually.  This is a lot of friggin’ movin.)

Uh… full, already?! … geez. Looks like it’s time to expand again! HAH!

2012 is off to a grand start already.  Sure with all of these changes there is just a bit of trepidation, but also I recognize that there is also opportunity to advance.  Let’s see where this thing goes.  Cheers to the new year and to the new chapter in life that is yet, unwritten.  Give me the pen and let’s do this.

***

[Roll the credits... A few special thanks]

Movin’ aint easy, that’s for sure. I am thankful for all my family and friends for their love and encouragement and who have helped us through this ordeal. As I mentioned before, they truly have defended the silver lining. A special and HUGE thank you to Jenn for the use of her rad rad RAD truck. I’ve made at least 15 trips with the Wildflower Farms truck *FULLY PACKED* over the course of several weeks. (Jenn – that thing is a gas monster!!) But this would not of been possible without you. Thank you to Derek of Plantgasm for volunteering his back, my fellow Sarracenia homie-thug-bro-dude-rouge Mike Wang (dude Mike, start a blog too bro! Ha!), Jerry Addington for all the encouragement – (you have no idea how much you have helped me, Jerry… ), Ruben G of Gomez Nursery; to my family – C.I.L. Jeff, B.I.L. Junior, Sam, Judy, Uncle Boy, Uncle Jessie, Aunt Delia, to Tom and Hep, to my Lolo and Lola… and to mah’ boys Luke n’ Jo, and my wife Dahlia for the steadfast strength, continual inspiration and encouragement to keep on believing, and to always keep on growing.

I am forever grateful for all of you.

Moving.  It’s not always an easy thing.  I’m so thankful to have awesome friends who lend their hands, their backs, and their vehicles.  There’s still a few things to move out of the yard, but I should be finishing that up this week.  (I’m still taking photos and documenting this move – more photos to follow in a later post…)

As of yesterday, all the Sarracenias and carnivores have been moved.  I took this photo earlier today and just looking at it is so surreal indeed.

I’m thankful for the memories and the plants that were housed here.  I can see that the ideas that were born in this small greenhouse and my little yard quickly outgrew the place. I’m moving forward, ready to embrace the possibilities and the new journey that lie behind this door…

A lesson I am learning and re-learning very well is that life is indeed full of changes.

Lolo Ondoy is one of my heroes indeed, and a strong garden influence in my life.  As a child, I remember  visiting him in his garden – (I’ll post photos if I can ever find or get the albums out of storage…) admiring the all of his fruit trees, orchids, and his insane rose garden.  Even as a lil’ kid, spending these moments in his garden inspired me to do what I’m doing today.  My Lolo Ondoy worked in the nursery industry, at Kitiyama Brothers Nursery for 30 years.  Even after retiring from there, he still continued with his passion of gardening and also shared this love (and all of his harvests) with us.

I also remember him being fascinated by the carnivores running amok in my  back yard. (*the back yard currently being deconstructed*)  Sure, carnivores are just a little different, but he enjoyed seeing them and observing them in action catching and digesting bugs.  He told me that I should probably have my own nursery one day.  With all of the recent changes I have going on, I think that one day is drawing closer and closer… Below are a few photos from his visit earlier this summer.  He will always have a part to play in my garden.

Roberto Devera
May 26, 1931 – December 14, 2011

Lolo Ondoy, I miss you.  Thank you for all you have done and for your inspiration in all of our lives.

I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything – but I want to let you all know that I’m still here. The negotiation and execution of the logistics required in moving many plants can be quite daunting.  But it’s getting done.

More details and photos in an upcoming post.  For now,  a quick glimpse of the increasing empty space in the yard.  Once filled with carnivores – now filled with memories.

A special and huge thank you to Jenn for transportation, and to Derek (… and his beard, and his angry back…) for the help in hauling all the stuff.  Oh, the fun continues tomorrow!

This space was once filled with carnivores…

There have been many challenges, changes, and uprootings going on, resulting hence in my somewhat of a quasi hiatus from blogging. Due to the economic climate, I am finding myself taking the leap of faith letting go of the home that I grew up in.  Life once again, uprooted. It is such a wild ride accompanied with so many mixed emotions.  This home has been in the family for three decades, and as I write, I bear the heavy weight of many memories…

In the garden with my grandfather – circa 1985.

My grandfather and I, 2011

Great Grandparents, September 2011

Even with this setback, I am ever so thankful.  I am thankful that this house has been here for my family, and that this house was able to house a span of four generations together under it’s roof.  I am thankful for the times we had, and the memories here.  Memories of this home are rooted deep in my being.  These memories are something I will always carry as I start a new chapter in life with my family.  This is the home where my grandparents and I used to garden together.  This is where my plant fascination began.

Adapting to less than ideal environments is a lesson that these plants have taught me.  Carnivorous plants have evolved and adapted to not only survive in less than ideal circumstances – they thrive.  In doing so, they have become these creatures of mystery and intrigue, shrouded with an aura of awesomeness. They have adapted and seem to laugh in the face of adversity.  Even with lack of nutrients in their environments, they have found a way to find what they need, capture it, and thrive.  I find myself fascinated and drawn to their natural talent to do this.

With each of my moves in the past, I see how much I have grown – both personally and also in my garden.  Years ago, when I bought my first condo, I packed out that balcony with so many plants.  Each move thereafter, the garden expand.  It almost seems as if every time I pack out the yard – I move.  Anyway, I look forward to my new venture. There is a mix of trepidation and excitement at the same time.  In my last post I showed a glimpse of a section of an area that I am moving the plants into. (DUDE, the freekin’ plant move is going to be NUTS…) but it’s room to grow.

In the meantime, here are a few recent shots of the garden.  Some last glimpses of this place before I start to tear it down and move it out.  It really has been fun… and I am forever grateful for the memories created and for the time that I was able to spend here.

I am thankful.

***

I would love coming out on the deck in the mornings to watch the sun rise over the fog.

These moments are forever etched in my memory.

Above the fog.  In the lower area, that is a greenhouse that my grandfather and I put together out mostly recycled materials.  We used old windows and old sliding doors from previous home remodel projects.

The greenhouse in the jungle.

Inside the greenhouse.

Sarracenias during sunrise.

The Dahlia area. During summer and early autumn, this area is ablaze with intense color.  Now that it is winter, the Dahlias are now dormant.  I will be cutting these down soon.

Back yard, upper level.  As you can see, every few inches has some sort of botanical craziness going on. It really is a jungle here.

Looking down into the lower yard – the Sarracenia pit.  Hard to believe that most of these plants down here were grown from seed only a few  years ago and are still somewhat of “tween” seedlings.

The view of the Montara mountain range.

I’m not quite sure who planted these, it was either my grandfather of my dad that planted these Yucca. It was years ago planted down here as a cutting – they’ve grown quite a bit since then.

Montara mountain range in the distance.

Some of the front yard craziness. A little over two decades ago, this used to be a really awesome rose garden.  However, there was a drought back then, so my grandfather pulled all the roses out.  It was pretty much bare until a few years ago when I decided to throw my excess plants out from the back yard to the front.  I just stuck things in the ground out here.  There used to be a lot of Gunnera tinctoria as well, but those monsters went to Jenn.

Front yard Colocasia! Some of these in this little grove were actually grown from taro roots I got at the grocery store.

Blue bamboo – Himalayacalamus hookerianus.

Another view of the lower level of Sarracenia madness…

Sarracenia goodness.

Some Pinguicula, flytraps, and Sarracenia seedlings in the lower greenhouse.

Drosophyllum lusitanicum in the center. Awesome plant.

A Drosophyllum from cutting. CUTTING! Yes, it works!

Sarracenia seedlings that are going to be repotted.

The Jungle, lower level.

The Jungle, upper level.

Spiral aloe – Aloe polyphylla.

Greenhouse, upper level.  The sanctuary.

I am indeed and will always be forever grateful for my time here.
Pacifica home, thank you.