Spring Symphony 2021

RobBlog, Sarracenia

Hello there! My goodness, this season is off to a spectacular start. Each season the spring symphony of growth and color explodes on the scene. So much vibrancy in effect. Pitchers are inflating and opening while the flood of flowers rolls on. It’s so awe inspiring to witness it all unfold. (Just a few months ago, these babies were all under ice and snow. The fact they can take … Read More

Inside a Darlingtonia Flower

RobBlog, Darlingtonia

Darlingtonia flowers are beautifully otherworldly. I removed a petal to share a glimpse of the flower interior. For a closer look, click on photos to enlarge. Pollinating Darlingtonia is also pretty easy and can be done in the same manner as Sarracenia. In the case of Darlingtonia, pollen falls onto the ovary. I use a brush to collect the pollen by swiping the ovary surface as well as brushing … Read More

Flower: Sarracenia”Crown of Thorns”

RobBlog, Sarracenia

Sarracenia “Crown of Thorns” (Parentage: S. ‘Reptilian Rose’ x (flava var. rubricorpora x leucophylla) – clone 10 – Cross by Dr. Travis H. Wyman) has a little funkiness built into the flower. Going under the flower hood, we can see the style (upside down umbrella sac thing) forms irregularly. I guess it comes from the mama, plant, S. ‘Reptilian Rose’. Flowers on Reptilian rose form slightly irregular, with the … Read More

Pollination

RobBlog, Sarracenia

It’s that time of year – plants are in bloom! The creative potential is growing with each flower opening up. One beautiful thing I enjoy about Sarracenia cultivation: it offers a wonderful creative outlet. My imagination runs wild at the thought of possible plant combinations throughout the year. And at this point in the season – working with the flowers is a fundamental step in making the visions real. … Read More

Atro Flower

RobBlog, Sarracenia

I received this S. flava var. atropurpurea from Mike Wang several years ago. What’s interesting about this flava flower is the blush in coloration. Typically, S. flava flowers are yellow. The color is probably due to something else going on back in the lineage. (S. purp genes somewhere in the mix?) Whatever it is, I like it.

Sarracenia flava var. ornata – Bulloch Co., GA

RobBlog, Sarracenia

Sarracenia flava var. ornata – Bulloch Co, GA – Black VeinsThis plant was gifted to me a few years ago by friend and fellow grower extraordinaire, Phil Faulisi. This flava has a shorter growth habit and has some great contrast with those veins. I especially like the vertical stripe this clone gets in the middle of the hood. As the season rolls on, the veins darken to black.

Sink, Illuminated

RobBlog, Sarracenia

On a recent morning, the light was hitting the flowering clogged sink in just the right way. Love how it was illuminated. The sink was procured years ago from an “as-is” section at a home goods store. I lined the base with plastic, filled with peat moss, and planted the sink up with S. “Defiance” and other carnivores. It has filled in nicely over the years. All those new … Read More