 |
| Pterocactus araucana (Laguna Blanca) |
I have been a life-long lover of succulents: much of my claim to horticultural fame comes from introducing hardy African succulents to general cultivation after all. But I've always had a soft spot for what Reginald Farrer called "fattened little columns of hate"--namely Cacti. Imagine my delight in seeing several genera for the very first time in nature! In BLOOM no less. The bronzy, brassy, coppery color of Patagonian cactus flowers is unique and mysterious...a highlight of a magical trip there I just returned from.
 |
| Pterocactus sp. (Laguna Blanca) |
With a simple elegant form like this, who needs flowers? What a bold, elemental presence. Oh to have this in a pot or better yet in my garden!
We found dozens of these in one meadow, so variable in form....just one crazy species or a few possibly hybridizing? Such are the mysteries of field work. I do love to travel, I confess.
 |
| Austrocactus coxii |
You can imagine our amazement and delight when we found this monster clump in full bloom! You can imagine all eight of us lined up to photogaph it...
 |
| Austrocactus coxii |
So similar in so many ways to our North Hemisphere Echinocereus--but alas, not quite so indestructible...I planted a dozen of these in the last two years and they disappeared within weeks: I wonder if my rabbits ate them? I became paranoid--theft? (they were not obvious--no one could be that devious)...in the future, I will only plant them under cages!
 |
| Austrocactus coxii (A closeup of the exquisitely colored flower) |
 |
| Austrocactus coxii |
We're so rapt we even have to TOUCH them!
 |
| Austrocactus sp. |
 |
| Austrocactus sp. |
Believe me, it's steeper than it looks. Clumsy, cautious, life-loving me never GOT a closeup [do you think my good buddy would share a lower resolution photo of this form for you to see up close? We shall see...check back in a few days]...
 |
| Austrocactus sp. |
Patrice Van Vleet had to go join in the daredevil act...I believe her husband had excellent life insurance coverage on her, so it wasn't as serious as it looked!
 |
| Austrocactus bertinii (Picaniyeu steppe near Bariloche) |
Yet another Austrocactus we found in bloom not far from Bariloche on windy, dry steppe--a delicious caramel color this time! In yet a different habitat!
 |
| Austrocactus aff. hibernus (Laguna Epulafquen) |
Our last day, before we flew out (and after we'd had a flurry of worry over antigen documentation--another story that!) we saw this on our very last stop headed back to Chos Malal. Eagle-eyed Marcela Ferreyra caught a glimpse of the bronze blossom out of the corner of her eye as the car sped by.
 |
| Austrocactus aff. hibernus |
We found dozens of plants--many in bloom! You can't imagine the group scattered out here and there in ecstatic delight. What a fantastic way to end a trip! (By the way, don't try saying Laguna Epulafquen ten times quickly--you'll regret it. I tried).
 |
| Maihuenia poeppigii (near Primeros Pinos) |
The most amenable of South American cacti for the garden: I've seen this thriving in gardens across North America and Europe as well. But to see it in full bloom in nature...that's why we live.
 |
| Maihuenia poeppigii |
Get a load of the size of that monster. I had to pause and count my lucky stars.
 |
| Maihuenia poeppigii |
The fellow at the far left taking the picture is none other than Steve Brack, founder of Mesa Gardens. I don't think there is an enterprise on earth that has done more for the preservation of cacti in the wild than his nursery (which he sold a few years ago in order to have a chance to travel more). He provided seed very cheaply of thousands, perhaps ten thousand kinds of succulents for decades-obviating the need for wild collection). lf there is such a thing as a National Treasure, he would be my first nomination.
 |
| Maihuenia patagonica |
Growing at lower elevations, we encountered the much more widespread and variable M. patagonica several times--a few even with lingering blossoms.
 |
| Maihuenia patagonica |
Most, however, were forming their tubby little seedheads. Strangely, I have not found this as easy to grow as its alpine cousin. Seeing it in the wild has spurred my desire to try it again!
 |
| Maihuenia patagonica |
One, and only one plant had a pink blossom. It was very windy and overcast: OH! to have gotten a picture of it open. Better yet, to have clumps of this in my rock garden! Something to dream about!
 |
| Maihueniopsis pteracantha |
There was more! I'd seen Maihueniopsis species in Chile twenty years ago, but not this one! Get a load of those spines!
 |
| Maihueniopsis pteracantha |
Rod has grown this for years, and says it's very slow. It's well established in cultivation but not, alas, in my garden....yet.
 |
| Maihueniopsis darwinii |
It was a bit overcast when we found our first M. darwinii: well established in cultivation from Rod's collection decades ago. What a treat to see it if only in bud. And we saw it again and again later on!
 |
| The North American Rock Garden Society inaugurated Internet Webinars not long after COVID set in last year: this will be the fourth and the very first ever on the subject of succulents in rock gardens! Click here for more information about it! Succulents have been taken for granted far too long by rock gardeners. What plants provide more color than Delosperma? What plants endure more drought or provide such reliable year around impact? What other plants have such sculptural diversity of form? |
 |
| The lion tamers and organizers! |
The vision of this Webinar is to demonstrate how great gardeners from the four corners of North America use succulents outdoors in gardens, and which ones have adapted for them: you can be sure a wealth of plants will be shown, and exciting ways to manage them wherever you live! There's more to succulents than a few weedy sedums, some hens and chicks and a prickly pear after all! Let's fill in the gaps!
 |
| Amanda Bennet has created both the rock garden and an ambitious cactus and succulent garden at Atlanta Botanic Gardens where she is now Vice President. Amanda has found an astonishing range of cacti, agaves and other succulent gardens that tolerate both Atlanta’s hot humid summers and often rainy winters |
 |
| Lori Chips |
Jay Akerley grows a wide spectrum of succulents in rainy Vancouver, but also on the frosty heights of Canada’s mountains where frost can occur in any month. He’ll share his strategies for success, as well as the range of toughies that will take both mild winter rains and arctic blasts of frost.
Kiamara Ludwig, Russell Wagner, Walker Young, Brian Kemble are all horticultural professionals with deep history in East Bay area public gardens. They have combined their talents to test a wide pool of plants at the public crevice garden at the Gardens at Lake Merret in Oakland’s winter wet Mediterranean climate.
Vince Russo has created one of the most beautiful rock gardens featuring
a wide range of Western American cacti which he has combined with classic
alpines and an increasing range of African succulents in the suburbs of Detroit. If he can create one of America's most exquisite succulent rock gardens in Detroit, you can where you live too!
Rod Haenni has experimented (and succeeded) with a wider range of Zone-5 hardy cacti and African succulents in his gorgeous rock gardens than anyone in North America. As Vice President of the Cactus and Succulent Society (and long time member of NARGS) he’s helping pool and bridge the expertise of both specialist groups.
 |
| Echinocereus coccineus in Barnett garden, Pueblo, Colorado |
Do join us this January 15 for the first ever Symposium on hardy cacti from the four corners of North America. don't worry--you won't be expected to add skulls to your garden. That's optional! Missing this isn't!
What a treat to see so many cacti in bloom. Love the variety in colours. I think you were quite wise not to attempt close ups on such steep shale-covered slopes. Valour is the better part of discretion after all.
ReplyDelete