Passalong plant from Rancho Reubidoux
The mailman delivered a much-anticipated package yesterday. What is this, a big green pickle? A freakishly large chrysalis?
Oh, it’s better than that! This prickly baby is a piece of a sky-blue Pilosocereus pachycladus (syn. P. azureus) from Reuben Muñoz’s garden in Riverside, CA, near Los Angeles. Reuben, the recycling artist behind the fabulous blog Rancho Reubidoux, generously offered to share a piece when I gushed over his mama plant, which was studded with goth-black blossoms and ghostly, ivory-and-mauve flowers (click the link to see photos, #2-4 from top).
I can’t wait to pot this baby up and get it outside to soak up some sun — if we ever get sunshine again. Did I actually utter those words? I’m not ready for the Death Star to return, but, geez, I miss the blue skies and 60-degree temps of a normal Austin winter. Not to mention it’s March. Where’s spring?
Until the sunshine returns, little Pilo is lounging in a bright window. There’s good owl watching there. Thanks so much, Reuben!
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What a cool plant and a generous blogger! I hope you’re happy together for years to come!
Wedding bells are ringing, Peter. Let’s just hope divorce papers are never served. —Pam
Oh yeah, that’s a unique plant — what a show it puts on. Can’t wait to see what it does in your garden.
Me too! —Pam
What a fantastic plant. Will it overwinter in your area? Will it be a potted plant or in the ground? It is always exciting to get a passalong.
I’ll have to keep it in a pot. Online sources indicate it doesn’t like temps below 40F, and it definitely doesn’t like freezes. —Pam
Oh Pam! You lucky girl. When this plant blooms it will be spectacular. I saw them at the Wallace Garden in Scottsdale. But it will have to share that window with Pilo in the winter.
Yes, I’ll have to bring it inside when it gets below 40F, I think. —Pam
What a kind gesture. It’s so few people who do a good deed and don’t expect anything in return.
Gardeners are such generous people! —Pam
Drool. Can’t wait to see how you highlight its charms.
I’m going to just stick it in a pot and cross my fingers that it survives our humid summers. —Pam
I just discovered Reuben’s blog and have many enjoyable posts still ahead of me. Yeah!!
I can send you some sunshine in exchange for some rain, if you have any!
I would share the rain with you if I could, Gerhard. I know you Californians need it as much as we do. —Pam
I tried to vote for you and you don’t show up on the Gardening category now! I have voted for you a couple of times before, but they changed the format and maybe you got dropped off? Please let me know when it’s fixed!
I just checked the BHG contest page, and I’m not having any problems, Debi. Digging is listed first (upper left) on the Gardening page. I’m using Google Chrome browser. Maybe that makes a difference? Thanks so much for trying! —Pam
What a nice guy Rueben is, I’ve got an agave he sent me years ago. Sunny here, might hit 70 this weekend. Maybe time to reconsider moving to Portland?…
If you start having beautiful winters as well as beautiful summers, I might consider it! Seriously though, I’m glad you’re enjoying some nice weather. I bet your agaves are happy! —Pam
Very neat! How exciting!! I hadn’t seen one like that before.
Did you click the link to see his mama plant, Katherine? It’s out-of-this-world beautiful. —Pam
Pam, I visited the Rancho the day after Reuben put your cactus in the mail — there were a couple pieces left over, and I got one! Reuben is super nice, and the mother plant is GORGEOUS.
What a generous guy Reuben is! —Pam