Pre-spring nursery shopping
Stacked pots of pansies, ornamental cabbage, and other annuals at The Natural Gardener
Even though the weather’s been terrific for gardening, I’ve been under the weather for about a week, keeping me from my annual late-winter cut-back of the garden. I really need to get that done because spring is arriving early in Austin this year. New growth is budding and unfurling on perennials, ornamental grasses, and trees, and I need to get the freeze-dried foliage out of the way.
Mockingbird ornament on a cedar branch fence at The Natural Gardener
Feeling a little run-down may have kept me from doing any physical labor, but it hasn’t kept me from cruising the local nurseries — just looking, for the most part. Barton Springs Nursery, Vivero Growers, The Natural Gardener, East Austin Succulents, Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery — they’re all getting new shipments of plants in daily, and I notice every place is hiring, so you can tell the big spring rush is nearly upon us.
I did, of course, buy a few plants here and there: ‘Scott’s Turf’ sedge at BSN a couple of weeks ago, and a big whale’s tongue agave at Hill Country Water Gardens & Nursery today. What?? you may be wondering. What are you doing buying another whale’s tongue agave when you potted up hundreds of bulbils from Moby after he bloomed?
Well, let me tell you. I needed it. Moby left an awfully big hole when he went to the great big ocean in the sky. I tried a 5-gallon ‘Vanzie’ whale’s tongue in his place, but it was just too small, so I moved it elsewhere. While I’m normally patient about buying smaller plants and giving them time to grow, I have in the back of my mind at all times now that the Garden Bloggers Fling will be coming to Austin in 2018, and there are likely to be a lot of bloggers in my garden looking for Moby’s legacy.
So today I picked up this big (15-gallon), beautiful new whale’s tongue agave from HCWG (well, I didn’t pick it up; two strong guys wearing protective goggles loaded it up for me), and my entire family — all of us wearing safety goggles — helped me unload it when I got home. It probably weighs 150 pounds and is bristling with spines along all its leaves, not to mention 2-inch, needle-like spikes at the end of each leaf.
My husband came up with a genius idea for getting it out of the trunk of our SUV: he wedged a ladder lengthwise between the trunk and a sturdy rolling cart, which one of us held in place. He and my son wrestled the agave onto the ladder and slid it carefully down to the cart. Then my daughter steadied the agave while I rolled the cart into the backyard. Did Moby2 draw blood? Yes, all four of us were bleeding afterward — just a little! But it was worth it.
At least I think so.
While we’re talking new plants, let’s check in on my baby ‘Bloodspot’ mangaves, shall we? I’m growing these from scratch — or rather, harvested from a bloom spike on a mature ‘Bloodspot’ mangave that died after blooming last fall. Here were the mangave pups in November, freshly potted up.
And here they are today. Look how much they’ve grown! I’m liking this business of potting up baby plants, which I never used to bother with. I can’t wait until these get big enough to set out in the garden.
How about you? Are you doing any gardening yet, preparing for spring, or still enjoying winter downtime?
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Digging Deeper: News and Upcoming Events
2/25/17: Come to my talk at the Wildflower Center. I’ll be speaking at the day-long Native Plant Society of Texas Spring Symposium at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. My talk is called “Local Heroes: Designing with Native Plants for Water-Saving Gardens,” and it’s about creating water-wise home gardens that don’t sacrifice beauty. The symposium is open to the public. Click here for registration. I’ll be offering signed copies of my books, The Water-Saving Garden and Lawn Gone!, after my talk ($20 each; tax is included). I hope to see you there!
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I am so happy for you! I had a feeling you got a new Whale’s Tongue Agave when I read the intro to your post. It is going to be so much fun following the new addition and now you have such a great story to tell during during the Fling. We need a name…Moby II?
Might I suggest, ‘Ishmael’ as the name for your new agave.
I do like that, Phyllis! —Pam
It’s hard not to call any whale’s tongue agave Moby, I find. So Moby II, or Moby2 as I wrote it in my post today, may indeed win out. —Pam
What a beast! Absolutely gorgeous, and I am sure you will be very happy together !
It’s the start of a beautiful new friendship. 😉 —Pam
As the saying goes: “Go big or go home!” Actually, I guess you did both. Congratulations on your new acquisition and on getting it unloaded relatively unscathed. Winter is usually a good time to plant here and I’ve done my fair share, although the unexpected rain (that keeps on coming – yay!) has sidelined me quite a few times.
I did indeed go big and go home, Kris! 🙂 It’s wonderful news about the drought-busting rain you’re getting in California. I’m so happy for you guys! —Pam
Congrats on the new family member!
Thanks, Loree. He’s in the ground now and resting comfortably. —Pam
Oh, I foolishly hadn’t even thought so far ahead as what gardens we’d visit for the 2018 Fling! Looking forward to seeing Moby2 and You2, Pam.
It’ll come full circle to have Flingers over to my new garden, Helen, as I had them to my former garden during the 1st Fling back in 2008. —Pam
Under the weather is a perfect statement for these eye watering, sinus clogging, and throat bleeding allergy elements in our central Texas air. Still I was brave enough to walk towards the woods and found a mountain laurel blooming at the edge. Yeah for hints of spring! Hope you feel better soon and congrats on Moby 2!
I’ve yet to see — or rather, smell — my first Texas mountain laurel this spring. My own three aren’t there yet, since they’re pretty shaded. I’m on the lookout! —Pam
Retail therapy (if it involves plants) is a regular cure-all. Hope it worked and you are feeling better.
I did, but now I don’t, after spending the entire day working in the garden. Oof, I’m sore, and cedar fever (what we call the allergic reaction so many Austinites have to our native junipers) hit me hard. Gotta take it easier next time. —Pam
It’s so hard losing a big agave but glad you found a solution. I bet it took all the royalties from your books and more! Now do be careful Pam! Before you know it you will be starting things from seed and you know where that one goes!
I thought it was reasonably priced for such a large agave, actually. Certainly in terms of impact it was well worth it. And yes, I’ll probably be potting up every little seedling from my garden paths now — ha! —Pam
It has been spring-like here. I have been cleaning up in the garden. Nothing at the nurseries here to purchase as yet. I can hardly wait though. Even today there was a bit of frost but I can hardly stand these warmer days. This week we are to have sunshine too. Whooo hooo. My first hellebore bloomed yesterday. My little MOBY starts are beginnning to show a little growth. It is exciting. I am imagining what I will have to do with them when they grow so big. Hmmmm. It would be a challenge but a fun one.
I’m glad they’re growing, Lisa. I’m sure it will be quite a few years before they get big enough to make moving them difficult. Enjoy for now! —Pam
Congratulations on Moby II! I miss both The Natural Gardener and Barton Springs Nursery.–Great places.
They are. What are your favorite nurseries where you live now, Laura? (Am I right in remembering you’re in the Dallas area?) —Pam
How exciting! And awesome that your family is so supportive and helpful! Haha
My husband’s always vacuuming potting soil out of our car.
The guys were a bit reluctant (those spines!), but help they did, and I was grateful. My daughter, on the other hand, was all over it and fearless. 🙂 —Pam