We moved the plants around the garden to provide a more supportive environment, create a more effective screen and free up space for other plants. Today, we'll review two plant transplants, focusing on annual cycles and transplant timing.
Both of these plants, from very different regions of the world, are hyena geophytes, which means that the leaves appear after the flowers have dried. They are called "deciduous geophytes". This arrangement helps prevent water loss as leaves and flowers lose a lot of moisture.
In contrast, plants that grow at the same time as the leaves are called cinnabar.
Giant white sea urchin (Dreamia sea)
This bulbous plant is common on Mediterranean coasts and islands and is particularly suited to the climate of Monterey Bay. In late summer, around August, the leaves die back and the plant produces a 3-4 meter tall stem with a star-shaped flower with a striking yellow center. Flowers fade in late October, November through August, the plant produces attractive clusters of 4-inch by 18-inch blue-green glossy leaves.
The bulbs of this plant, instead of expanding like a base shift, each form two bulbs, eventually forming a large pile. These bulbs can be assembled and disassembled to move around the garden or share with other gardeners. The best time to plant bulbs is before the flowers have dried and new leaves have formed.
Some plants grow in my garden, but the surrounding olive trees are planted to limit the sun exposure they need to grow. My project is to take the light and take it to the sun. We created space in a Mediterranean-style garden by picking and moving a collection of tall, bearded 'all that crowd' irises (the last draft of retired hybrids).
Scilla bulbs are incredibly large, up to 12 inches long, and can be so close that splitting them can cause damage. When dividing into single clusters or closed clusters, leave two feet of space to give room for growth.
We moved many large lights and shared more lights with friends. When we find shade-tolerant plants native to the Mediterranean, we plant them in their old places.
Blood Lily (Haemanthus coccineas)
These South African bulbs consist of just two cord-shaped leaves, each 8 inches wide and 27 inches long. In our climate, the flowers appear in September or October, each short stem (shrub) of several small red flowers in colors (umbrella) surrounded by six beautiful red brats. These beads create a wonderful red and gold effect. Leaves appear in March and wither in October.
These plants are spread out in a small space in my South African bed and need more space for their large leaves. We removed several square feet of hogweed (Bergenia cordifolia 'Apple Blossom') which is perfect for sharing with other gardeners, creating shade for them under a false orange tree.
A new sweet plant from South Africa replaces the space left by blood lilies.
Improve your gardening knowledge.
American Cactus and Succulent Society Webinar “Succulesense. Tips for capturing botanical characters in your photography.
Statement from the American Cactus and Succulent Society. “In this day and age of smartphones and digital cameras, it's only natural that we're all photographers. After all, long before written language was invented, our ancestors drew in caves to preserve knowledge and communicate with other people. Create images with greater visual impact, strengthen our connection with the plants we love, and use images effectively to share your observations. Get tips for bringing out the essence of cacti and succulents in pictures.
Host Irwin Lightstone quit his 29-year law practice to become a full-time photographer, specializing in highly detailed, artistic portraits of cats and succulents. His photographs have been widely published and workshops and lectures have been sponsored by national organizations. In addition to other volunteer activities, he is a board member of the American Cactus and Succulent Society.
Our compact digital cameras are powerful tools for documenting our gardens and sharing their images with interested friends. The camera automatically adjusts the technical aspects of photography such as exposure, focus, storage, recording time, date and location, etc. The aesthetic aspect of the image is a challenge for the photographer. This tutorial will help you take interesting photos of plants.
For more information and to register for this free online event, visit cactusandsucculentsociety.org/ and mark your calendars.
Enjoy your garden!
Tom Carvin is a past president of the Friends of the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum and the Monterey Bay Iris Society, a member of the Monterey Bay Area Cactus and Succulent Society, and a UC Master Gardener.
