The Garden.org Plants Database

I am going to try overwintering a few artichokes this year using the basket method and using a waterproof tarp. That may be the key addition:
Zones 6 to 7: After the last harvest, cut the plants down to 12 to 18 inches. Cover with organic mulch: leaves, straw, compost, and then cover the pile with a large basket. Mound more leaves and straw over the basket and cover everything with a waterproof tarp.

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Miniature Lupine is a native to the west coast found throughout California to British Columbia. It is nitrogen-fixing and a boon to pollinators in addition to being a cute tiny plant.

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A. decorum is a variable species. The diameter of the rosette can range from 1.5 to 4 inches. Colors can be variable from clone to clone, and depending on sun exposure. Plants grown in the shade are usually a dark green color, but in full sun they can range from a reddish orange to bronze color. This plant is commonly confused with two of its close relatives, A. haworthii and A. leucoblepharum.
It is known to form hybrids with A. canariense and A. castello-paive.

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This smallish hybrid is usually sold under the apparently invalid species name Agave pumila. It is a dimorphic plant, with a compact, offsetting juvenile version to a few inches wide (for several years) and a spreading adult version to about 2 feet wide. Apparently one can hasten this conversion by putting potted plants in the ground.

Gentry treated pumila as a species but also considered the parentage of Agave lechuguilla (originally and currently spelled as lecheguilla) x Agave victoriae-reginae (compact form). The leaf underside strongly suggests the former parentage, despite what the CoL and the data above indicate (scabra=asperrima in the mix).

If the CoL is right that pumila = asperrima x nickelsiae (which I doubt) then Agave x pumila would be a synonym for Agave x nigra (one form of which is known in the trade as 'Sharkskin'), a very different looking plant without this odd dimorphic form.

In any case pumila was apparently collected in the 19th century and described on the basis of a Kew plant obtained from a Dutch trader, of unknown geographic origin. It was never found in nature (at least at the time of Gentry's writing).

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Curious that 'Freedom Is Not Free' is registered as a Tet but apparently crossed to 'Wild Rose Fandango', a Dip, to create a dip child 'Lily Farm Arachnid Orbiter'. I will note that the hybridizer had FINF listed as a Tet on his website in 2020

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C. Skotak hybrid
Seed parent - N. carolinae x N. 'Fireball'
Pollen parent - N. mcwilliamsii
'Zacate' has a slight upright 17" nearly spineless rosette of light green creamy striped leaves that will slightly blush pink in strong light. Will produce a red center at flowering.
Offsets are produced on 5"-6" stolons.

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Spiny South American ball cactus with yellow flowers.

This plant, formerly known as Parodia (Notocactus) schlosseri (after the guy who collected it in Uruguay, Hugo Schlosser), was apparently described as Echinocactus erubescens a few decades before that point, so the older name takes priority. According to Hunt it is apparently not a species but a hybrid of P. (N.) mammulosa with another Parodia. It belongs with a few plants that are closely related to P. (N.) scopa.

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Neoregelia 'Tossed Salad'
Harvey Bullis hybrid
Seed parent - 'Dexter's Pride'
Pollen parent - 'Fantastic Gardens'
Good coloration achieved with good morning and late afternoon sun conditions. Midday and early afternoon Summer sun should be avoided as leaves will burn.

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C. Skotak hybrid
Seed parent - carolinae Variegated x Hannibal Lecter
Pollen parent - Tiger Cub
Rosette 8" - 10" producing pups on 2"-3" stolons.
Leaf coloration - Broad white central vertical stripe barred with dark reddish purple horizontal banding on both sides.
Needs strong sun conditions to bring out the great horizontal banding coloration.

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Each year, we plant seed potatoes ... a range of varieties, from fingerlings to early, mid or late season. Being in a cold climate / short summer, late season potato choices are rare. But despite having grown many different varieties, each year we always try several 'new' (to us) to see what happens.

Fingerling 'Magic Molly' was a 'new to us' variety for the summer of 2023, and we planted the minimum seed potato quantity we could order (either .5 or 1 lb.). This potato was one of our (2) best producers in 2023 (which turned out to be a very poor year for many others).

Magic Molly increased tenfold over what we had started with (I do keep record each year of pounds planted / pounds harvested). It also tastes great, cooks superbly, and holds its deep purple flesh even after cooking (which the kids love - who knew kids would think purple potatoes are super cool?).

And being a fingerling, the size is perfect for many recipes - from soups and stews to home fries or potato salad, this is an excellent potato. So for 2024, we have upped the order on Magic Molly and we'll be planting quite a bit larger quantity this year.

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