Growing in the Sierra Nevada "Rain Shadow "

Discuss hardy cacti grown outside all year.
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John P Weiser
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Post by John P Weiser »

Thought you guys would enjoy seeing the flower spike on my Yucca elata. It measures seven foot eight inches tall. I have had this plant for five years now I'm sure it is a couple of years older than that it was in a five gallon pot when I planted it. This year it is starting to make a trunk at last. It's a slow process though.


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From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
Tony
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Post by Tony »

And another one goes on the ol wish list. :)
Forget the dog...Beware of the plants!!!

Tony
daiv
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Post by daiv »

That's a rather elegant looking Yucca. Interesting that it is a slow process.

Take a look at this high-speed yucca I had back in CA:

http://www.cactiguide.com/yucca/
All Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are Cacti
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CoronaCactus
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Post by CoronaCactus »

yucca ducca doo! :lol:
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toddo
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Post by toddo »

Awesome yard. Been drooling over these pics. Yucca just tops it off. Very jealous over here. Nice!
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John P Weiser
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Post by John P Weiser »

I can't resist posting a few other close up pictures of some of the plants you see in the background. The first set are of Penstemons another Western Genus adapted to dry environments and a passion of mine.
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From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
daiv
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Post by daiv »

Just a few more days.... :wink:
All Cacti are succulents, but not all succulents are Cacti
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John P Weiser
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Location: Sparks, NV

Post by John P Weiser »

I have you marked on my calender with a smiley face just like this one. :)
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
Tony
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Post by Tony »

Im very jealous Daiv! :(
The mix never ceases to amaze John. 8)
Forget the dog...Beware of the plants!!!

Tony
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John P Weiser
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Post by John P Weiser »

A couple of shots from today.


An update on the Yacca elata blossoms.
Image

I think of this one as "Beauty" and the "Beast". The Penstemon palmeri has twined a few flowering wands up through my Cylindropuntia kleiniae.

Image
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
ihc6480
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Post by ihc6480 »

Great shots John :) The beast definitely has a thing for beauty doesn't it :wink:
Bill

If it sticks ya or pokes ya, I like it
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cactuslee
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Post by cactuslee »

absolutely love the wild flowers that you have incorporated into your landscaping and gardening. wish i could grow cacti and succulents outside all year. i have some relatives in sparks from my wife's side of the family. their name is dick and esther blue. thought maybe you might know them. they are retired folks now.
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John P Weiser
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Post by John P Weiser »

Lee
Sorry but I have not had the pleasure of meeting them.
You are from Huron you say. I come from Bismarck, ND. Do you grow O. polyacantha, E. missouriensis, or E vivipara in your garden? They should all do well out doors.
The Northern Great Plains has quite a few garden worthy wild flowers that will do well as companions to cactus. I encourage you to give them a try! :wink:
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
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mendel
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Post by mendel »

Those penstemons look great John! I didnt have many germinate for me this spring, but my garden is absolutely loaded up with the seed you sent me.

best regards,

Jason
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John P Weiser
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Post by John P Weiser »

Sorry to hear that they didn't germinate this year . They can set in the ground for several years before they germinate. If you want more seed this fall I,ll send more. Then your garden will have a double load. :wink:
I had a lot germinate around this year must have at least a hundred seedlings scattered around.I'll pot some up this fall to put in a plant sale for the local botanical society next spring.
From the High Desert Steppe
of the Great Basin and foot hills
of the Sierra Nevada Range
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sierrarainshadow/
sierrarainshadow
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