Who can pass up turquoise flowers?

I planted a Puya berteroniana  in 2014.  It's a bromeliad that produces dramatic turquoise flowers but, thus far, I haven't seen a single sign of one.  When the local botanic garden announced they had not one but two species of Puya in bloom, I decided to pay an impromptu visit to check them out.

This Puyu alpestris was already looking a little scruffy by the time I paid my visit earlier this week but those turquoise flowers were impressive nevertheless

Even with directions as to its location, I had to ask one of the gardeners for help in locating this Puya venusta.  It had already bloomed out and blended into its surroundings.  You can find a photo of what it looks like in flower here.

Here's a photo of the sad-looking Puya berteroniana in my street-side succulent bed.  Although it's been in the ground nearly 9 years, it was virtually smothered by an Agave desmettiana for several years.  It might bloom someday.  Its flowers are very similar to Puya alpestris, as shown here.

The two Puya species were a considerable distance apart and I walked the full length of the 87-acre garden to find the second one.  In the process I snapped photos of numerous plants, including several trees.

The flaxleaf paperback trees (Melaleuca linariifolia) trees were blooming near the first Puya

The shaving brush tree (Pseudobombax ellipticum 'Alba') was blooming in the Desert Garden

My guess is that this tree in the Mediterranean Garden is a blue elderberry (Sambucus cerulea)

Much of the Banyan Grove is fenced off due to construction but those tree roots are always worth a photo

The construction work in the garden is ongoing.  The plan, at least partially, seems to encompass the Banyan tree grove, or as the plan refers to it, the "fig forest."

So far most of the work on the new Children & Family Garden set to open sometime in 2024 seems to involve moving dirt and creating massive berms.  I saw some new signs that hint more clearly at what the new 3.5 acre garden will look like.

Other plants of note during my visit include the following:

I wasn't sure what this was but my cell phone identified it as a Cordyline stricta

The sign on this one identified it as a Mexican grass tree (Dasylirion longissimum).  I have one in my own garden and can only hope I can keep it looking tidier than this one.

I think this is a Dyckia, another member of the bromeliad family

The Fuchsias were hitting their stride

An oriental poppy of some kind with petals the color of watermelon

A mass of Salvia leucantha (Mexican bush sage)

We got some sun at intervals yesterday afternoon and we may get more this weekend too.  Have a colorful weekend!

A friend dropped off a bouquet of dark pink peonies as a belated birthday gift as we were unable to go out to lunch to celebrate.  I added sweet peas from my garden.

All material © 2012-2023 by Kris Peterson for Late to the Garden Party