HPSO Hortlandia Plant Sale—Better late than never...

Back at the start of the month I was a bit nervous about going to the rather large Hardy Plant Sale, but after a walk around the garden early that morning, I put aside my ongoing concerns, and marveled at this Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica in bloom. I'm not sure why I suddenly felt better about things, but after waiting years for this vine to bloom, I really felt happy. It was beautiful.

I'd purchased it back in 2008 when Chalk Hill Clematis shut its online plant store. It has slowly been growing year after year with little fanfare—that was until now. It's technically called a winter-blooming Clematis, and it's evergreen as well, so that makes it even better. I think it's by far one of my favorite vines in the garden.

Purchased as Clematis cirrhosa var. balearica. Not sure, but this could be 'Freckles'.

Walking past the garden art vendors at the show I was drawn to the table of special new additions to the plant world from local growers. I'm not sure if they've placed this table out front before, but it was interesting. I've always wanted to hybridize something and the process does interest me. These were really pretty too.

Sign under these read: 5 New Split Corona Daffodils Hybridized By: Steve Vinisky of Cherry Creek Daffodils.

There was also this most amazing blue Primula. 

Primula acaulis x hybrid 'Blueberry Swirl submitted by Steve Vinisky, Red's Rhodies/Cherry Creek Daffodils.

There is no bog garden here at home, but this Sarracenia made me want to make one. It was gigantic.

Sarracenia purpurea purpurea. (Courting Frogs Nursery)

Some part of me now wishes I had this Magnolia laevifolia out back instead of the the others I planted. I guess they are still small enough to move though, so maybe I shouldn't start complaining too much.

Magnolia laevifolia-large form. (Cistus Design Nursery)

This Ribes really caught my eye too but with spikes on it I am not yet confident that I wouldn't hurt myself.

Ribes roezlii var. cruentum 'Dixie Glade' . (Cistus Design Nursery)

Sorry that I don't have more pictures from the show. I have to admit that I was carrying plants and was with a friend so I was too busy talking and shopping. The show was great though, and I am really glad I went.

There are those of you out there who regularly ask what I bought, so here goes...

Juno Iris, Iris bucharica. (Wild Ginger Farm)

Syrian Bear's Breeches, Acanthus syriacus. (Joy Creek Nursery)

Cape Restio, Rhodocoma capensis. (Xera Plants)

Mukdenia, Mukdenia rossii 'Crimson Fans'. (Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery)

Grass Widow, Olsynium douglasii. (Humble Roots Farm and Nursery)

Arching Japanese Holly Fern, Cyrtomium fortunie var. Cliviola. (Not sure what the nursery was since the name wasn't on the tag.)

Golden Saxifrage, Chrysosplenium davidianum. (Far Reaches Farm)

Mouse Plant, Arisarum proboscideum. (Edelweiss Perennials)

Dwarf Himalayan Willow, Salix lindleyana. (Siskiyou Rare Plant Nursery)

Mediterranean Sea Holly, Eryngium bourgatii. (Joy Creek Nursery)

Alcatraz: The Garden Tour, Part Two

Once you reach the top, you're at the cellhouse. If you'd continued following the garden tour, this is near where it ends, just beneath the Recreational Yard, where the fenced in prisoners' garden once was and where it has been restored. (Note the Lobularia maritima in the foreground.) 

In case you were wondering, this is the inside of the prison. To be honest, inside it is very small but it's so interesting. (We had an amazing time watching the European tourists and we both loved hearing Italians speaking Italian.)

Back on the trail, these were the plants I was able to see as the tour went from the top of the Rock down along the westside towards the north with a view of the Golden Gate Bridge that's amazing.

Perennial Statice, Limonium perezii.

Seed heads of Bear's Breeches, Acanthus mollis.

The refurbished prisoners' area greenhouse.

The prisoners' greenhouse back in 1993 or 1994 during my first visit to Alcatraz.

Aeonium arboreum and Acanthus mollis.

Crassula, Aeonium, and Acanthus. I am not sure what the silvery one is but I am sure someone else will know. 

This is another view of the same area.

And another view. I think there are some Aloe in there too.

This is about as close as you can get to the water on this side. There is a fence though so you cannot walk on the pavement. This area is protected. Birds nest there.

Kinda not sure about this one but it is a Mediterranean plant all right.

Fig Tree, Ficus in the prisoners' garden.

Notice the fence. You can also see the skyline of downtown San Francisco.

From that area you can walk up the steep stairs to the Recreational Yard.

We started to make our way back down to the ferry at this point and believe it or not there were still plants to see that I'd missed on our way up. 

Crocosmia.

Monstera deliciosa in a photo display in the Warden's Office of what it looked like during the Kennedy administration. 

If you were coming to visit someone on Alcatraz, you would have had to walk under this display. The cornucopias with their bountifulness is a bit odd. 

The planter box along the road down to the boat was full of Geraniums. 

Behind this row and down below are some of the areas we'd been granted access too earlier in the day. 

Alcatraz is full of Fuchsia after Fuchsia.

A lone Hydrangea with a few Western sword ferns, Polystichum munitum. 

Leathery Polypody Fern, Polypodium scouleri. This is a great native plant.

 Trailing Iceplant, Delosperma cooperi.

Where the Rock meets man.

This was a very tall red Geranium.

 Trailing Iceplant, Delosperma cooperi.

Nasturium have taken over and are growing wild on the island.

Unknown Geranium.

Unknown Geranium.

Back at the dock there is yet another Geranium.

An unknown Fuchsia tree.

Fuchia trying to get off the Rock.

A carpet of Aeonium. 

This is a view of the Aeonium carpet as seen from the ferry. 

If this did not whet your appetite for a trip to Alcatraz, I don't know what will! I can't wait to go back myself and I am so impressed with of all of the amazing work they've accomplished with the gardens.