Thursday, September 4, 2014

Love Those Bromeliads

What is it about we gardeners that when we see a plant we really love, the next thing you know we've got two hundred of them???? (or around three hundred fifty or so as is the case with my bromeliads)  Or is it just me? I really don't think so as I've seen a lot of beautiful and very large collections of all sorts of plants on people's blogs. Anyway, my most recent obsession is bromeliads. I absolutely adore them. They come in all different sizes, colors and patterns and are easy peasy to take care of.  Unfortunately or fortunately depending on how much room a gardener has, they grow, bloom and send out pups like agaves. So, I now have multiples of just about everything, they are all growing to adulthood and it's time to bring things indoors and also time to thin out my collection.  I'm  going to have to sell or give away about half my bromeliads this fall but that's OK as because that will make room for new cultivars that I just can't live without. (I'm hopeless)

My brother built me these steps so I can display the broms on the deck to the patio. The light there is particularly good for the vrieseas
VRIESEA 'Splenriet'
Vriesea 'Hilo Rainbow'






Vriesea 'Snows of 'Mauna Kea'
Vriesea 'Ku'ulei' x (Fost. Select x 'Hilo Rainbow')
Vriesea 'Sherlette 'Shiigi'

Neoregelia  hybrid (can't find the tag at the moment)   Neoregelia 'Hannibal Lecter'
A collection of spotted Neoregelia
Vriesea 'Hieroglyphica'




Love this 'beast' of an Aechmea blanchetiana (yes I know I've shown this one before but it deserves multiple views)
The diminutive Neoregelia 'Donger' at the base of the fuchsia

The bromeliad 'tree' I put together a couple years ago. I'm going to have to dismantle it this fall
Neoregelia correia-araujoi albomaginata
Love how this Neoregelia provides great contrast in form and texture in this grouping
A grouping of bromeliads around a few container arrangements.  I've even added a Neoregelia 'Purple Star' to the large urn.

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19 comments:

  1. Mark and GazSeptember 4, 2014 at 1:00 PM

    Wow I didn't realise you had that much! Very understandable though as they are stunning plants and I can definitely see the appeal of collecting them. Gorgeous collection Deanne :)

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  2. Jean CampbellSeptember 4, 2014 at 2:43 PM

    You can't show them too many times. Such a beautiful collection needs seeing over and over..

    I'm trying to get everything lined up for creating a bromeliad tree of sorts. I dragged up a petrified pine stump this morning and evicted a family of fire ants from a suitable container. .

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    1. Deanne FortnamSeptember 4, 2014 at 5:13 PM

      That's great Jean, Looking forward to seeing your bromeliad tree. I generally wrap the roots in a bit of sphagnum moss and tie them on with florist wire.

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  3. AlisonSeptember 4, 2014 at 2:44 PM

    I enjoyed this post a lot! You can show that Aechmea blanchetiana as often as you like, I'll never get tired of it. So many beautiful spots and stripes!

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    1. Deanne FortnamSeptember 4, 2014 at 5:14 PM

      Thanks Alison, I really do love the markings and colors of these great plants

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  4. Kris PetersonSeptember 4, 2014 at 3:21 PM

    They're beautiful individually but more so as you have them displayed. I didn't think I could pick a favorite among them until I saw that V. hieroglyphica - magnificent!

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    1. Deanne FortnamSeptember 4, 2014 at 5:15 PM

      Thanks Kris and it's a very large plant as well. It's about two feet wide now. One of my favorites too

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  5. khakiSeptember 4, 2014 at 4:42 PM

    So pretty!!!! LOVE the spotted one. They all look so good mixed in with everything else in your garden too- love how they are the structure with some of fuller softer plants. Great combos. I had one (no idea the name) that was so cute- it had a bright purple and hot pink flat bloom and I never got it to bloom again and I saw the lady I bought it from a few weeks back and she said it was a one time bloomer and would never bloom again. So it wasn't me! haha. But kinda sad too- are they all like that? Bloom once? Sadly mine never had any pups. Outside of the bloom it was not a very exciting one. The ones you have are beautiful and so colorful!

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    1. Deanne FortnamSeptember 4, 2014 at 5:17 PM

      Many thanks, yes, bromeliads bloom once then send out pups. I'm surprised yours didn't. Sometimes it takes the parent plant a while to send them out.

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  6. outlawgardenerSeptember 4, 2014 at 4:52 PM

    Your posts about your collection had me looking at bromeliads in a new light and now I've got a tiny collection myself. Some of them stayed inside this summer and didn't seem to mind. I like the way they look grouped together in a front room that we seldom use but walk by several times a day. Whenever I look at them and smile, I think of your huge collection! Sorry you'll have to pare down this winter but hopefully the things you decide to sell will go to loving homes where they'll be appreciated!

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    1. Deanne FortnamSeptember 4, 2014 at 5:18 PM

      Hi Peter, so great you now have a collection of these beauties as well. They really are lots of fun to have around.

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  7. danger gardenSeptember 4, 2014 at 9:40 PM

    Did you say 350!!!??? Wow, and I thought I was crazy (you know of course I say that with complete respect and admiration). I love your dedication to them and hate to hear you will be cutting back. If you do list them on eBay or somewhere that we could all buy from I hope you'll post links here for us to see.

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    1. Deanne FortnamSeptember 5, 2014 at 4:11 AM

      LOL Loree!!!! Yes, I did say 350 and I seriously don't quite know how that happened, exactly. I will make a photo gallery of what I'm selling off and send you a link to the gallery. I am selling one of my Neoregelia 'Big Mac's that I know you'd love. It's very 'toothy'

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  8. Jardin de BésignolesSeptember 5, 2014 at 2:50 AM

    This is a very nice collection;
    I love all of them, but Aechmea blanchetiana is really THE star of the collection.

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    1. Deanne FortnamSeptember 5, 2014 at 4:12 AM

      Many thanks! I agree that blanchetiana really is a star

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  9. LayaneeSeptember 5, 2014 at 4:58 AM

    I really want to see your garden...in person! It is gorgeous!

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    1. Deanne FortnamSeptember 5, 2014 at 5:28 AM

      Thanks Layanne! You should come visit. Would love to show you the garden sometime.

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  10. UnknownApril 10, 2018 at 10:40 PM

    I must find the equivalent for Australian Gardens. Lovely

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