All the same plant? Bamboo diversity.

I'm struck by the diversity of the plant world.  All shapes, sizes, colors - its what really gets gardeners or 'plant geeks' like me all 'a-flutter'.  This diversity is what got me into collecting bamboo plants. According to the American Bamboo Society, there are about 2,000 identified bamboo varieties.  My personal bamboo collection numbers around 200.  So, there are plenty of bamboo varieties that someone like me seeks out and appreciates.

So, today, I was struck by the diversity within even one bamboo variety that is my favorite, by far - Himalayacalamus hookerianus 'Teague's Blue.'  A typical 'Blue Bamboo' is beautiful in its own right - sporting bright blue waxy culms.  'Teague's Blue' goes well beyond that...

Here is 'Teague's Blue' in its bluest form.  This was taken several months ago.

Here, an older culm shows shades of yellow, green and pink.  I took this photo today.

Here is a culm that I cut  a couple of years ago that has bright red and purple. Hard to believe that this color diversity comes from from one plant - 'Teague's Blue' Bamboo. The colors are influenced by sunlight exposure, age and temperature.  It's one of those bamboo varieties that always seems to provide a welcome surprise for a 'Bamboo Geek' like me.

Cheers!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
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No, that is not a bird perched on that small Japanese Maple...

Merf, our crazy cat who loves to terrorize the garden, found a new perch - a small, Japanese Maple in our front yard.  That's one tough Japanese Maple to carry our not-so-petite cat.

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook
Twitter: @madmanbamboo

'Buddha's Belly Bamboo', my big green 'Cousin It'.

Really like how dense and green my Bambusa ventricosa 'Buddha's Belly Bamboo' is. Looks like a big green 'Cousin It'. Took this photo today...

Fall is a great time for bamboo in the Sacramento area, weather is moderate, yet you still have the qualities of warmer weather hanging on.   Enjoy it while we can...

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

It's really ugly, but practical...

Today, I finally finished up an 'improvement' to producing taller and greener bamboo plants, even over the Winter.  I cringe at the ravishes of Winter upon plants, even upon bamboo, which seems pretty resilient given cold temperatures and the frequent high winds.

Taking matters into my own hands, I ordered some plastic greenhouse film and undertook a transformation of a back patio that we originally intended to use to house our patio table, but it now houses bamboo.

After some preparation, here is what I started with.

After a lot of sweat and some 'Buster Keaton' moves on a ladder, here is my new $150 greenhouse.  I am pretty excited about some growth over the winter and the protection from the elements. My wife's reaction, a grimace, and a statement that was more or less - 'Man, that is ugly.'  It is ugly, I won't deny, but its functional.

Cheers!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook
Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Welcome rain and a beautiful double-rainbow

After some really harsh winds earlier this week, it was nice to see some rain come in.  I took this photo of a very vibrant double-rainbow against my Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' in the foreground.  Was one of the most beautiful rainbows I have seen in quite awhile.  Photo was taken in Rocklin, CA.  Enjoy!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook
Twitter: @madmanbamboo