Bamboo Geek

Five key questions to ask yourself when selecting that right bamboo plant for your landscape

2012-01-22T17:12:00.000-08:00

Using bamboo in your landscape serves many functions and takes some consideration to find the right plants. While I'm not a landscape architect or designer, I can impart some "wisdom" on some of the key questions you should ask yourself as you decide on the right bamboo plants to select for your landscape. Here are the top five key questions to ask yourself:

1. What are the sun conditions in my landscape? Bamboo is a plant species that contains many different varieties. Many can take full sun during the summertime while others need shade most of the day. Knowing the light conditions in your landscape ahead of time will help you decide which type of bamboo to use for specific parts of the landscape. There no worse sight than to see a bamboo plant that needs afternoon shade, fry in the hot Summer afternoon sun.

2. What's the lowest annual temperature in my area? While many gardeners rely on the Sunset Zone classification, bamboo growers track temperature tolerance. Knowing your lowest average winter temperature helps you select a bamboo plant that won't suffer significant damage or die during that hard winter freeze. Some bamboo varieties can take temperatures down to 21 degrees F, while others can survive in negative 10 degrees F.

Himalayacalamus hookerianus 'Teague's Blue' is great as an ornamental feature bamboo, but not as a privacy hedge

3. What is the landscape "need" or function I need from bamboo? Some bamboo plants lend to showy culms and are a great ornamental feature in the landscape, but are so open and wispy that they don't offer privacy. Others, may be less showy, but serve well as dense, beautiful privacy screens. Again, it's all about assessing the location of the bamboo and the function you intend the bamboo plant to serve in the landscape.

4. How tall do I want the bamboo to be? Height is a key consideration for bamboo. Look up. Are their overhead utility wires? Am I trying to just covering the top of a fence or am I trying to block the view of my neighbor's two story house? These are all key considerations when siting a specific bamboo plant.

Bamboo rhizome barrier, used as a way to encircle running bamboo in a trench, is an effective way to control running bamboo.

5. Running or clumping? This is the "mother of all questions" to ask yourself and ponder. While running bamboo is faster growing, an uncontrolled running bamboo can create a nightmare for you and your neighbors. Running bamboo can be successfully incorporated into a landscape by installing bamboo rhizome barrier (pictured above) or containing it in a pot or horse trough. A more attractive option for many urban and suburban homeowners is to use clumping bamboo. Tightly clumped in most cases, it offers predictability and practicality. The trade-off with running bamboo is that it is generally slower growing than running bamboo, but faster than the average bush or shrub used for privacy hedging.

Know the answers to these top five key questions will help you make the right bamboo plants selection for your landscape. It's also always a good idea to work with landscape designers and nurseries that know bamboo and have used it before in landscape designs. The right selection of bamboo for a specific landscape project will lead to happy bamboo plants and happy homeowners for years to come.

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
My bamboo blog - Bamboo Geek
Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook & Twitter

Those forgotten spaces in the yard that scream for privacy...

2012-01-16T20:05:00.000-08:00

Today, I helped set up a little bit of peace and privacy from the neighbor's window that is peering into a friend's window. It's a frequent reality of suburban living, homes packed really close to each other with small side yards. Usually the side yards are forgotten areas left to the storage of firewood, where the dog goes and does it's business or is just a weed patch.

In this situation, a neighbors living room or dining room window looks directly into the neighboring master bedroom window. Not an ideal situation. Now, I'm not looking for the next spread in Fine Gardening Magazine for this, but, here is where running bamboo meets practicality in it most pure form. Here, we took black storage containers usually used for Christmas decorations or your fine pair of china only brought out for that special dinner. Drill holes in the bottom of the storage container and you have a cheap way to contain running bamboo, but yet large enough to let it reach a good enough height to cover the fence line and provide that much sought after privacy. Not glamorous or hip, but purely practical. When it comes to a side yard that nobody ever goes to, who cares. Its just nice to know, you can open a window and get some privacy from some very close suburban quarters.

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
My bamboo blog - Bamboo Geek
Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook & Twitter

The Bamboo Geek answers reader's questions...

2011-12-26T21:49:00.000-08:00

The Bamboo Geek (that's me)

I get lots of questions on bamboo, from what to do with the plant during a blizzard - to how to fertilize it; and every question in between. So, here are some questions I have received lately and answers to those questions:

Q: Can [bamboo be] over-winterized containerized bamboos in-door[s]? I left them outside last winter and unfortunately a couple of them died..exposed to the snow and wind.

Many running bamboo can tolerate extremely low temperatures. An extreme example is Phylostachys bissettii, a running bamboo that can take temperatures down to minus 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Keep in mind that this temperature tolerance is an 'in-ground' temperature. In a container, it is much less tolerant to cold temperature extremes as the soil and root mass can literally freeze up like an ice cube (no exaggeration). Now, to over winter it, the best solutions are to place it in a greenhouse (if your lucky enough to have one) or to place it under a covered patio or under the eaves near the house which will give the plant some protection. In a garage is OK for a temporary situation. You can't leave it there for more than a few days as the lack of light will cause issues for the plant if left unchecked.

Q: Not sure what time of year we feed our bamboo; but a good subject for a future newsletter.

… basic feed?

I'm a gardening simpleton, nothing spectacular or magical - I use a grass fertilizer, usually a 16-16-16 formula starting in April, applying a small handful, every other month through October. That will usually do it. I do experiment with some organics as well like work castings, coffee grounds and fish emulsion (stinky, but effective). I also plan on experimenting with top mulching with seasoned manure (watch the salt content) at some point, I hear it does wonders for bamboo.

…weed and feed?? Is bamboo a weed!? EEEK! The 'feed' part is good, but the 'weed' part will kill broadleaf plants, which includes bamboo. Only use straight fertilizers, no weed and feed.

…Cat Box contents???

OK, I have a friend who has used the urine soaked (not cat feces) litter and has seen great growth for other plants. In theory, urine has a high nitrogen content. I haven't personally tried it, but it may be worth experimenting with. I personally would only experiment in the garden in spots far away from your house as cat urine is very stinky.

Have more bamboo questions? Send them to me at sean@madmanbamboo.com. Always happy to answer them.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

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'Mahvelous' purple bamboo

2011-12-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

My one gallon Yushania boliana, a clumping bamboo, looks 'mahvelous' with its nice purple-red culms. Growing these in the hot house has done wonders. Even with the fairly weak sun exposure during the winter and the cold nights, the heat that is captured inside seems to have accelerated root development and kept the top foliage looking fresh and green. Can't wait to see what these look like in April 2012 when they emerge from the hot house.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

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How fast will my bamboo grow? Photos over time of a superior clumping bamboo planted for privacy.

2011-12-11T16:16:00.000-08:00

John and Fred, owners of a home in the Foothill Farms area of Sacramento purchased some Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' bamboo plants from us in the Fall 2010. 'Alphonse Karr' is a clumping bamboo that grows 15 to 20 feet, can take full sun and is a great choice to create a natural privacy screen. They planted them on October 17, 2010 (pictured below). The objective was to screen a neighbor's house where there living room was on the second floor.

They have been very gracious to share photos of how the plants are progressing. One of the most common questions I get is - " How fast will my bamboo grow?" Of course it all depends on soil, light and environmental conditions; and of course the variety of bamboo. But, the photos, aptly answer the question visually and certainly confirm my contention that 'Alphonse Karr' is a superior clumping bamboo to create a nice, dense and beautiful, non-invasive, privacy hedge. Check out the progress over time...

October 17, 2010

May 26, 2011

June 28, 2011

Taken around late November 2011

Again, congratulations to John and Fred for taking good care of their plants. It certainly shows!

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

Glad the wind is dying down...

2011-12-02T10:43:00.000-08:00

Glad to see the wind dying down. California and part of other western states just got walloped with cold, dry, high winds. Today, I'm taking stock of the damage, mostly just stressed plants. What a pain!

If you see the leaves curled on your bamboo, it usually denotes dry soil and/or low humidity.

Here is what to do if you see this happening - Tip of the Day.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

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All the same plant? Bamboo diversity.

2011-11-25T17:12:00.000-08:00

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
Facebook | Twitter

No, that is not a bird perched on that small Japanese Maple...

2011-11-16T21:27:00.000-08:00

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'.

2011-11-11T17:00:00.000-08:00

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...

2011-11-06T20:46:00.000-08:00

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

2011-11-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

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

Peace in a garden...

2011-10-22T21:31:00.000-07:00

Gardening is one of those affinities that you are born with in my opinion. It comes with an appreciation for the outdoors, artistic creation and the honing of that ability to nurture living things - plants. For me gardening and gardens in general, especially those that are well loved and tended, bring peace. It's a place where you can forget about the blur of daily life and just relax.

Above is a photo of a pathway at the Japanese Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco - simple beauty - peaceful and quiet.

Enjoy,

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

Bamboo Geek on 'Yard Crashers'

2011-10-21T21:33:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I participated in a 'Yard Crashers' episode. Lots of hard work, sweat and good company. Can't share details or photos until the episode airs in April 2012, but it was a great experience. Good people and very fun. Stay tuned for photos, a video of the episode and much more....

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

Hanging out in the garden - Merf's adventures and other tales...

2011-10-10T17:16:00.000-07:00

Merf, is an interesting cat, both literally and figuratively. Merf spends alot of time with me in my backyard bamboo nursery. A very social being, Merf loves to be around people, especially me. My wife and I jokingly refer to me as Merf's 'Mommy'.

The other day, I was working hard trying to pot clumping bamboo plants, up-sizing them now for growth over the fall, winter and spring - for sale next year (2012). I use a potting table that contains my nursery containers and my potting soil. So as I continued to pot plants, I had to step away from the potting table for a moment to get more nursery containers and when I got back, Merf decided to lay right where I was potting plants. He was kind enough to give me just enough space to continue potting, but otherwise was disinterested in moving a muscle. This is his potting table after all...

So, out of spite to my potting table take-over, I decided to keep potting, flinging dirt as I went, some on Merf. Was he phased by this? Of course not, when Merf usually sleeps in a dirt bed, it doesn't matter much...

This is one of his favorite places to sleep, in a bag of potting soil.

Another funny Merf moment. Like most cats, Merf loves to lay in the sun. Seemingly irritated by the fact that our backyard is fully shaded by 3 pm, Merf sought the only sunlight left which was shining on some pots of bamboo. Merf jumps up in the pots and tries to figure out a way to wiggle is rotund physique in the pots to take a nap. Irritated by finding no way to find a comfortable sleeping position, Merf jumps down and walks away tail, flicking.

So, if you happen to drop to come by for a visit at our bamboo garden, your likely to be greeted by Merf. Just be sure not to get too close to that potting table, it's his. And please, don't block his sunlight...

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA
www.madmanbamboo.com
Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook
Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Talking bamboo with the 'Four Seasons Garden Club of Rocklin & Roseville'

2011-09-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Had the pleasure today of 'talking bamboo' with the 'Four Seasons Garden Club of Rocklin & Roseville'. Gave them the basic on running versus clumping and showed them some of the most unique bamboo in my collection like 'Teague's Blue Bamboo', 'Chinese Walking Stick Bamboo' and others.

We also walked through our bamboo garden through our small 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' grove and looked at other full grown clumping specimens in the ground like 'Buddha's Belly Bamboo' among several others. Pictured is me with the members of the Four Seasons Garden Club that attended today's bamboo talk and tour. Overall, had a great time.

Cheers!

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

As Summer 2011 fades into memory: Road Trip, Part III: Carmel-by-the-Sea, California

2011-09-22T21:25:00.000-07:00

I thought it was quite suiting to end the final days of Summer 2011 with my last blog post of the season on my Summer 2011 family vacation. So, to re-cap we started in San Francisco and stayed for two days, dropped by Santa Cruz for a couple of hours on the way to the final three days in Carmel.

Carmel is situated on the central California coast just south of Monterey. The Carmel of today is well known for its unique downtown filled with upscale restaurants and a thriving art scene. Lots of conspicuous wealth, but I am struck by its unique architecture that heralds back to Carmel's bohemian beginnings. With the 1905 founding of the Carmel Arts and Crafts Club and the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, Carmel saw in influx of writers, poets, actors and artists looking for new roots. Jack London wrote about the 'artists colony' in Carmel in his book, Valley of the Moon. Carmel was frequented by the likes of Upton Sinclair and Sinclair Lewis among other famous painters, poets and actors. This bohemian culture stands the test of time today in Carmel and is a unique destination in California.

Carmel also has what I feel is one of the top five beaches in California - number one in my book. Bleach white sands that are immaculately clean and soft to the touch.

So, after a hectic, but fun stay in San Francisco, the calm, leisurely pace of Carmel was very welcome. Here are some of the sights we experience during the three days we were there:

A really nice use of bamboo coupled with flowers. No idea what variety this is.

A Magnum P.I. Convention in Carmel? Maybe not. Or maybe it was a gathering of a club of Ferrari enthusiasts. Which it was. Couldn't resist snapping a photo of five Ferrari's parked in a row, not a sight you see everyday...

Beautiful bamboo that contrasts nicely against the Spanish-walls.

How could you not walk down this alley way...

...when it looks like this. Be still my little Bamboo Geek heart!

Unique Carmel architecture.

A nice place to rest after all that walking. In the middle of the planting is Plieoblastus viridistriatus 'Dwarf Greenstripe', a short, vibrant running bamboo.

A Monterey Pine against the afternoon sun.

Our vacation home...

...in my dreams! This is where we stayed and we loved it!

Farewell Summer 2011! Welcome Fall....

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

The little bamboo shoots that could...

2011-09-21T20:58:00.000-07:00

It happens every year around this time. Bamboo Geek anxiety. Generally speaking, clumping bamboo shoots in late summer and keeps shooting until temperatures really cool down around mid-November (in California). Some shoots emerge in July and shoot vigorously, reaching full height and make it through the Winter freezes in Sacramento. Still bare all winter, they finally produce leaves when temperatures rise again in May.

Others, the slow pokey culms, will freeze off their exposed tops and flop over; or get sheared off by high Winter winds... what a bummer that is to see in the middle of Winter.

Hopes for that giant, tallest-ever culm - dashed, for at least one more year.

So, today, I walked nervously in the garden looking at one of my Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' that has new culms larger than my arm shooting, but still quite tender and short. Will it make it over the Winter? Will I be amazed by its resilience or disappointed by its defeat by cold, Old Man Winter?

My Bambusa textilis 'Weaver's Bamboo' showing tall, pretty well developed culms. These are likely to make it over the Winter.

A shoot from my Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' showing some promise. This was one of the culms that began shooting in July. Others, larger than this one, I'm not so sure. Still tender and susceptible to damage by the Winter.

Keeping my fingers crossed... just have to think positive and hope for a mild, bamboo-friendly Winter.

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

A gem in a 'Mad Man's' bamboo collection... 'Striped Young.'

2011-09-20T20:54:00.000-07:00

The thing that got me started was one bamboo plant I bought at a nursery about 12 years ago.... Bambusa multiplex 'Golden Goddess." Once it started shooting, I was hooked, hooked in a big way.

So, over the years, I have amassed a collection of about 120 different types of running and clumping bamboo, stashed here and there, in my larger (not huge) Rocklin suburban lot. Most of the clumpers are planted in the ground and the runners, without exception are safely growing in containers.

It's funny, when you have so many, it's easy to get caught up in the spectacular colors or that giant culm rocketing up 20 feet in the midst of the Summer heat.

Here is a discovery I made of a clumping bamboo that is tucked to the side of my lawn. Bambusa multiplex 'Striped Young'. Given to me by a friend (someone I look up to in the "bamboo world", a mentor and a friend) about four years ago, this rare clumping bamboo is showing off its colors in a big way this summer. Must love the Sacramento climate....

Subtle beauty with its contrasting white and green striped culms.

Nothing else quite like this bamboo. A gem in my bamboo collection.

Cheers!

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

Notes from a radio interview: Top seven clumping bamboo varieties to create a perfect privacy screen...

2011-09-18T16:46:00.000-07:00

Had a great time today talking with Farmer Fred Hoffman on his 'Get Growing' gardening radio show on 650 AM KSTE. The podcasted show can be heard here - Listen (9/18/11 broadcasts).

So, in preparation for the radio interview I transferred my top seven varieties of clumping bamboo that are perfect for creating a privacy hedge from my brain on to paper. There is alot rolling up there in my 'noggin', so getting it on paper helped get my thoughts organized, but then I realized - 'I should share this with my blog readers!' Keep in mind, this is for the Sacramento area/Bay area climates.

So, without further adieu, here are the notes:

1. Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' - Expect growth in the 30 to 35 foot range, perfect if you want that tropical feel and/or by a poolside. Takes full sun, clumping (non-invasive) and has big beautiful timber-like poles.

2. and 3. Bambusa ventricosa 'Buddha's Belly Green' and 'Buddha's Belly Kimmei' (pictured). Belly like growth invoked by less water and/or constrained growing (like in a container). Dense hedge. Height can vary on conditions (water) from 15 feet up to 35 feet.

4. Bambusa textilis 'Weavers' Bamboo' - 30 feet tall, very vertical and upright. Dark green and dense above a fenceline.

5. Bambusa tuldoides 'Punting Pole Bamboo' - 35 feet, very similar in size and look to 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' except leaves are smaller, tight 'V' not as vertical as 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo.'

6. and 7. Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' (pictured) and 'Hedge Bamboo' - 15 to 20 feet tall, dense tight 'V' shaped. 'Alphonse Karr' is yellow with green stripes, with some red with sun exposure. 'Hedge Bamboo' is all green but grows identical in form to 'Alphonse Karr.'

The 'Spectacular Seven' are perfect for our Sacramento/Bay Area climates, are clumping, and can take full sun. No more nosy neighbors once these form a privacy hedge in about 2 to 3 years.

Cheers!

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

Beautiful bamboo makes my heart go 'pitter-patter!'

2011-09-15T21:11:00.000-07:00

Loving my combined hedge of Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' (with larger leaves) and Bambusa tuldoides 'Punting Pole' (smaller leaves). Both of these are clumping varieties, max out at 35 feet tall and love the heat of Sacramento. With the cool down in temperatures this week, they are looking quite nice. Not sure if it is the muted light from the overhead clouds, but man, this makes my little bamboo heart go 'pitter-patter!"

Cheers!

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

Pesky two story houses looking into your yard? Be gone with bamboo...

2011-09-11T19:59:00.000-07:00

Have a two story house looking down into your backyard? Want a lush, green tall screen to give you privacy? Bambusa oldhamii "Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' is the solution. Clumping (non-invasive) to about 30 feet tall in the Sacramento region, its a beautiful bamboo that serves a function.

Planted strategically in front of a neighbor's two story window (or two or three), it is the perfect way to create privacy. This variety does very well in the Sacramento area due to our heat, it have nice big tropical-looking leaves that soak up the heat.

Below is a picture of a new culm, about the size of my arm rising from the ground, I took today meandering through my garden.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Soaking up the sun... Sacramento style.

2011-09-03T20:48:00.000-07:00

Today was one of those dreaded Sacramento days weather-wise. It is that time of year where we see extreme weather, Sacramento-style. Hot... very hot. topped 100 degrees in Rocklin. Now, I must say this has been mild for a Sacramento Summer and I feel a bit guilty, as it's nothing like a humid Summer in the Midwest or back East.

So, I did have a bit of a bight spot in the midst of the toasty temperatures. My Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' is soaking up the sun. Literally. This clumping non-invasive variety seems to suited for our climate. The leaves seem to enlarge and green with the hot temperatures. This bamboo seems to be built for the Sacramento area. Tropical looking, it makes a perfect bamboo to screen the typical Sacramento area yard from that two-story house, perfect for a pool side with its thick tropical looking culms.

Here are some photos I took today, braving the heat, these make me truly appreciate this bamboo:

New culms are coming up, responding to the warm temperatures.

Looking straight up, love the big, dark green leaves. The intense Sacramento sun seems to bring the best out in this bamboo plant.

Stay cool!

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

Gotta love red bamboo...

2011-08-28T19:38:00.000-07:00

Today, I caught my self dreaming of cooler temperatures as I sat in the heat at my booth at the Granite Bay Farmers' Market. One nice surprise in the middle of drab, gray winter is the spectacular red I get on my Semianundaria yashadake kimmei. This bamboo is a running variety that does very well in containers, takes full sun, and grows to about 10 feet max in a container (can grow 25 feet in the ground - not recommended, unless you have the room).

In summer, the plant looks like this (quite pretty):

When the colder temperatures hit around January and you get some sun exposure, the culms turn this color:

Can't say I'm looking forward to winter, but this deep vibrant red color certainly brings a bright spot to the cold, gray January days.

Cheers!

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

Bamboo tip: How to tell when your bamboo plant needs to be watered...

2011-08-26T20:53:00.000-07:00

Today, we saw temperatures in the low 100's. Not complaining as we have had unseasonably low temperatures in the Sacramento area, on average from the low 90's to mid 90's. This is dry heat. Truly an ideal California Summer.

With the higher temperatures, bamboo has a somewhat unique way to show that it is in need of water and humidity.

They curl their leaves as a way to reduce the total leaf surface that water can be lost, responding to low humidity, low soil moisture and high temperatures. Typically, once watered, the leaves unfurl and are back to normal. If the leaves are still folded by the evening, it means they need a deep soak as they are water-starved.

Here's to what's left of the summer!

Cheers!

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

My all-time favorite bamboo... Teague's Blue Bamboo

2011-08-14T21:33:00.000-07:00

You know its always a pleasure roaming about my garden as I always seem to find a pleasant surprise. In the deep shade of my backyard, protected from the intense Sacramento area sun, I have a treasure of a bamboo plant, Himalayacalamus hookerianus 'Teague's Blue Bamboo'. Named after the late Bill Teague, a horticulturist and plant propagator from the San Diego area, this plant is one of the most beautiful in my book, among all plants.

A 20 foot tall clumping bamboo, it is a good ornamental variety that does best with mostly shade, especially in our normally scorching Sacramento summers.

This is what I stumbled upon today and made my little Bamboo Geek heart go pitter-patter:

Gotta love it, quite beautiful!

Cheers!

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

Bamboo Hot Spot: 15th and L Street in Sacramento, CA

2011-08-13T22:26:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I took my kids to see 'Annie Get Your Gun' at the Music Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. The musical play was really good and we really look forward to getting a good play in every once in a while as well as a good dinner beforehand. It's a treat for the whole family.

For dinner, we tried a new place, Cafeteria 15L. With fine comfort fare like chicken and waffles (which I tried for the first time, was initially skeptical, and now love it), as well as braised short ribs with garlic mashed potatoes, how could you go wrong. The food at Cafeteria 15L was good, it was kid friendly, but refined, and it was just a nice place for great food, fairly priced. And, no they didn't pay me to write this, its my honest assessment of a good meal.

So, good food, great service and well, one more thing... they had an awesome shared outside courtyard with another restaurant, Ma Jong's.

Here is what I saw in the courtyard, a Bamboo Geek's dream:

A very large pot of Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo'. Actually there were several pots and all looked superb.

Even in the most mundane areas were areas where bamboo were included. In a slender planting area (foreground) or near a tree (background).

I find, in my travels from the Rocklin suburbs to both Downtown Sacramento and Midtown Sacramento, that both areas are pretty 'bamboo-friendly'. Many of the businesses there seem to know how to use bamboo in a way that enhances a space, sets a certain mood and shows off the inherent beauty of bamboo. Cheers to Cafeteria 15L for a great meal and providing a really nice ambiance which includes my favorite plant, bamboo.

Cheers!

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

P.S. While at Cafeteria 15L, check out the restroom, it's quite different!

Road Trip, Part II: Keeping Santa Cruz weird...

2011-08-10T22:10:00.000-07:00

So, on the way to Carmel-by-the-Sea we decided to drop by Santa Cruz, specifically Downtown (via Pacific Avenue). Lots of shops and well, it's Santa Cruz, what can I say. I was struck by a t-shirt in the local independent book store that declared... "Keep Santa Cruz Weird." It sums it up well and I just went with it. So here are some of the sights I found along the way:

At the intersection of Front Street and Pacific Avenue in Santa Cruz is one of the most beautiful Otatea acuminata ssp. Aztecorum 'Mexican Weeping Bamboo' I have ever seen. Obviously, it is the ideal weather to grow this variety.

A street performer on Pacific Avenue.

A lonely, but beautiful bamboo planted to soften the side of a building along Pacific Avenue.

A campaign bus for 'Lemo and Chongo for President 2012'.

Santa Cruz is a unique and eclectic place that actually makes for a nice stop. We enjoyed stopping by for a couple of hours having some lunch and check out the local shops. Hopping in the car, next stop is Carmel....

More on Carmel in a future post in a few days...

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Road trip, Part I: Japanese Tea Garden and other sights in San Francisco

2011-08-06T17:46:00.000-07:00

We just got back from a five-day family vacation to San Francisco, a brief stop in Santa Cruz and a few days in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Along the way, there were lots of beautiful sights to see, particularly the plant life. In today's post (number one of three), I wanted to show some of what we saw in San Francisco, CA.

This is the Palace of Fine Arts that we walked through on the way to the Exploratorium. The Palace of fine Arts was a small remnant of the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition, a sprawling complex of buildings designed by architect Bernard R. Maybeck. The architecture of the Exposition was primarily inspired by Roman influences with some Greek aspects. The Exposition took several years to pull together and was a celebration of the completion of the Panama Canal and the resurrection of San Francisco as a city following the 1906 earthquake.

Having fun inside a 'visual' exhibit at the Exploratorium.

Walking back to our car from the Exploratorium. Again, inside the Place of Fine Arts. Beautiful.

Japantown, also known as Nihonmachi, was part of what was called the Western Addition, settled after 1855 and was the western break point of the fire caused by the 1906 Great Earthquake. Japanese immigrants arrived in San Francisco in the 1860's and originally settled mostly in areas south of Market Street and in Chinatown. Following the 1906 earthquake many Japanese immigrants and their children settled in what is now known as Japantown. Even after the internment of many Japanese-Americans following World War II and a massive redevelopment of the area starting in 1960, the neighborhood is a vibrant hub of Japanese culture in the heart of San Francisco. Pictured above is the five-story pagoda at Peace Plaza at the Japan Center Mall.

A beautifully manicured bonsai-style pine in Japantown's Peace Plaza.

The sun wasn't cooperating in this photo, but this was beautiful use of Bambusa tuldoides 'Punting Pole Bamboo' outside the Sundance Cinema at the Japantown Center Mall.

This was taken through a window (unfortunately) but inside the Sundance Cinema were several large running bamboo in the lobby (sorry couldn't get close enough to tell what they were).

Picturesque Japanese gardens at the Miyako Hotel at Post and Laguna Streets in San Francisco's Japantown.

Bamboo planted on the roof at Macy's at Union Square. This photo was taken from our hotel room on the 27th floor.

The next day, we took the N Line to Golden Gate Park. On the way to the Japanese Tea Garden, I found this unlabeled plant with a bluish fruit. Very pretty and unusual.

The Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park is a 'must-see' in my book for any gardener. This was my second visit to the garden and I got to spend alot more time there this time. For a little history on the garden, check out my previous post on the Japanese Tea Garden. Here are some photos of what I saw at the Japanese Tea Garden:

Near the entrance to the Japanese Tea Garden.

Large running bamboo near the entrance. I couldn't tell what the variety was from a distance.

This is the Tea House which is in operation and tea is served to visitors to the garden.

One of the many beautiful groves of bamboo at the garden. This looks like Phylostachys vivax to me.

There are dozens of Japanese Maples on the property, including some of the largest Green Japanese Maples I have ever seen creating huge, beautiful green canopies with graceful leaves.

Stone water feature near the gift shop. Behind it is a nice stand of Phylostachys aurea 'Golden Bamboo'.

This is a close-up of the 'Golden Bamboo' culm, probably the prettiest I have ever seen.

A high arching bridge. Climbing this is no easy chore.

One of the many miniature lakes in the garden. Some are stocked with Koi.

A pagoda that rest on top of the hill.

A stone pathway across a narrowing in the mini-lake.

The ornate rooftop of the entryway to the Japanese Tea Garden.

This is the Fraser Collection of dwarf trees planted on the hill in 1965. The trees were once the property of the Hagiwara family, who cared for the Tea Garden, from 1895 to 1942. The Hagiwara Family was interned during World War II and the trees were put under the care of landscape architect Samuel Newsom in 1942 and he later sold the collection to Dr. Hugh Fraser. Dr. Fraser's wife bequeathed the collection back to the Tea Garden upon her death.

More of the Fraser Dwarf Tree Collection.

This Zen Garden was designed in 1953 by Japanese landscape architect Nagao Sakurai. Zen gardens are full of symbolism using landscape features to create mountains, oceans and waterfalls. These gardens have spiritual significance and aid Buddhist monks in their search for enlightenment.

A Buddha statue in the Tea Garden. History on it is impressive. According to the website holymountain.com, "In 1949, the S. & G. Gump Company presented to the garden the very old and large bronze Buddha in memory of A. Livingston Gump, Alfred Gump and William Gump. It is located at the eastern end of the Long Bridge. It was cast in bronze on Honshu Island at Tajima, Japan in 1790; it weighs 3,000 pounds and is ten feet, eight inches high."

Finally, a hedged bamboo plant that reminds me of a dragon in its form. Speaks to the versatility of bamboo for sure.

Next stop in our journey was Santa Cruz, CA. I'll be posting our adventures there in the next week.

Cheers!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

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Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Giving my bamboo plant a 'haircut...

2011-07-26T18:43:00.000-07:00

I have a very beautiful and mature Bambusa multiplex riviereorum 'Chinese Goddess' planted in my front yard. 'Chinese Goddess' is a short (5-6 foot), full sun clumping bamboo with tiny leaves and a graceful weeping habit. This 'Chinese Goddess' gets lots of irrigation and rainwater runoff and doesn't seem to be fazed by soggy conditions and is flourishing, with multiple culms and a deep green leaf color.

With the weeping habit, it does tend to weep over our front lawn and the neighbor's lawn. Its not a huge deal, but it is a hassle to mow the lawn with all the culms weeping in the way. Plus, I pride myself at being a good neighbor and want to make sure the 'Chinese Goddess' bamboo doesn't wear out her welcome.

So, it was time for a haircut!

Before the 'haircut.'

Bamboo responds nicely to regular pruning and cleaning out of dead culms, so this 'haircut' will do the plant some good. Trusty Sawzall, prybar and shovel in hand, I went to work...

The funny thing about clumping bamboo especially is how 'clumped' together the plant can get, so much so, that it forms a woody root mass in the ground. This is where the Sawzall with a sharp blade comes in handy, making easy work of it, compared to hand sawing the thick woody rhizome root mass.

The woody root mass of the 'Chinese Goddess.'

After a couple of hours and a few propagated plants later, the 'haircut' of the 'Chinese Goddess' bamboo was complete. This isn't the first time I have done this with this plant. I usually have to give it a 'haircut' every couple of years.

The after shot. Chinese Goddess with her 'new hair do.'

Just waiting at this point to see which plants I propagated will stabilize and take hold. So far, most look really good.

This maintenance of the 'Chinese Goddess' bamboo plant is important for the plant's long-term health and appearance. I know I would never want to give a person a haircut (that would be scary), but I know I can give a pretty decent haircut to a bamboo plant.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA

www.madmanbamboo.com

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Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Bamboo sightings in Midtown Sacramento...

2011-07-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

On a whim, I had a rare chance to go to Midtown Sacramento on a Saturday afternoon. Usually, I have bamboo appointments in the afternoon, but today the bamboo appointments were in the morning. We went to Midtown Sacramento about a month ago on a Sunday and discovered Lumens through a window. They were closed on Sundays, but it was so interesting, we vowed someday to visit it when it was open.

Today was the day. We made the trek from Rocklin to Midtown Sacramento, went to Lumens and it was very worth the trip. After looking around, we wondered what was next. We travelled up J Street from 21st up to 26th, to see what else we could find.

Oh boy! First, its what I would consider an artists heaven with some art supply stores and some really unique shops. Along the way, I spotted some great use of bamboo at some Midtown businesses.

Here is what I found:

Beautiful planting of Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' in a closed container outside a Midtown business.

A view of how extensive the panting of 'Black Bamboo' was. This was a good demonstration of how well bamboo can be topped to meet any height specification. This planting was well groomed.

This was in front of a really neat business in Midtown Sacramento, Ladybug, Ladybug. Some really unique gifts and some really funny cards and knick knacks. Also had some fun kids toys. In front of Ladybug, Ladybug were two nice plantings of Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr.'

Midtown Sacramento is truly a great place to visit. Yeah, it is a distance from suburban Rocklin, but we enjoy making the trip there, always seems to be some new discovery with every trip.

Cheers!

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

A gardeners view of the California State Fair

2011-07-22T23:09:00.000-07:00

Most 'normal' people that attend fairs are usually there for a variety of reasons - some greasy fair food, jump on some rides, check out the displays or go see a concert. We are fortunate in Rocklin to be within a half hour drive of the California State Fair and have taken our kids to the California State Fair the past couple of years.

So, there are definitely parts of the California State Fair I appreciate the most - I am a sucker for calorie-laden, 'bad-for-you' fair food and of course anything resembling plants or some gardening inspiration. Here are some of the sights, smells and tastes from today's annual pilgrimage to the California State Fair:

Nope, not bamboo (I know, you are shocked). Isn't this a beautiful display? I've never seen a corn plant look so perfect.

I was amazed by the number of butterflies by the Farm exhibit.

A perfect example of Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo'. I actually sought out this photo as a I remember it from last year. Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' is ideal for Sacramento's climate.

Beautiful example of orchids from the Sacramento Orchid Society. This was in the greenhouse display near the fish exhibit.

Couldn't grow one to save my life, but I do love orchids.

The sign says, 'You can grow Orchids.' Ironically enough.

Leafy greens grown with hydroponics.

Bell Peppers growing in pure perlite.

The 'Garden in a Wheelbarrow' entries.

A 'snack.'

Nice choice for a 'Giant Bug' exhibit.

In the Youth Art Building. I was a bit partial. I wonder why?

A 'Whale Tale' metal sculpture with benches inside. My kids said we should buy it for our backyard. Sure, why not.

The 'Breakfast of Champions'!

Hope you enjoyed my adventures at the California State Fair.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Clumping bamboo is shooting from the ground....

2011-07-21T22:54:00.000-07:00

One of the big distinctions between running bamboo and its non-invasive clumping cousin is the time of year that they begin to shoot. Running bamboo generally begins to shoot starting in March and it lasts through approximately June or so.

Clumping bamboo, on the other hand, starts shooting around July and it lasts through late September/early October. Of course this can vary some with temperatures, rainfall, irrigation and fertilization and other key growing factors.

So, like a kid in a candy store, I am on the hunt for new bamboo shoots. Sure enough, the clumping bamboo is starting to shoot. When I first make the discovery, my hear goes pitter-patter and it brings a big smile to my face. I usually drag my wife over to gloat in my new discovery, but she usually humors me with a smile. Sometimes she is impressed, but other times, I guess I'm just easily amused and amazed. I can't help it - I'm a 'Bamboo Geek' after all.

I'm always thrilled by bamboo shooting. Not only is the vertical growth amazing both in speed and height, but the colors and textures are almost unworldly. Some look like a alien tentacle piercing through the earth, green with scales. Others are smooth and red like a red hot poker. What's funny is that the new shoots transform so much that they look nothing like they started just two months later. I guess that's what makes bamboo such a special plant.

So, here are some photos of clumping bamboo that I discovered shooting right now:

Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo'

Himalayacalamus porcata

Bambusa tuldoides 'Punting Pole Bamboo'

If you happen to own a clumping bamboo (or two...), get out there, kneel down and you may discover a new shoot or two. For a 'Bamboo Geek' like me, there is nothing more satisfying.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

When you know... "you have arrived." Gardener's dreams places.

2011-07-11T22:02:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my youngest daughter was dying to go to Coloma, CA, where on the American River gold was discovered in January 1848 . That discovery is what shaped California to what it is today.

We had a nice picnic on the American River watching rafters float by and spending time on the river bank skipping rocks. Truly a nice day with beautiful weather. Perfect.

As with any time I am out and about, my eyes are always looking for that ultimate garden experience, for me, I am particularly drawn to Asian-style gardens and of course any beautiful specimen of bamboo, be it a potted plant or a full on grove.

On the way home from Coloma, travelling north to Auburn, I remembered a tip from a bamboo customer about a beautiful bamboo grove, just east of Downtown Auburn. Of course, upon my suggestion that we take a small detour to check this out (an adventure in my eyes), I got an immediate sigh and eye-roll from my oldest daughter. But, my wife, bless her soul, gave me that 'OK' nod. Yeah!

OK, so after a mile or so down the road, we arrive and there was a beautiful grove of what I think is Phylostachys nigra 'Henon', or maybe Phylostachys vivax.

The angels sung, the butterflies flew and I think I saw a rainbow in the sky. Well not really, but, that one rare thought that us gardeners get, ran accross my mind... 'you have arrived, my friend.'

Indeed, I had. After a hurried set of pictures, I left feeling very satisfied for the treasure I had found, hidden away, but worth the hunt.

So, being inspired by all the beautiful bamboo that I have seen in my travels; from San Francisco's Tea Garden at Golden Gate Park to Capitol Park in Sacramento to the United States Botanical Garden in Washington D.C., I decided to create a map where bamboo fans like myself (and others, maybe even you) can post where they have spotted beautiful examples of bamboo. The map, a public map built in Google Maps, is called Bamboo Spotter. If you have found a beautiful example of bamboo, post it in Bamboo Spotter by clicking below. The map is public and can be edited by anyone. All I ask is that the bamboo can be seen in a public space, like a park or a open public area, and that no advertising be posted on the map. Please no posts on private unless you own the property.

View Bamboo Spotter - Bamboo that can be seen in public spaces in a larger map

If you have trouble editing, just shoot me an e-mail at sean@madmanbamboo.com and I will manually add you as an editor.

May you have sweet dreams of your special 'garden dream place.'

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

Barbecue, Beer and Bamboo?

2011-07-09T17:27:00.000-07:00

We are really excited to be able to join an emerging event in Downtown Rocklin, Front Street Friday's on historic Front Street (near the Rocklin Train Station). We will be participating in the marketplace and will be bringing some really beautiful bamboo plants like 'Buddha's Belly Bamboo', 'Teague's Blue Bamboo', 'Black Bamboo' and many other unique types, both 5 gallon and smaller one gallons.

Even more than just the event itself, the event coordinator's vision for the event is to bring people to Downtown Rocklin, which has struggled over the years. But with events like this along with new unique businesses opening up (like Rubinos and Icing on the Cupcake), the prospects of Downtown Rocklin is looking up, in my opinion as a Rocklin resident.

So, the event will have live music, great barbecue and other food vendors and a marketplace with local vendors. Barbecue, beer and bamboo? Who would have thought?

Come join us at the event:

What: Front Street Friday Festival

When: Friday, July 15, 2011 from 6 pm to 10 pm

Where: Front Street in Rocklin (one block from Pacific Street, take the Rocklin Rd. exit from I-80, keep on Rocklin Rd. past Pacific Street and you'll run right into it). [Map it]

Hope to see you there!

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

Alphonse Karr exceeds expectations for Sacramento homeowners...

2011-06-30T22:23:00.000-07:00

John and Fred, owners of a home in the Foothill Farms area of Sacramento purchased some Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' bamboo plants from us last fall. 'Alphonse Karr' is a clumping bamboo that grows 15 to 20 feet, can take full sun and is a great choice to create a natural privacy screen. They planted them on October 17, 2010 (pictured below). The objective was to screen a neighbor's house where there living room was on the second floor.

BEFORE - October 17, 2010

AFTER - May 26, 2011

AFTER - June 28, 2011

John and Fred cited some pretty dramatic growth in a 12 day period, from June 16, 2011 to June 28, 2011 as temperatures hovered around the 80 - 90 degree range. During that time, nine new culms emerged at about 3/8 inch in diameter. Besides the sunny warm temperatures, they worked in one large bag of good potting soil in with one small bag of steer manure last year into the soil which is now really paying dividends by a proliferation of new culms.

'Alphonse Karr' is a great bamboo choice because it is clumping, serves well as a privacy hedge and has some ornamental beauty that makes it a distinctive feature in any garden. Congratulations to John and Fred for the plants they call 'Happy Bamboo.' It looks these bamboo are grinning ear-to-ear!

Sean

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Dragonflies in the garden...

2011-06-25T20:44:00.000-07:00

I have been amazed today at the number of Dragonflies perching on my bamboo and flying about. Some are metallic blue, some are fire red. They are truly beautiful creatures.

I've always wondered why we have some many in my Rocklin neighborhood. Turns out that they need to have proximity to lakes, ponds, streams and wetlands for their larvae to flourish. Turns out that a half a block away from our house is a huge wetland/creek.

Dragonflies are a critical 'friendly' predator in the insect world. They feed on nuisances such as mosquitoes and flies, among other flying insects. With the number of mosquitoes we have emerging at dusk, I am happy to have Dragonflies hang out in my back yard.

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

Black Bamboo - what a beauty!

2011-06-24T21:31:00.000-07:00

Black Bamboo is truly a beautiful bamboo. The most common variety is Phylosyachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' which grows up to 30 feet tall with 2 inch diameter culms. The culms shoot a rich green and over a year and a half turn a jet black. From green to a splotchy green/black mix, finally to a jet black color on the culms (see the contrast between a new culm in the foreground and an older culms in the background).

There are many other varieties that are genetic variations of Black Bamboo, including:

Phylostachys nigra 'Punctata' or 'Daikokuchiku/Folsom Black' - these are giant varieties of Black Bamboo that get about 55 - 60 feet tall, 'Punctata' is slightly bigger with 4 inch diameter culms and 'Daikokuchiku' has 3.3 inch diameter culms. This bamboo is pictured above.

Phylostachys nigra 'Hale' - this is smaller than standard Black Bamboo at 20 feet and 1.5 inch diameter culms. Its supposed to turn blacker quicker.

Phylostachys nigra 'Bory/Leopard Skin Bamboo' - This bamboo gets rich black spots on the culms. This bamboo is larger at 50 feet tall and 3 inch diameter culms. Pictured above.

This is what I love about bamboo in general, the sheer diversity is amazing. Black Bamboo is a very popular variety and I am one among the crowd of fans. Although I don't recommend planting Black Bamboo in the ground without containment with bamboo rhizome barrier (since it is a running bamboo), a more practical approach is to grow Black Bamboo in a container. I have had a great experience growing Black Bamboo in a container, it lends very well to this type of growing.

A common question I get is whether there are clumping varieties of Black Bamboo. There are, but they are too cold to grow here in the Sacramento area. But Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' doesn't fail to give the 'wow factor' in a garden landscape, even if it has to be containerized.

What else can I say? Black Bamboo is truly a beautiful, unique bamboo.

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
www.madmanbamboo.com
Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook
Twitter: @madmanbamboo

A picture is worth a thousand words. "How fast will my bamboo grow?" -Answered.

2011-06-22T22:28:00.000-07:00

"How fast will my bamboo grow?"

Of all the questions I get asked when someone is considering bamboo, this is the #1 question.

The answer to this question is of course, like most things in our world, is full of variables, uncertainties and other factors that no one can predict with true certainty. With plants, there are factors that are somewhat controllable - like the amount of water you can apply through modern irrigation or soil conditions that are also somewhat controllable or at least can be amended to a desired condition. Also, you can certainly generalize that a running bamboo will grow quicker than a clumping bamboo.

Others factors are very unpredictable, totally out of our control as gardeners, and sometimes downright frustrating - variable weather conditions such as 60 degrees and overcast one week and then 90 plus and sunny skies, the next. In Northern California, we experienced weather conditions that were unusual, cool, wet conditions up through June. With bamboo, it was a mixed blessing - less growth due to lower soil temperatures, but rainwater does plants alot of good - refreshing leaves and greening the plants.

So, with so many variables at play - its hard to provide a standard answer to this perplexing question - 'How fast will my bamboo grow?"

So, with the uncertainty this question brings and the difficulty in explaining 'how fast bamboo grows", I always love to show before and after photos of different types of bamboo. This particular set of photos came from Mark from Sacramento who planted Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' in early June 2010.

June 2010 (Before)

June 2011 (After)

A picture (or pictures) is worth a thousand words, bottomline and generally speaking, the advantage of bamboo is that you can expect faster growth than an average hedge plant, even with the tamer, slower-growing clumping bamboo, and even with the unpredictability that gardening can bring.

Cheers!

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

Were at the Farmers' Market in Rocklin...

2011-06-17T21:11:00.000-07:00

All packed up and ready to go. See you at tomorrow's (Saturday) Rocklin Farmers' Market, 8:30 am to 1 pm, at 6636 Lonetree Boulevard in Rocklin, CA. Pick up a bamboo plant or two and some fresh fruits and vegetables from local farmers. Hope to see you there!

Miss this one, there is more. Click here for the schedule.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Capitol park is a gem... and other observations.

2011-06-11T22:17:00.000-07:00

Today, we took our daughters to see Mary Poppins at the Community Center Theatre in Downtown Sacramento. Before we headed to the show, we had a nice, low-key lunch at Capitol Dawg. Three Capitol Dawgs, a Lions Dawg, Onion Rings and Garlic Fries later, we headed for the show (the day started off right with a good hot dog and sides). My tastes are simple, what can I say. Mary Poppins was a great production (especially the sets) and everyone was happy.

After the show, we took a stroll in Capitol Park, truly a gem. I don't work for State Parks, so I say this with the perspective of a true visitor... what a beautiful, tranquil park. I've always had an affinity for state parks and I'm quite saddened by where California's state parks are headed after years of budget cuts. I'm one of those guys that drops $5 in the donation box every time I visit a state park because I think its worth doing. Heck, I know that taxes are generally unpopular, but that is one tax I'd personally (speaking for myself) be happy to pay.

The weather couldn't be better and here are some photos of what I found as we explored the eastern half of Capitol Park, Downtown Sacramento and Midtown Sacramento after the show:

Nice use of bamboo at a restaurant (I think it was 16th and L Streets in Sacramento, CA). Created a nice patio dining experience.

This was a very old olive tree. The original stump was thick, big, but topped. The foliage you see are suckers from the base and roots. This picture does not do the stump justice - very interesting shape.

Here I am next to a great specimen of a Phylostachys bambusoides 'Japanese Giant Timber Bamboo.'

And, here is why bamboo rhizome barrier is always suggested for running bamboo. This is a culm coming out of the lawn. No doubt the park maintenance staff just mow these down, but I thought with was a good visual of how far a running bamboo can 'run.'

In the distance, that is a standard green Japanese Maple. One of the largest ones I have seen. Another great area in Sacramento to see mature specimens of Japanese Maples is in east Sacramento near McKinley Park.

A bas-relief sculpture at the east entrance of the State Capitol Building.

Peering into the patio at Mah Jong's, a restaurant in Downtown Sacramento. Huge planters with bamboo set the mood for asian-inspired cuisine.

What a nice day - good food, great show and a chance to take in the sights in Downtown Sacramento, Midtown Sacramento and Capitol Park. Lots of hidden garden sights, gems in my opinion, that can be found along the way.

Cheers!

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

'Pom Poms' on my bamboo...

2011-06-06T21:48:00.000-07:00

Saw the weirdest growth pattern on a clumping bamboo, Bambusa multiplex 'Silverstripe', normally on the nodes you will see maybe 8-10 branchlets. As I was showing a customer around the bamboo garden, something caught my eye. At first, a dire thought ran across my mind... 'Oh, no! My 'Silverstripe' is flowering." Bamboo flowers, on average, every 75 to 100 years. Sometimes flowering means certain death for bamboo, but not always, sometimes it just looks really bad for a couple of years (saps the plant of energy as it flowers like crazy). An the flowers aren't pretty, at least in my opinion.

After the customer left, I took a closer look. At the nodes, at least 30 tiny leaves. On one culm only, the rest were normal. Looked like cheerleader 'Pom Poms.' Truly a unique sight. Can't say I can pinpoint what caused it. Bamboo always amazes me....

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

Notes from a bamboo dig

2011-06-03T20:29:00.000-07:00

Today, I packed up my tools and headed out to a home in Rocklin to dig out some Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' that the homeowner no longer wanted.

The original plant was planted by a landscaper about 13 years go, but the landscaper didn't install rhizome barrier. I always recommend installing rhizome barrier with any running bamboo put in the ground directly. It adds some cost and if self-installed takes some work, but it is worth it.

The plant, unchecked, marched towards a fenceline and that's where I came in to help.

Tools in hand and with a little help from my Sawzall, I went to work.

The 'Black Bamboo' had been topped, but the rhizome mass can still be cut and grown out over time. It will shoot again given some time. Since this section is so close to the neighbor's fence, we started in this here first.

After about two and a half hours, we made some good progress. The bamboo actually surrounded two bushes and that portion proved the hardest to remove. I plan on returning in two weeks to help the homeowner remove more of the bamboo.

Here is the result of my labor. Rhizome masses with some top bamboo culms ready to be placed in soil-covered holding bins.

Pulling the culms out of the bins, I thought these roots were quite beautiful sporting a pinkish-purple color.

This is a temporary home for these rhizome masses and culms. I ran out of dirt and will be making a trip to the hardware store for some more. Many of these will end up as 5 gallon plants that will be sold next year. Although it has been a colder June (so far) in northern California, this weather, overcast, cooler with evening rain is the perfect conditions to do a bamboo dig. I'm excited to see the growth of this 'Black Bamboo' in the coming months. Truly nice to see all my hard work today pay off.

Cheers!

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

Goats, tomatoes and bamboo... random sights and sounds from today.

2011-05-30T16:41:00.000-07:00

Like many folks, I was fortunate to have the day off. Memorial Day is a day to reflect on the sacrifices made by military service members to secure the freedom we enjoy today. Many mark the day by spending time with their friends and family, barbecuing, watching a Little League game or spending the day in the garden. I spent my time today meandering through the garden and taking a short bike ride with my daughter.

Enjoying the day, I took some photos along the way. Of course, there is no specific theme for this post, just random sights and sounds along the way.

This is a carnivorous plant in the Sarracenia family, commonly known as a Pitcher Plant. I bought Pitcher Plants over several years at plant sales that I have sold at. They grow openly in my front yard, do just fine in the cold without protection. If I didn't grow bamboo, this would be another plant family I'd love to try to grow.

This is the flower of the Pitcher Plant.

My tomatoes growing among the 'Black Bamboo' are thriving. I didn't plant these, they came up from the compost we generate at home, part of which is from fruit and vegetable scraps. So, these tomatoes will be a surprise as far as what we get. We are hoping for Cherry Tomatoes. Ironically, these tomatoes look way better than the hybrid tomatoes we planted in the backyard. Go figure!

Hollyhocks that re-seed every year and rest between my house and the neighbors. A few years ago, they were all pink, but now they are getting shades of red. Hybridization at work. Very pretty!

So, if you are hanging out in my front yard today, you can hear the sound of goats and sheep.... "baaahhh" and "maaah," pervade the air. My daughter and I took a short bike ride about a quarter of a mile away to the neighboring creek and open space where the City of Rocklin uses sheep and goats to mow down the overgrown grass and weeds as a way to reduce the fire danger and not overly disturb the natural environment.

They have been using this method for the past few years and its quite the sight. Good excuse to hop on our bikes and check it out.

Its been a great day, beautiful weather and have enjoyed the sights along the way.

Cheers!

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

Post script to bamboo growing in the Northern California foothills...

2011-05-26T21:41:00.000-07:00

Penn sent me another photo yesterday on the amazing growth of his Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' growing in the Northern California foothills. I posted last week (May 18) on the progress of his running bamboo privacy screen in the making. Already performing beyond expectations, the new Black Bamboo culms are at 9 feet tall as of yesterday, May 25.

What impressive growth. Penn did all the right prep, installing bamboo rhizome barrier (which isn't easy, but worth it), showing how running bamboo can be planted responsibly and with great results.

Cheers!

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

Fast running bamboo in a container... one year later. Experience from a Roseville, California bamboo customer.

2011-05-23T21:32:00.000-07:00

I have been chronicling the growth of Phylostachys bissetti in several containers in a Roseville, California backyard. Phylostachys bissettii is a green, dense, running bamboo that is wind tolerant, can take full sun, temperatures down to minus 15 degrees and is fast growing. For a container grown running bamboo, I think it is a great choice.

Joe, who has cultivated the plants in containers for the past year, has been very happy with the growth and the look it gives his tropical-themed backyard. He recently shared some photos from last year and photos of the Phylostachys bissetti a year later (this past week). Joe has shown that used in the right way, running bamboo can create a great privacy screen and still be contained within a planting container. Here are some photos of the progress over the past year, before and after:

Taken in May 2010 (before). As you can see, the neighbor's windows look right down into Joe's backyard. This type of yard is pretty typical in Roseville.

Taken in May 2011 (last week-after). The new culms are now well over the fence and once they fully leaf out will be the beginning of a nice privacy hedge. Just imagine what the growth will look like in May 2012...

Joe made a great choice with Phylostachys bissetti. It shows that with a bit of well thought out containment and a plan, running bamboo can create an effective and fast privacy screen that is in control.

Cheers!

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

Northern California foothill bamboo customer sees lots of growth from bamboo...

2011-05-18T21:12:00.000-07:00

Penn, a bamboo customer who lives in the foothills east of Sacramento, California, put in some work to install bamboo rhizome barrier for his running bamboo that he bought from me in late 2009 - Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' and Pleioblastus shibayanus 'Tsuboi'. His goal was to screen off a spa and his backyard from a neighbor. Both bamboo varieties offer great contrast, 'Black Bamboo' has the beautiful black upright culms and the 'Tsuboi' is bushy with slender white and green variegated leaves. Two really nice bamboo choices that fit the practical purpose for Penn's bamboo purchase - privacy.

The installation of the bamboo rhizome barrier, early 2010.

After the barrier installation, the bamboo plants were put in place. Again, this was early 2010.

He e-mailed me this week showing the amazing growth during the 2011 bamboo shooting season. Here are some photos he shared:

First 'Black Bamboo" shoots in of the season, May 10, 2011.

'Tsuboi' shoots intermixed with 'Black Bamboo' shoots.

Penn's notes: "Another closer shot of the same black bamboo shoots that had just broken the surface of the ground on May 10. This picture was taken on the morning of May 18 and they are almost 4 feet tall! That's an average growth of about 6" per day. Yippee!"

An emerging privacy hedge is fulfilling its vision. More from Penn: "This is the bamboo hedge looking from the top of the path. The deer fence in the background is to protect the nearby vegetable garden (deer won't eat the bamboo). Also, the close-by neighbor's house in the background was the reason for planting the hedge. Notice the tall black bamboo shoots in front of the deer fence."

It's great to see that Penn's hard work to install rhizome barrier and to plant running bamboo to create privacy hedge that is performing very well. Running bamboo works well when rhizome barrier is installed (to ensure containment), soil is prepared well and the right varieties for the area are selected. Penn did a great job in all these areas and his attention to detail shows.

Cheers!

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

Adventures in the garden... making the most of a sunny day in May.

2011-05-14T22:19:00.000-07:00

So this weekend was a mixed bag, starting off sunny and ending with cloudy skies and a good chance for rain. Friday, getting home from work, the weather was beautiful and sunny. Enjoying the opportunity to have a day that was warm with virtually no wind, camera in hand, here is what I found:

Tomatoes growing in the same container as my Black Bamboo. When I planted the bamboo, I mixed in some compost in with the soil and several months later... voila! Tomato plants... I'll be keeping them for sure.

My running bamboo is shooting like crazy, This particular variety is Phylostachys dulcis 'Sweetshoot Bamboo.' This bamboo is known for its exceptional edible bamboo shoots. At the nodes, normally there are tender branchlets. In this case the lower branchlets were nibbled off... slugs, rats or do I have a Panda Bear hiding out in my backyard? A mystery indeed...

Friday, I started some Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' plants to get them ready for next year. This continued on Saturday. It is dirty work, but it's what I love.

Even the cat was taking in the beautiful day....

And since this weekend is a mixed bag, here is what we can expect Sunday, but no worries, more beautiful May days are ahead, no doubt.

Cheers!

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

Bamboo Geek sighting in Roseville...

2011-05-14T08:05:00.000-07:00

I have two bumper stickers (pictured above) that I have been giving to customers that drop by for bamboo plants, on Facebook and will be giving out for free at our Saturday, May 21 plant sale at Ace Hardware in Rocklin.

Funny story. A work colleague, who knows about my bamboo obsession, business, etc. said that she saw a car driving around near Old Town Roseville with a bumper sticker that said 'I am a Bamboo Geek.' Convinced that it had to be associated with me somehow, she pulled up closer to the side of the car and sure enough it had www.madmanbamboo.com on it.

So, when she told me about it, of course I was happy to see someone, like me, who calls themselves a 'Bamboo Geek' and shows it on their bumper, with pride of course.

If you want one or both of these bumper stickers, drop by our Saturday, May 21 plant sale in Rocklin (click here for details). They are free and no purchase is necessary.

Show that bamboo pride!

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

Show how much you love bamboo with a free bumper sticker!

2011-05-08T19:29:00.000-07:00

A small token of appreciation to my Bamboo Geek blog fans... mail a self-addressed stamped envelope to me and I'll send you a free bumper sticker... I have "I Love Bamboo" or "I am a Bamboo Geek" to choose from. Post "Gimme a bumper sticker!" in the comments section on my Facebook Page (click here and 'like' the page) and I'll send you the address to send the envelope to.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Phylostachys edulis 'Moso' goes big for Citrus Heights bamboo afficionado...

2011-05-03T23:31:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I received an e-mail from Lisa, a semi-regular bamboo customer from Citrus Heights, who has definitely been bit by the 'Bamboo Bug.' She purchased a Phylostachys edulis 'Moso' from me during my Bamboo Open House on October 31, 2009.

That day is one I will always remember because it was the day that Debbie Arrington's article on Mad Man Bamboo was published in the Sacramento Bee's Home and Garden Section. The article was cleverly titled Bam-BOO, since it published on Halloween and was subsequently re-published in news papers across the country.

Moso Bamboo is among the largest bamboo plants in the world - in ideal conditions, it can grow to 75 feet and have 7 inch culms in 10 years. This bamboo is used to build structures, it's that big.

So, fast forward over a year and a half later. Lisa's Moso Bamboo was originally planted in a wood barrel, but she later re-planted it in a plastic tub, presumably with drain holes, as it retains moisture better. Lisa wrote: 'My moso in it's big tub has 7 or 8 foot tall shoots! It is sooooo exciting.'

Lisa has also been feeding the Moso with 'Weed Tea.' The formula is simple as described by Lisa:

'This spring I have been giving it the weed tea and it is putting on some amazing new growth. Which I didn't even know about until just recently. You just take your weeds (I added some grass and leaves) and soak them in water for a few days or a couple of weeks and feed your plants. Stinks real bad so I figure it's gotta be good! LOL. The Moso seems to like it.'

Lisa's experiment with 'Weed Tea' seems to be paying off as shown above.

Cheers!

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

We have our first Garden Cache winner; next Garden Cache code

2011-05-03T21:36:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to Carole Rains who found the Garden Cache label a few blocks from her work with her husband. The label was found in Downtown Sacramento. Carole won a one gallon plant.

OK, ready for the next coordinates?

Copy and paste the following coordinates into Google Maps on your desktop (be sure to print the map), on your smart phone using your map app or use a GPS unit.

N 38 34.523, W 121 29.418

Once you find the tag, post the secret code word on the Mad Man Bamboo Facebook page or in the comments section on this blog.

The prize is a one gallon plant.

Happy hunting for the treasure!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

3,000 Ladies are munching on bugs...

2011-04-30T21:34:00.000-07:00

OK, not ladies, but Lady Bugs.

My youngest daughter loves nature and one of the things she loves every year when Dad (that's me) buys Lady Bugs to release in the garden. Generally bamboo is pest free but on rare occasion I have seen an aphid or two on new shoots. They don't really do much damage, but they are annoying and can create a mess. Releasing Lady Bugs is a great way to naturally rid plants of aphids and other pests.

So, tonight at dusk, after I watered, we released two bags of Lady Bugs, 3,000 in total, into the backyard.

First, you have to get the Ladybugs on the tomato plants, all six of them, that's a must.

Then, I released them on the bamboo, this is Semiarundaria yashadake kimmei.

Finally, I released some near our prized Green Japanese Maple.

Right now, under the cover of dark, hopefully they are munching on some "bad" bugs. A good natural way to manage pests in the garden and my daughter is happy, can't top that.

Cheers!

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

Fun contest in on... Garden Caching!

2011-04-29T05:50:00.000-07:00

Many people are familiar with the exploration sport called "geocaching." It involves using a GPS or a smart phone (most have GPS on them), armed with coordinates and looking for stashed items that people place at the coordinates listed. Its a fun high-tech treasure hunt that can be done by yourself, with kids and/or friends. Its a fun way to get out there and explore the world, much like a treasure hunt.

Jim and I are putting a new twist on geocaching, what we call "Garden Caching."

Here is how it works. Jim and I are hanging several of our nursery tags (pictured above) throughout the Sacramento region on trees and plants.

Get your GPS unit or your GPS-enabled smart phones ready....

We will be posting the coordinates on where those tags are here on this blog and also on the Mad Man Bamboo Facebook page (starting today).

Plug those coordinates into your GPS or your smart phone and start "Garden Caching." Hint: On smart phones, you just type in the coordinates into the address bar on your map application on your phone to get the location.

Once you find the orange or white nursery tag (pictured above). Post the code word written on the tag either on this blog or on the Mad Man Bamboo Facebook page. Be sure to post your name if it isn't obvious, as well.

Do that, and you win a 1 gallon bamboo plant or Japanese Maple.

It's that easy!

We will be posting new coordinates and announcing winners over the next several weeks so check back here often or on the Mad Man Bamboo Facebook page.

OK, it starts right now. Good luck!

The GPS coordinates are:

Format: Heading, degrees, minute - (hddd mm.mmm)

N 38 34.482
W 121 30.035

Datum: WGS 84

Use the Map function on your phone, plug the coordinates in and happy hunting!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
www.madmanbamboo.com

Jim
Maplestone Gardens
www.maplestonegarden.com

The 'Bamboo Superstar' Update... Phylostachys bissetti exceeds expectations for fast bamboo growth...

2011-04-27T20:53:00.000-07:00

Joe, a customer from Roseville sent his third update today on the spectacular performance of his Phylostachys bissetti. In my own assessment, I consider this fast growing, beautiful running bamboo a 'Bamboo Superstar.'

Here is a photographic overview of growth over the past few weeks:

Shoots emerging on April 13.

Six days later (April 19) the culms are below the fence line.

Today (April 27), Joe sends me this e-mail, "Hard to tell, but the culms are all at or above the fence level and have shed their outer layer and are starting to have the branches come down. It you see the horizontal board at the mid-fence level to the right, that’s where the height was in the pics from last week (April 19). There are lots of culms that are 10’+ in height and we’ve been trimming any culms that aren’t strong and vertical."

Phylostachys is a great choice for a running bamboo that serves as a privacy screen. It performs well in containers, is a thick lush green screen and is the perfect fast-growing hedge. Joe has certainly proven this.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Totally random garden photos...

2011-04-24T20:45:00.000-07:00

The past couple of weeks, as the temperatures have given us some days in the 70's, I find myself wandering in my own garden in Rocklin or I happen upon different photo opportunities out and about. No particular theme, sometimes meaningful only to me, but I found some unique or beautiful feature in the garden or other places that I have to take a photo of.

None of these are great photos, all taken with my iPhone and I certainly don't claim any skill in photography, but nonetheless enjoy my adventure into gardening randomness....

A rather large new culm from my Phylostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis'. In the background are about 100 small Bambusa oldhamii plants.

A very colorful Semiarundaria yashadake kimmei culm. This plant is shooting like crazy this year!

A beautiful leaf from a Phylostachys bambusoides 'Allgold'. The coloring is orange variegation on a green leaf.

This was the front entrance of a home in Loomis, CA that we saw on the way to their Earth Day Festival on Saturday. The ultimate in privacy, it was an entrance that was pretty unique and meticulously groomed over many years.

Hope you enjoyed this random photo adventure...

Cheers!

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

Roadtrip to Sonoma, California

2011-04-23T21:47:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we took our girls to Sonoma, California to get out and do something fun during their Spring Break. Since its only about an hour and a half drive, its a nice place to visit for the day. The beauty of living in Rocklin is that you are only two hours away from the coast or two hours away from the mountains.

So, what can I say about Sonoma - lots of unique shops, great wine tasting and lots of good restaurants, Also there is the Mission San Francisco de Solano or more commonly known as the Sonoma Mission. Founded in 1823, its a nice historical destination to visit, full of history and significance (built to keep the Russians at bay just north of Sonoma at Fort Ross).

The weather was nice, slightly overcast, but warm.

Throughout the day I was able to capture some photos of the day's exploration, of course with a couple of bamboo sightings along the way...

This was one of the largest Eucalyptus Trees I have ever seen, almost as wide as a small sedan. This was in the town square.

This small potted bamboo is a Pseudosasa japonica 'Arrow Bamboo' crammed between two stores.

A very cool Citroen, from the 1950's (from what I could guess) parked in the town center.

An oddly placed running bamboo. I suppose it was meant to soften the corner of this alleyway. The alleyway was odd in itself as the buildings narrowed towards each other and were not set apart the same distance as one would expect.

Overall, it was a really nice day. Everyone had fun, lots of great sights and just something nice to do that was out of the norm. The drive was worth it. Sonoma, California is a nice place to put on your 'must-see' list for sure, especially if you live in the Sacramento area.

Cheers!

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

Don't miss our next plant sale at the Ace Hardware in Rocklin on May 21!

2011-04-23T20:28:00.000-07:00

A quick note... Jim and I will be having a plant sale at the Ace Hardware in Rocklin on Saturday, May 21, 2011. Mark your calendars! Lots of great bamboo and Japanese Maples for sale. Details can be found by clicking here - http://bamboocalifornia.blogspot.com/.

Hope to see you there!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com

Bamboo Superstar... one week later

2011-04-19T21:47:00.000-07:00

Spring has sprung in Roseville, California! Joe, a bamboo customer from Roseville, shared some photos of his Phylostachys bissetti shooting on April 13 (photo above). Six days later (April 19), I got another e-mail from Joe, ecstatic with the fast growth of this Bamboo Superstar (photo below).

Affirms the label.. Phylostachys bissetti is a 'Bamboo Superstar'.

Cheers!

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

My friend Jim (home-grown Japanese Maples)

2011-04-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

So, some of you have attended my Open Houses and have had the pleasure to meet my friend Jim. Jim and I go way back. I first met Jim about 9 years ago at work. He was my bosses, boss. Super smart, well-liked and very easy to work for. Over time, Jim and I struck a friendship. Our big commonality was our love for plants, specifically how to grow the nicest, most interesting plants with our own two hands.

Since we both live in Rocklin and our kids went to the same elementary school, we started to commute into work to Downtown Sacramento together. Besides discussing the day's adventures at work, the topic of conversation often revolved around plants, bonsai, Japanese Maples and bamboo; and how to turn our love for plants into a business we love. Lots of propagation theories abounded and lots trading of growing secrets. Needless to say, it made the long commute along Interstate 80 fly by.

So, eventually we both left our mutual employer we worked for, he stayed in Sacramento and I landed a job in Roseville. But to this day, we have remained friends.

About six years ago, I started my little "backyard nursery" in Rocklin, Mad Man Bamboo, with bamboo that I propagated from my bamboo collection, now 120 strong and growing. The name really speaks to what some would call my "mad" bamboo obsession. OK, so call me crazy, but I love my business.

Jim, now following his passion, recently started his Japanese Maple business from his small suburban Rocklin yard. Jim's business, Maplestone Garden, has a similar business model as mine, a small appointment only, backyard plant business with expert advice and a friendly service. Jim is a true Japanese Maple artist, perfecting his propagation techniques over the past few years, he is growing unique Japanese Maples because it's what he loves to do.

In fact, Jim has grown a few seedlings from seeds from my Japanese Maple trees and even recently propagated a grafted tree from my favorite 10 year old Inabe Shidare (Jim is pictured with the Inabe Shidare he grew above).

So, looking for a unique Japanese Maple from a man who loves the plants he grows? Give Jim a call:

Jim
Maplestone Garden
www.maplestonegarden.com
(916) 315-9295
jim@maplestonegarden.com

Here's to another home-grown Rocklin business. Cheers!

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

Bamboo Superstar! Phylostachys bissetti

2011-04-13T21:13:00.000-07:00

Got an e-mail today from Joe, a bamboo customer from Roseville. Joe had built a well designed series of containers by his pool from a Trex-type of material. All designed to create a fast-growing privacy screen. In it, he planted both Phylostachys bissetti and Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo.' Planted last year.

Naturally, you'd think that Black Bamboo is the Superstar, but not in this case. The bamboo "Superstar' is Phylostachys bissetti.

A runner, a runner like no other. Max 40 ft in height (10 year grove in the ground, half that height in a container), 2 inch culms and can take temps down to minus 15 degrees. Tough as nails, beautiful green coloring and has that 'classic' Japanese Zen Garden look to it.

In Joe's own words, "Our running bamboo is shooting like mad right now (photo above). There are literally probably 100 culms coming up from the 8 plants that we have. Awesome!"

I know that many cringe with the thought of running bamboo, but Phylostachys bissetti in a pot or contained in the ground with rhizome barrier is a great choice for virtually any climate.

Cheers!

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

Bamboo Open House is this Saturday, April 9, 2011 (tomorrow)

2011-04-08T12:07:00.000-07:00

Our Bamboo Open House is this Saturday, April 9, 2011 (tomorrow).

Click here for details

Cheers!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com

Bamboo Geek gets equipped...

2011-04-05T20:43:00.000-07:00

Serious propagating equipment. Felco #2 - the Clipper of Champions.

So... here is the story behind this obscure post. After my 'Bamboo Diet' offload of a few thousand pounds of bamboo, my good friend and bamboo wholesaler spent some time as usual chatting with my wife and I (which we really enjoy). We travelled to the backyard to discuss bamboo and the conversation headed towards good propagation techniques for bamboo. Sacramento is a great place to propagate plants. A little heat can do wonders when used with the right plants, and we have heat, lots of it in Sacramento in the late Spring through mid-Fall. Used to an advantage, we Sacramentans can propagate plants like there is no tomorrow.

But alas, propagation is a little art and science mixed in proper proportions. And of course, you need the proper equipment.

Demonstrating culm cuttings, I was asked for a pair of clippers, I hand him my rusty 'big-box' specials, left a few days in the rain and lost and found in the garden a few times. These suckers were as dull as they come and pathetic. I get a look from my friend that says without uttering a word... 'Are you serious!?'

My verbal reply, 'That's what I have.' With a look of shame for my lack of real gardening equipment.

He ran to his truck and revealed a beautiful tool... his Felco #2 clippers. Beautiful. I think I saw a glow coming from them.

His reply, 'You need these. You can sharpen them. Take them apart. Order replacement parts. I've had these for 20 years."

Damn... I've been schooled. I have been enlightened.

Next day (or so), my wife orders one for her and one for me (above are mine). They arrive a few days later. We try them on our coveted Japanese Maples. The have a clean cut and they cut like 'warm butta.' Beautiful. No more rusty, cheap clippers for me, live and learn.

Cheers!

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

Springtime bamboo shoots...

2011-04-02T21:24:00.000-07:00

Our weather this weekend in the Sacramento region was wonderful (low-80's). I even had to second-guess myself twice this weekend, switching from jeans to shorts mid-day, as the days transitioned quickly from slightly chilly (very slightly) to downright warm.

OK, so it officially became Spring this weekend, no doubt. The bamboo emerged from it sleepy winter slumber. Some of the early shooters, like Phylostachys edulis 'Moso', which I photographed March 11, have grown several inches in the warmth and others like Phylostachys flexuosa 'Kimmei Aureostriata' showed true beauty today.

So here are some photos from my trek through my backyard jungle today:

Here is the 'hairy' Moso reaching for the sky;

This shoot from the Phylostachys flexuosa 'Kimmei Aureostriata' is quite beautiful with its dark lime coloring.

Here is my Phylostachys nigra that I just planted in my BILT container and its shooting, which is great considering that normally bamboo does not shoot a whole lot in its first year out of a nursery container.

Cheers! Enjoy these Spring days while they last...

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
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Bamboo diet.

2011-03-25T21:28:00.000-07:00

7:00 a.m., Friday (Bamboo-day) I crawled out of bed, with little inhibition, I was posed with the question, '... wanna go to breakfast?' 'Of course,' I reply.

8:00 a.m. Off to our favorite... Granite Grill in Rocklin, their motto, 'A little Country and a little Rock and Roll.' Sounds like a real breakfast to me. This place is a great down-home breakfast joint. This is a place Guy Fieri would visit.

I pick Denver Cakes with eggs over-medium, a huge biscuit and iced-tea (sorry, not a coffee drinker, but need the caffeine). Denver Cakes are fried hash browns with cheese, ham topped with sour cream and green onions. Yummy!

8:35 a.m. 3,000 calories later. Why do I carb and calorie load (guilt, guilt, and more guilt)? It's a bamboo diet day! No worries, right?

10:30 a.m. - Truck rolls up loaded with bamboo plants. It's a windy, showery day. Thought - oh no, this is going to be a rough day, lots of physical work. But, instantly, my calorie guilt begins to melt.

Hauling 300 bamboo five gallon plants (20 pounds each), from the front driveway to the back yard... bamboo diet time! Between by wife and I, that's 3 tons of plants. Holy ?%$#!

3:30 p.m. I'm beat, all plants put away in the backyard. After that Breakfast of Champions, I figured I gained at least five pounds, but after the blood, sweat and tears, I lost two pounds (verified it on our ultra-precise Target scale). Not alot, but it was enough to erase the guilt from my calorie-loaded breakfast indulgence.

7:30 a.m tomorrow (rubbing my tired eyes) - Where did all this bamboo come from and how do I get rid of it? Yikes! That's another story...

Forget Atkins, forget South Beach, I am a believer in the Bamboo Diet.

Cheers!

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

Wind - 1, Bamboo - 0. Tales of a 'severe' California storm...

2011-03-24T21:00:00.000-07:00

Crazy California weather, as crazy as it gets in Rocklin, CA. High wind gusts, plenty of blown-down fences, gobs of rain, even some teeny-tiny hail, garbage bins in the middle of the street (yes, thank the fates for it being garbage day today!) and Cats and Dogs living in perfect harmony (OK, that an exaggeration). It's pandemonium, its chaos, it's a Northern California storm.

This is a first for me, a bamboo culm toppled over in defeat from high California winds. Yeah, I've heard many times that we Californians don't know what a real storm is.

This was a Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' culm. Sacramento storms are not snowy but fierce. Today was a doozy. Hopefully, our weather sages are right on - temps in the high 60's, low 70's in a few days.

Will Spring finally spring (a bit of sun after the storm)?

Yours in optimism,

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com
Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook
Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Rain, rain, rain... is helping the bamboo shoot, shoot, shoot!

2011-03-19T20:44:00.000-07:00

It's a long stretch of rain, which can be grey and dull, but holds great promise for the shooting season for running bamboo here in Sacramento. Last week, I discovered, with great joy, that my Phylostachys edulis 'Moso' was shooting. The deluge of rain has the ability to renew the plant's top foliage from the cold dry winter winds and help the bamboo plants push fresh bamboo shoots from the cold ground. Once this cold front pushes through our area and we approach warmer April days and nights, I think it holds great promise for some beautiful, unique and vigorous bamboo shoots reaching for the sky here in the Sacramento region.

I couldn't help myself today, even in the rain to take some photos of some of the new bamboo shoots:

This is Phylostachys bissetti, known to be one of the first running bamboos to shoot.

This is the beautiful Semiarundaria yashadake kimmei, it gets red from sun exposure. One of my favorite running bamboos.

Here's to some warm sunny days around the corner!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

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Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Ugh.. Garden "impulse buy" today... but I like it!

2011-03-12T21:16:00.000-08:00

Got up early today, one of our first stops for the early morning was a nearby 'big box' hardware/garden/home improvement store. Got - some fertilizer for the lawn, some flowers for a hanging basket, some twine, a tree saw and a 'roaming gnome.'

Yes, you heard right - a 'roaming gnome' of Travelocity fame sold in the same aisle with the solar light Buddha, the Cat with angel wings and the faux copper crane. Totally useless, totally what I wouldn't buy if I had a good night's sleep, I was a marketer's dream - I succumbed to an 'impulse buy', I hate to admit it.

If you love CBS's longstanding series, The Amazing Race, you get the significance.

Needless to say, my girls were thrilled when we brought the 'roaming gnome' home and now he (or it) has a place in the garden (this photo taken among the bamboo). He looks happy, but 'still-faced' and stoic.

Damn those 'impulse buys', they got me this time!

Cheers!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
www.madmanbamboo.com
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Twitter: @madmanbamboo

First bamboo shoots of the season!

2011-03-11T16:09:00.000-08:00

After some good rain and some higher daytime temperatures in the Sacramento area, the running bamboo is finally starting to shoot. Running bamboo typically begins to shoot in the late Winter through the Spring.

Of course knowing this, this is when I rustle through my bamboo selection in the search for new shoots, like a kid in a candy store. Running bamboo when it shoots offers unique textures and colors; and on top of that, extraordinary vertical growth as the culms shoot to the sky. Warms my Bamboo Geek heart to see bamboo shooting. It's one of the things I look forward to seeing and its one of my signs that Spring is really not that far away.

Above is a photo of what I discovered today, 6-7 new culms on my Phylostachys edulis 'Moso', a giant timber variety, one of the largest bamboos in the world. It can reach a maximum height of 75 feet with 7 inch diameter culms. They build with Moso canes in China, it's that big.

Enjoy the weather and look out for those emerging bamboo shoots!

Cheers!

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

Bamboo in Washington D.C.

2011-03-06T21:49:00.000-08:00

Last week, I was in Washington D.C. for work. The day I left to travel to Sacramento, I had a few hours before my flight to sight-see. I totally lucked out on this trip, the lowest temperature I encountered was 16 degrees and it was snow-free, with plenty of sunshine. Despite the great weather, Washington D.C. was the last place I would have thought of to have much bamboo around.

Despite my low expectations for bamboo sight-seeing, here are some surprises along the way that I found:

I ran into this Exxon gas station where I found bamboo incorporated into the landscape.

Here is my visit to the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) located along the National Mall near the Capitol Building. What came across my mind when I walked through the doors - 'I have arrived.' The USBG was part of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison's shared dream of having a national botanic garden. The USBG has been open to the public since 1850. It maintains over 60,000 plants for exhibition, study, conservation and exchange with other institutions. Some part of the current collection are from the original 1842 founding collection.

This is Bambusa textilis 'Weaver's Bamboo' inside the USBG. Could never grow outside in Washington D.C., but in the conservatory, no problem.

Is this Black Bamboo? Nope. Its, sugar cane. Poaceae Saccharum, a distant relative of bamboo.

Bambusa vulgaris 'Vittata', a clumping bamboo that can take temperatures down to 30 degrees. Would never grow outside in Washington D.C. (and wouldn't even do well in more moderate Sacramento), but in the USBG, no problem.

A Cacao Tree.

I thought this was a clever use of bamboo poles for decoration inside the USBG.

That night, I took a LONG.......... flight home to Sacramento. As I dragged by jet-lagged body through the terminal at Sacramento International Airport and into the newly constructed Terminal A parking garage, I caught a glimpse of something that looked like bamboo. Walking over, it was indeed bamboo! I grabbed my camera and took this shot. Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo'. Sheltered from the relatively mild Sacramento winter wind, it was a great looking specimen and a fitting end to my trip to Washington D.C. As Dorothy said... 'There's no place like home." Glad to be back!

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

Radio interview this morning discussing bamboo with "Farmer Fred" Hoffman on his "KFBK Garden Show"

2011-02-27T21:24:00.000-08:00

Here is my radio interview this morning discussing bamboo with "Farmer Fred" Hoffman on his "KFBK Garden Show" on NewsTalk 1530 KFBK in Sacramento, California. I had a great time spreading the good word about bamboo!

Listen here (2/27/11 Show)

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

A Bamboo Geek's trip to Disneyland

2011-02-27T19:39:00.000-08:00

My daughters had the week off from school, the result of teacher furloughs (in California) consolidated in one week, so we made the most of it and made a pilgrimage down to Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth. Naturally, most 'normal' people would be excited about what else - the rides. I was of course excited about the rides, but my other thrill was marveling at how Disney set the theme or 'feel' of particular areas by using my favorite plant - bamboo. All well done in my opinion, which is what Disney theme parks pride themselves on.

One observation though, the Sacramento Zoo, really does give Disneyland a run for its money when it comes to using bamboo. The best example of using bamboo to set a theme or 'feel,' locally, is at the Red Panda exhibit at the Sacramento Zoo. The Sacramento Zoo does a good job using diverse bamboo varieties to provide interest and texture on the grounds. My only gripe, is that the Sacramento Zoo doesn't label their bamboo, and neither does Disney.

But, I digress. Here is a collection of photos from my trip to Disneyland this past week. Enjoy!

In line for the Pirates of Caribbean ride at Disneyland.

The entrance to Adventureland. One of my favorite areas in Disneyland. I love the tropical feel.

This was on the Jungle Cruise ride in Adventureland in the Disneyland Park. The picture is blurry because the guy driving the boat was going really fast through the ride - thought that ran through my head was "...hey dude, slow down, can't you see I'm trying to get some bamboo photos here!" Of course I got many eye rolls from family members as I snapped away.

This was at the California Adventure Park (adjacent to Disneyland) in Bugs Land, by far the best place to see bamboo. In the background is the Hollywood Tower of Terror, one of the best thrill rides in the California Adventure Park.

I think this is Bambusa textilis. Located in Bugs Land at the Flik's Flyers ride.

Graffiti on bamboo at Bugs Land.

This was also at Bugs Land. Great striping. I believe this is Bambusa etuldoides 'Viridivittata', a clumping bamboo. Not very common in Northern California.

This is a good example of how bamboo can be hedged. This is some type of Phylostachys located in Bugs Land.

Near the entrance to Bugs Land. I believe this is Pseudosasa amabilis 'Tonkin Cane'.

After a long day of walking, going on rides and looking at bamboo, who wouldn't want to have a nice Bamboo Massage. Ironically, this was taken at the hotel we stayed at.

Hope you enjoyed the Disneyland Bamboo Tour!

Cheers!

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

Talking bamboo tomorrow (Sunday) on Farmer Fred's "KFBK Garden Show"

2011-02-26T11:58:00.000-08:00

I'll be on Farmer Fred's "KFBK Garden Show" on NewsTalk 1530 KFBK in Sacramento, California tomorrow morning (Sunday) 9 am or so. We'll be talking about bamboo. Hope you can tune in! If you miss the live broadcast, they also have the past shows online via podcasts.

Tune your radio dial to AM 1530 or listen online here - http://www.farmerfred.com/.

Cheers!

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

Bamboo in new BILT containers

2011-02-20T17:48:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I braved the rain and some hail (tiny Sacramento-sized hail) to finally get my Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' in my green BILT container. I had these custom made as bamboo containers as they are made with mostly recycled steel and they come in some really unique, cool colors.

The containers are designed and built by Jeffrey Dodd (pictured above). The containers that Jeff builds are usually on a smaller scale, but he was very accommodating and took on my request to build larger custom containers that can hold bamboo. The problem these containers solve is that, unlike a ceramic pot, these containers will never break or crack under the pressure of a woody bamboo rhizome mass. Jeff, like me, is obsessed with plants and is a self-described collector. He began designing plant containers in the early 90's as a student at Cal Berkeley. Jeff also has an appreciation for color and structure and used his skills in metal-working to come up with a beautiful line of plant containers.

Needless to say, I was quite excited when my two metal containers arrived a few weeks ago. So, Saturday I finally got the planting area prepared for the 'Black Bamboo'. Originally, I had two clumping bamboo in the space. One, a Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Midori' grew in a wide 'V' shape and wasn't upright like I expected, so I took it out. The other plant, a Thamnocalamus tesselatus, a South African bamboo, didn't take too well to the sunny spot I had it in, so I also removed it. I never really had a good demonstration of 'Black Bamboo' for my customers to see, so it was logical to use my new rectangle green BILT container as I felt it offered a great color contrast and presents the bamboo plant very well.

I did alot of prepping to make sure that no errant rhizomes escape, so I laid down some 24 inch rhizome barrier down first, then placed some $1 pavers on top. This was especially important since the 'Black Bamboo', a running bamboo, is close to a lot line and don't want it running into my neighbor's property. Probably overkill, but it gives my wife and I a sense of relief.

After some moving the plants around to get that perfect angle and some dirty hands, voila, it's in and it looks great!

So today (Sunday), it was time to finish the job and plant my Semiarundaria yashadake kimmei, a beautiful running bamboo that is yellow with green stripes but gets a beautiful dark deep red-purple on the culms when exposed to the sun. I thought this was a perfect choice for the red square BILT container. Using the same preparation as the day before, it's now sitting happily in its new home.

These containers look modern, stylish and they are very practical. If your interested in learning more about these 'bamboo-sized' containers, give me a call or shoot me an e-mail.

Hard work, but I feel a sense of accomplishment and now have some beautiful containers to show off my beautiful bamboo.

Cheers!

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

Adventures in Composting: Putting together our tumbling composter

2011-02-13T21:04:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago, we bought a tumbling composter after our box composter had some critter issues. My wife likes to incorporate fruit and vegetable scraps into the compost pile, but that can lead to some unwanted critters making home in the compost. Last summer, I opened the top of the old composter and a small rat leaped (literally) from the composter to the tall Photinia bushes nearby, a mere four feet. Needless to say, it scared both the rat and me.

So, we went with the fully enclosed and raised tumbling composter. Of course, what I am looking for is some good rich compost to supplement my soil for bamboo and other plants in the garden.

The first chuckle as we assessed the adventure ahead of us was the statement on the large blister pack full of screws, bolts and parts - 'Hardware is actual size." Really....

The composter's brand was Lifetime, no doubt branded to mean it lasts a lifetime, but after today, it felt like a lifetime to put it together. You know your in for it when you have to use a drill, it has instructions in six languages and it says "takes two adults to assemble." Throw in some blood-thirsty mosquitoes and it's a good time!

After a few choice words and a few screws leftover, we constructed the tumbling composter. Rich dark beautiful compost, here we come!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
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Bamboo pruning tip: 'Legging Up' gives bamboo that classic look

2011-02-12T20:45:00.000-08:00

Often when thinking of bamboo in a nicely manicured garden, it's common to associate it with long, exposed vertical culms (canes) topped with nice green, dense foliage. Neat, sleek and clean looking - there is a way to prune bamboo to create this 'classic' bamboo look, called 'Legging up.'

'Legging up' involves pruning thin, weak culms from the plant; and cutting off the branches and leaves from the nodes from the lower three to four feet of the plant. Use a sharp pair of pruning shears to make clean cuts both in thinning culms; and in cutting the branches and leaves from the nodes. 'Legging up' should be done around May for clumping bamboo and September for running bamboo.

It's easy to do and is actually beneficial to the bamboo plant because it opens up the interior to more sunlight and airflow. Further, the loss of old leaves puts more energy back into the root mass to further future culm development and the generation of new, fresh leaves.

Many Sacramento area homes have pools that have a tropical-style landscape. 'Legging up' bamboo in a tropical landscape offers the lush green upper foliage (for privacy) while showing off the beauty of the culms, giving that true 'jungle feel' to any yard.

Bamboo varieties that lend well to 'legging up' include:

Clumping

Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr' (pictured above)
Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo'
Bambusa ventricosa 'Buddha's Belly Bamboo'

Running

Most of the Phylostachys species; 30 feet and taller (includes 'Black Bamboo' and Phylostachys bambusoides 'Castillon')

'Legging up' is an easy pruning technique that lends well to Asian-style and tropical-style gardens. It's good for the plants and shows off the beauty of the culms that would naturally be covered in foliage if untouched (like a bush). It's also a great way to keep your bamboo plant healthy as well. Give it a try and you'll be happy with the results.

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

Stroll through Capitol Park (Sacramento)... and find a beautiful bamboo grove!

2011-02-07T21:25:00.000-08:00

Today, I took a longer way to head to my car (headed home) after a meeting at the Capitol Building through Capitol Park. I had heard of a really nice bamboo grove in Capitol Park (Downtown Sacramento) but had never encountered it. Ironically, I had worked in downtown Sacramento for seven years (1998-2005) and had visited the Capitol Building for work several times a week but never encountered this bamboo grove. Now, I go once a month or so and I found it, funny how things happen.

So... walk down 13th and L St. (towards Capitol Park ) towards the bright white Capitol Dome and you'll see this:

Phylostachys bambusoides 'Japanese Giant Timber Bamboo', immaculately maintained.

Up front, beautiful culms.

Picture perfect.

And an awesome grove of 'Cooking Bananas', biggest I have ever seen in this area.

Drop by Capitol Park, if you haven't seen this bamboo grove, it's worth seeking out. A gem in the heart of Downtown Sacramento

Enjoy!

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

What's that poking out of the ground? Bamboo shooting season is almost here.

2011-02-05T20:44:00.000-08:00

For a 'Bamboo Geek' like me it's an exciting time of year. Late Winter/early Spring is the time of year when running bamboo starts shooting brand new culms (canes).

Culms come out and look nothing like their eventual final form. Bright colors, spots, interesting forms all make 'shoot watching' an interesting obsession. If there were a 'plant watching' hobby (like bird watching) staring at fresh bamboo as it emerges from the ground would be top on the list, at least for someone like me (yes, I know - very strange).

So... with great anticipation, I present my predictions for when the new shoots will emerge from the ground here in the Sacramento area. This assumes moderate temperatures like we have had recently prevail; and some moderate precipitation continues as well. Other conditions that can influence shooting are - fertilization and sun exposure, so expectations should be somewhat tempered based on the conditions of your garden. This is a list of some of the more popular running bamboo varieties that I expect to shoot soon:

Early shooters - right now:

Pleiobalstus viridistriatus 'Dwarf Greenstripe'

Pleioblastus fortunei 'Dwarf Whitestripe'

Pleioblastus pygmaeus 'Pygmy Bamboo'

Phylostachys edulis 'Moso' (Giant Timber Bamboo) - March 7 - 14 (pictured above)

Phylostachys aurea 'Spectabilis' (there is alot of "Golden Bamboo', a close cousin of 'Spectabilis', growing in the Sacramento area, especially up in Placer County) - April 1 - 8 (pictured above).

Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo' (Sacramentan's love Black Bamboo) - April 15 - 30

Phylostachys nigra 'Leopard-Skin Bamboo' - April 15 - 30 (pictured above).

Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima' - May 15 - 22

If you are a Bamboo Geek, you will enjoy this time of year, Sacramento is a great place to grow bamboo - decent rainfall, lots of sun and plenty of opportunities to use running bamboo (contained is suggested). Be it in a container or planted with a rhizome barrier, keep your eyes open the next few weeks, something may be emerging from the garden floor from a long winter's sleep. Enjoy it, it is quite a sight.

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

Miniature bamboo: Short on stature, but not on beauty...

2011-01-30T20:02:00.000-08:00

When most people think of bamboo, its natural to think of a tall, upright grove or forest, full of beauty. Some beautiful examples of large bamboo specimens can be found in places such as the Sagano Bamboo Forrest at Arashiyama on the outskirts of Kyoto, Japan; or the famous bamboo groves found on the way to Hana on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Some of these groves have culms as tall as 75 feet.

Contrary to what many think of as the most beautiful bamboo, some of the most beautiful bamboo, in my opinion, are four feet or less - what I call - 'miniature' bamboo. These small bamboos offer some dazzling qualities that can add interest to most gardens. Ironically enough, despite their small stature, these small running bamboo are among some of the most aggressive and are recommended to be used as potted plants only, unless you have room for these small plants to roam. As a landscape plant, these 'miniature' bamboo plants are often used as a groundcover.

Here is a sample of what I consider to be the best of the 'miniature' running bamboos:

Pleioblastus humilis 'Albovariegatus' - less than four feet - some afternoon shade. This variety was introduced into the United States by the late bamboo pioneer Gerald Bol in 1994.

Pleioblastus viridistriatus 'Dwarf Greenstripe' - less than three feet - needs mostly shade, especially in the afternoon (even more important in Sacramento's hot summer afternoons).

Pleioblastus fortunei 'Dwarf Whitestripe' - less than four feet - needs mostly shade.

Some other interesting bamboo 'miniatures' include - Pleioblastus distichus 'Mini' (less than one foot); Pleioblastus linearis 'Nana' (less than four feet) and Pleioblastus akebono (less than two feet) and Pleioblastus pygmaeus 'Pygmy Bamboo' (less than two feet).

Some other interesting smaller varieties that are not 'miniature,' but work well for containers include:

Indocalamus tessellatus - grows to about four feet, but can grow up to 10 feet in ideal conditions. The leaves grow as long as 26 inches long by 5 inches wide.

Sasa veitchii 'Kuma-Zasa' - Max height is five feet, usually less. Needs shade in the afternoon in Sacramento.

Every year, these 'miniature' bamboos regenerate new leaves starting in March and in many cases as with Pleioblastus viridistriatus 'Dwarf Greenstripe' and Plieoblastus fortunei 'Dwarf Whitestripe', the old winter worn leaves can be mowed down all together to make room for the new brilliant growth.

While the big bamboos often steal the limelight, these 'miniature' bamboos shouldn't be overlooked. These small bamboo don't carry around alot of height, but certainly alot of character. They are a perfect addition to any Sacramento landscape that has some shade on the patio or in the garden.

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

Don't miss our April 9, 2011 Bamboo Open House in Rocklin, CA - details coming soon.

A bamboo that Folsom can call its very own... Phylostachys nigra 'Daikokuchiku' or 'Folsom Black'

2011-01-23T20:46:00.000-08:00

Phylostachys nigra 'Daikokuchiku' is a variety of Giant Black Bamboo that hails from one lone bamboo grove in Folsom, California. Normally, regular 'Black Bamboo' maxes at 30 feet and about 2 inches in culm diameter. Phylostachys nigra 'Daikokuchiku', also known as 'Folsom Black,' maxes at 57 feet and 3.3 inches in diameter and is known to be a deeper shade of black and turning black much quicker than regular Black Bamboo (Black Bamboo shoots green initially and turns black over 2 years).

Some who have propagated from this grove in Folsom state that its tremendous growth is attributable to good genetics, lots of hot Sacramento sun (I guess those hot 100 degree summers are good for something) and a well irrigated, deep sandy loam soil.

Some skeptics, clearly not from the Sacramento region, attribute the tremendous growth of 'Folsom Black' Bamboo to just lots of sun exposure from being a well placed bamboo grove. Naturally, its more than that, right? Not that I am biased.

When I speak with my fellow bamboo collectors (other 'bamboo geeks') or with customers, it gives me a sense of pride that Phylostachys nigra 'Daikokuchiku' or 'Folsom Black' came from the Sacramento area. Most people gather pride in where they live by a defining attribute for the area that makes it special - a well-performing local professional sports team (no comment), a pervasive industry (like Milwaukee's beer brewing history), or a city with unique character (like Santa Cruz, San Diego or San Antonio).

For a 'bamboo geek' like me - its a one-of-a-kind Giant Black Bamboo from Folsom. I know... I'm hopeless, but happy in my simple pleasures.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter: @madmanbamboo

Cool container ideas for bamboo...

2011-01-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

Recently, I have been looking for alternatives to glazed pottery for my running bamboo plants. Glazed pottery works fine with bamboo, the only issue is that the running bamboo's root mass will eventually get so woody and dense, that it exerts enough pressure to break the ceramic. This usually happens after about four to five years after the initial planting in the ceramic pot.

A month or so ago, I wrestled a couple of running bamboo from their ceramic containers. One came out of the pot with alot of effort but the pot survived the ordeal. The second was not so lucky as shown above.

This prompted me to start think outside of the usual. Here are some unique containers that work well for running bamboo and add some style to any yard:

This was a homemade creation of mine made from an old rubber horse trough that I had gotten free from a co-worker. I took some bamboo edging and secured it around the perimeter of the container with copper wire. So, got the benefit of the container and it looks great.

This is a favorite of mine - a metal horse trough. You can often find these used on places like Craigslist or you can buy them new at your local horse supply shop. This is one I bought last Summer and contains my rare Phylostachys aura 'Dr. Don.'

This is a company I was recently introduced to - BILT Products. They make beautifully designed steel planters that are made from steel sourced in the San Francisco Bay Area, made with no less than 50% recycled steel, designed and produced in the United States. I will be getting two of these containers soon (larger custom sizes for bamboo) and will share photos of bamboo planted in them soon. With colors like "Retro Green," "Safety Orange," and "Blood Red," what's not to get excited about. Modern and practical, I love it!

Finally, I am all about reuse. This was an old wash basin that I found at a house my relatives just moved into. The previous owner left it and had used it as a plant container (holes drilled in the bottom). I cleaned it up and planted a bamboo plant in it. Looks rustic and is functional.

These are just a few ideas. These ceramic pot alternatives can withstand the strong push of bamboo rhizomes and allow you to enjoy running bamboo without worrying about the invasiveness. Bamboo plants in containers do need to be cut back and maintained over time, but at least you can rest assured that the plants won't bust your container. Have any good container ideas? Share them here or send me an e-mail with photos and I'd be happy to share them.

Cheers!

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

10 easy ways to tell if your a Bamboo Geek...

2011-01-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

If you couldn't tell by this blog site - I love bamboo. So much, that it is kind of a nerdy obsession of mine. I'm a Bamboo Geek, and I wear that label with pride. Through the years I have met many like me. It's comforting to know your not alone in this obsession over a giant grass. So, how can you tell if you are a 'Bamboo Geek?' Here are the top ten ways to diagnose it:

10. The majority of your plants have Bambusa (large family of clumping bamboos that grow well in the Sacramento area) in the plant tag name.

9. You know what the heck a Bambusa is.

8. When your bamboo plant begins to shoot, you refer to the shoots as - 'my little babies.' As in, "I can't wait for my little babies grow up!"

7. You go to the zoo and take more pictures of the bamboo than you do of the animals (or maybe even your own children). The Sacramento Zoo has some of the nicest bamboo specimens around - but completely unlabeled.

6. You can actually pronounce Phylostachys right, one of the largest family of running bamboos (the very popular Black Bamboo is a Phylostachys).

5. You are a member of the American Bamboo Society (you know who you are). Great organization by the way.

4. You have more than three things in your house made out of bamboo.

3. At a nursery, forget the Japanese Maples, forget the vegetables, you make a bee-line to the bamboo.

2. You ask for a bamboo plant for your birthday.

1. Your one of the few people that doesn't like Panda Bears (just kidding, I actually love them, but they are not invited to hang out at my house anytime soon).

Well? You a Bamboo Geek? If so, welcome, your in good company!

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

Irony... bamboo style (bamboo and pole vaulting)

2011-01-07T20:45:00.000-08:00

I'm always drawn to bamboo history, after all history was one of my majors in college. It was a subject that I thoroughly enjoyed and still do today. But most often, I never have a personal tie to bamboo history, but tonight's post is different.

This brings me to a story about the world record pole vaulter Cornelius Warmerdam who used a bamboo pole throughout his pole vaulting career. After setting many records, he was destined for the Olympics, in 1940 and 1944, but World War II led to those Olympics being cancelled.

Warmerdam's pole vaulting career started modestly by pole vaulting in his backyard using the limb of a peach tree and landing in a pit of piled up dirt. Warmerdam went on to make several pole vaulting records with his bamboo pole and was inducted into several halls of fame for his pole vaulting records. He later became a track and field coach for Fresno State University and the stadium at the university was later named after Warmerdam.

Cornelius, known as "Dutch" to his friends, spent a good portion of this youth growing up in Hanford, California (where I was born and lived for my first 18 years) and graduated from Hanford High School, my alma mater. I also went to Hanford High School with Catherine Warmerdam, which I suspect was a relative (not definite, but likely). Catherine was a co-editor with me for Hanford High's Meteor student newspaper.

The summer before I went off to college, my future wife and I worked for Catherine's family who owned a fruit packing shed (apples and stone fruit), making boxes and learning to drive a forklift (a scary thought). That job taught me about hard work and gave me appreciation for how hard immigrants work for little pay to keep food on our plates. Work that is unappreciated by most, but for a 18 year old, it was a life lesson I will never forget.

Warmerdam, coming from a modest background, broke records, all with a bamboo pole. Can't help to appreciate this piece of history!

Cheers!

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

Guest Blog: Planting a Rooftop Garden

2011-01-04T21:14:00.000-08:00

Today is a guest blog post on a topic that sparked a lot of interest when I blogged about it a few weeks ago - rooftop gardening. I encountered some roof top gardens on a trip to San Francisco last Summer and it sparked my interest ever since. Seems many more people are just as interested in the concept.

I invited Dontel Montelbaun, the lead writer for LiveToGarden.com, who also expressed interest in the topic, to write this article on rooftop gardens for our blog. Enjoy!

Sean

Planting a Rooftop Garden

by Dontel Montelbaun; Lead writer for LiveToGarden.com

Rooftop gardens do more than make your roof or rooftop patio look good -- they can also save you money and benefit the environment. When planting your garden, you should know where to buy plants, what types there are and what they can do for you and the Earth.

Types of Plants

A variety of plants will thrive in rooftop gardens, but remember to plant only what you can maintain. You don't need to have high-maintenance plants, but they do require regular watering (if it doesn't rain often enough). Planting hardy shrubs and surrounding them with seasonal bulbs is visually appealing and easy to maintain.

Bamboo plants, such as Pseudosasa japonica and Phylostachys bissetti, are good for rooftop gardens because they can handle high winds; bamboo planted along the edge of your garden can even act as an environmentally sustainable privacy screen.

When choosing your plants, you need to know what your roof can handle structurally and how much sunlight the plants will get. If your roof can't handle a lot of extra weight, consider planting herbs and perennials. They require very little soil compared to shrubs and larger plants.

Where to Buy Plants

Your local garden center and growers should be able to provide you with the plants you need. Find out what they keep in stock and see what looks healthy. Just like any plants you buy, those for your rooftop garden should come with planting instructions, such as required soil depth and amount of sunlight, that will help you take care of them.

Rooftop Garden Sustainability

Rooftop gardens are highly sustainable and increase your outdoor green space. They're a unique extra to any home or business and offer benefits that outweigh the cost. Rooftop gardens can:

Decrease the amount of noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.
Reduce rain runoff by absorbing precipitation.
Act as a natural insulator, saving you money on heating and cooling and reducing your energy consumption.
Reduce carbon dioxide and produce oxygen.

Thanks to some of these benefits, rooftop gardens are increasingly being viewed as a way to fight climate change.

A Practical Choice for Homes or Businesses

Rooftop gardens do not require flat roofs. Even if your roof wasn't built for extra weight on top, check out the structural possibilities. Lightweight gardens are possible and are still beneficial to you and the environment.

Colorful bamboo plants

2011-01-01T12:38:00.000-08:00

When most people think of bamboo, its usually an image of a tall green screen. What really got me into collecting bamboo about 10 or so years ago was its wide range of colors, each very unique in its own way. Your typical green bamboo is no doubt beautiful in its own way, but here is a gallery of some of my favorite colorful bamboo plants that will knock your socks off:

This is a cut culm of Himalayacalamus hookerianus 'Teague's Blue', named after the late Bill Teague, this colorful beauty is a clumping bamboo that needs afternoon shade in our Sacramento climate.

This is another photo of 'Teague's Blue' Bamboo.

This is Bambusa multiplex 'Alphonse Karr', a clumping bamboo that takes full sun and does very well in our Sacramento climate. This variety is ideal as a privacy hedge, but retains some ornamental beauty.

This is a running bamboo called Semiarundaria yashadake 'Kimmei'. This variety takes full sun and takes on a deep red-purple coloring when exposed to the sun. This variety does well as a container-grown bamboo. This is a photo I took this past week.

Himalayacalamus falconeri 'Damarapi' 'Candystripe Bamboo' is a afternoon-shade clumping bamboo that is a great ornamental. The colors shown here ironically are their brightest around the holidays.

This Borinda fungosa, a clumping bamboo that needs shade from our hot Sacramento afternoons. In the right place, this variety can serve as a privacy hedge as it is very dense. I've seen this variety informally referred to as 'Chocolate Bamboo.'

Last, but certainly not least, is Phylostachys nigra punctata 'Giant Black Bamboo.' Not colorful as in vibrant, but black is a color after all and this variety is very unique and very popular. This photo was taken by my friend and Bambutopia blogger, Gerhard Bock, of a plant in my collection. Used with permission.

If you ask most bamboo collectors or even the average gardener seeking to spice up their yard, bamboo offers a tremendous variety of texture, color and size opportunities. For me, the color is what got me hooked and many other people I know. Enjoy and don't get bit by the 'bamboo bug!'

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Twitter - @madmanbamboo

Leaf litter from bamboo... more or less than the average tree?

2010-12-30T16:16:00.000-08:00

As I raked leaves today, it reminded me of a question I get all the time from customers buying bamboo plants - 'Is bamboo a messy plant?' This is usually asked in the context of leaves and other plant litter dropping in a pool or in a landscape that is conspicuously maintained.

Compared to a deciduous tree that drops its leaves every Fall, my experience is that bamboo is a 'cleaner' plant'. Why? Bamboo tends to drop culm sheaths (a large one from a Bambusa oldhamii 'Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo' is pictured above side-by-side with my hand), some leaves from the plant (they shed and renew leaves throughout the year) and some dead branchlets that fall off cleanly at the nodes.

Based on my observation in my yard (looking at the row of non-deciduous Photinia bushes we have along the fence) and seeing other similar plants used for privacy, bamboo is equally, if not less messy than the average bush or tree used for privacy.

Bamboo leaf litter drops close to the base of the bamboo plant (most bamboos are pretty column-like in growth, compared to an average tree that tends to grow in a triangular form). Also, tree leaves are lighter, generally speaking, and are easily carried in the wind to areas of the yard where they are not wanted.

One item to note on leaf litter from bamboo, is that it is actually good to leave bamboo leaf litter at the base of the bamboo plant because that leaf litter contains a small amount of Silica which is important for the growth of the bamboo. In a sense, the bamboo plant is re-feeding itself an important element to its long-term growth - Silica.

Is bamboo mess-free? No. But, in my observation over the years it is equally, if not less messy, than many of the common trees and bushes used for privacy, plus its a much more interesting plant. Not that I'm biased...

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook

Mad Man Bamboo on Twitter - @madmanbamboo

Break in the rain... is that the sun?

2010-12-29T15:56:00.000-08:00

It was nice today to get a break from the rain. As we came home from a movie, a group of tiny birds were flying around in our Azalea bushes and the bamboo in the front yard (what we called 'Fat little Finch-like birds'; sorry to all those bird watchers for our made up name). I quickly grabbed a camera and got one shot, not great, but can you find the tiny bird?

Also checked out the rain barrel, which is brimming to the top, problem is, I can't find a plant that needs watering, oh well, might come in handy a few months from now.

And, as I headed in, I caught this shot of a very bright sun peering through our 'Alphonse Karr' bamboo. Nice to get a break from the rain and see some blue sky.

Cheers!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook