When is the next Open House?

Thanks to all the really nice people that came to my two Bamboo Open Houses on October 31 and November 14. Met lots of people that appreciate bamboo and had a good time teaching more about bamboo and all its benefits in the garden.

The big question I have been getting is - When is the next Open House?

Answer: I am planning the next Open House in March 2010 to kick off the spring season. If you want to be notified when the date is set, I highly recommend signing up for our e-mail list, the black box to the right of my web page - www.madmanbamboo.com.

In the meantime, I go back to how I was selling bamboo before, by appointment. So, if you really want that special bamboo plant now, give me a call at (916) 300-6335 or e-mail me at sean@madmanbamboo.com. I am available by appointment Saturdays and Sunday and every other Friday (next Friday off is 11/20).

Thanks again for all the support, looking forward to more encounters with all the fellow bamboo aficionados.

Cheers!

Sean

Red bamboo......

Received a question from a Facebook Fan on my Mad Man Bamboo Nursery facebook page. Question was whether I have run across bamboo with red leaves.

The answer..... no, not full red, sometimes you'll get slight hints of red, like new keaves on Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima.'

But there are bamboo plants that get vibrant red culms when exposed to bright sunlight and/or cold.

Phylostachys aurea 'Spectabalis', Phylostachys bambusoides 'Castillon', Himalayacalamus falconeri damarapi 'Candystripe Bamboo' and Semiarundaria yashadake 'Kimmei' are varieties that show this trait. There are other examples as well.

Pictured top to bottom are Himalayacalamus falconeri damarapi 'Candystripe Bamboo', Phylostacys bambusoides 'Castillon' and Semiarundaria yashadake 'Kimmei.'

Cheers!

Sean

Interesting question from a reader: Larger the diameter for bamboo, the stronger it is? True or false?

Received an interesting e-mail from Javier, a reader of this blog that posted the following question:

"Hi Sean,

Is it safe to say that the larger the diameter the bamboo is, the stronger it is? If not, please shed some light on this.

Many thanks,

Javier"

Great question and the answer is "no." It really depends on the fiber and lignen (the white binding material between the fibers) and how tightly packed they are. So, bamboo with larger air chambers (like Phylostachys heteroclada "Water Bamboo") in them or ones that are not as densely packed, even if they are large in diameter, are not necessarily the strongest.

But more impressive is the fact that bamboo, in its very strongest form is like reinforced concrete and is, in some cases, stronger than steel. Steel has a tensile strength of 23,000, while the strongest bamboo has a tensile strength of 28,000.

It also used 1/8th the energy in production that concrete does, pretty impressive.

For more interesting facts on bamboo, its strength and its possibilities for solid, environmentally friendly buildings of the future, check out the article from Discover Magazine, ironically enough, from 1996 - The Bamboo Solution.

Cheers!

Sean

Ted Jordan Meredith's Pocket Guide to Bamboo Plants is out, yeah!

I got a tip from a good friend in the bamboo nursery business a couple of months ago about Ted Jordan Meredith's Pocket Guide to Bamboos with is published by Timber Press. Its a pocket guide with over 300 species of bamboo in it, word is that it is full of color photos that look at all aspects of the plant, from culm colors to leaves to shoot coloration. With bamboo plants the differences are often very subtle, for those who love bamboo this holds to be a very helpful guide in discerning one bamboo species from another.

I am planning on purchasing a few copies to sell at plant sales I attend, for customers that visit my nursery and online.

If all the talk is true, this has promise to be a very valuable guide from a very credible bamboo expert that will be used for all that love bamboo, from the beginner bamboo lover to the most seasoned bambusero.

Cheers!

Sean

History and plants: The story behind "Alphonse Karr" bamboo

Its funny to think about how plants are named an who named them. I'm always amazed by a clumping bamboo, Bambusa multiplex "Alphonse Karr", a rather common bamboo that you can find at most nurseries. But in this case "Alphonse Karr" happens to be a rather spectacular plant - it grows really well in the Sacramento region, is perfect for an upright privacy screen and has beautiful ornamental features. Yellow, with green stripes and shades of vibrant red, this plant is more than common, its almost like looking at art, very striking.

I appreciate history and was quite happy to find the background on the name behind this spectacular bamboo plant in the December 2008 edition of Bamboo Magazine. Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr, a 19th Century French writer, satirist and newspaper man, born in 1808 found a love for plants when he moved to Nice, France in 1855. Known in the literary world for writing 12 novels and sering as the editor of the French weekly satirical, Le Figaro.

He later became known for his founding of the cut flower trade along the French Riviera and no one quite knows the tie to the famous bamboo, but either someone ion the 19th Century plant world named it after him for his love of plants (or a fan of his writings) or perhaps observed traits of a bamboo plant owned by Mr. Karr.

Something not given much thought usually, but fascinating nonetheless. Every plant has a story.

Cheers!

Sean

Bamboo and Tabasco sauce

Being a member of the American Bamboo Society, I get a copy of Bamboo Magazine, which I really enjoy. The June 2009 edition had an article on Avery Island, Louisiana, the home of E.A. McIlhenny's world famous Tabasco sauce. On the island is Jungle Gardens a 250 acre preserve that features exotic plants including large bamboo groves, one is a Moso grove planted by McIlhenny himself in 1910. If you have never seen Phylostachys edulis "Moso", it maxes out at 75 feet tall with 7 inch diameter culms, one of the largest in the world. And, the culms have a light fur on them, really nice texture.

I'll have to put Avery Island on my "must-visit" list for sure.

More info can be found here.

Cheers!

Sean

Attention Sacramento "Green Thumbs"........... a plant sale for you.

If you live in the Sacramento area, check out this plant sale where Mad Man Bamboo will be at (yes, a shameless plug) and The Golden Gecko Nursery (owned and operated by fellow garden blogger, Trey Pitensberger). Here is the excerpt from the Sacramento Perennial Plant Club's Newsletter:

"Sacramento Perennial Plant Club
9th Annual Vendor Sale
Unusual Plants and Garden Treasures
March 21, 2009, Saturday, 9:00AM to 3:00PM
Shepherd Garden and Arts Center at McKinley Park
Speaker: 12:00 noon

The March meeting will be replaced with this special event. Amber Tippett from Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply in Grass Valley will be the featured speaker (at noon) about “Growing Organic…For Life.”

Some of the nurseries participating in the sale have web sites; go online and see the variety of plants that will be available. This is a great opportunity for you to visit many wonderful specialty nurseries in one location and not have to spend your money on gas.

In this time of financial hardship, it is important that we support these small businesses. They are the people who are propagating and selling the rich variety of plants that we have come to love and can not find at the big box stores. Without the small independent nurseries, the look of our gardens will change forever. Many of the plants sell for $5.00 - $10.00 so come support the nurseries and buy one or two special plants to add to your spring planting. Tell your neighbors and friends about the sale, and we hope to see you there.

On this date a grand selection of both new and favorite vendors will arrive with their specialties from the outlaying areas to provide a wonderful collection of plants and gardenrelated art. To name just a few Vendors and what they will be bringing: Back again--Morningsun Herb Farm, Vacaville, herbs galore; Golden Pond, Loomis, aquatic plants & miniature water gardens; Canyon Creek Nursery, Oroville, shrubs, perennials and annuals; Native Springs Nursery, Oroville, Mediterranean and California native plant; Glen Rowley from Magalia and his original handmade birdhouses; Monte Cristo Farm, Placerville, Azaleas and Rhododendrons; Golden Gecko Nursery, Garden Valley and Bob Tadlock, Garden Valley,with shrubs and perennials; Mad Man Bamboo, Rocklin, and Friends of San Juan de Oreinte, Sacramento, pottery.

First time Vendors that you won’t want to miss Twisted Metal, Sacramento, The Secret Garden, Elk Grove, Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply, Grass Valley, plants and gardensupplies; Kevin Henry, Vermidragon Farm, worm castings; Merlyn Lenear, Stockton,The OG, succulents and succulent wreaths.

Most of the Vendors are donating something special for our Raffle. Last year, both Golden Pond and Morningsun Herb Farm created wonderful large pots of outstanding plants.There were many other terrific items as well. The raffle will be held at 10 AM, 11 AM and 1:30 PM. Participants must be present to win. The proceeds from this event help to fundour work supporting community gardens and local horticulture projects.

Bring your garden related questions to the Master Gardeners’ table. They will be there to help you with a plant, soil or bug related problem.

Our perennial plant club will be selling used garden related books and magazines. If you have any to donate please bring them either to the Center on Friday, late-afternoon, or earlySaturday morning, the day of the sale. We also need you look in your garden for what is blooming and bring in a sample (just one bloom or branch) of the plant and label it. We willhave a display table.

For those of you unable to volunteer your time for club events, there is a very important way that you could still help out the club and yourself: Drop by and support the event! It isfun and informative, and provides a chance to buy plants that are unusual, extra healthy and the grower is present to answer your questions. This is an important contribution that youwill be making!"

See you there my fellow "green thumbs."

Sean