A hidden garden beauty...

Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Kew Beauty'

About four years ago, I planted a rare, very clumping beautiful bamboo in the back end of my yard thinking it was the perfect spot for it to flourish.  The bamboo, Thamnocalamus crassinodus 'Kew Beauty', is very rare and exceptionally beautiful with light airy culms and leaves; and very vivid red coloring on its culms and branchlets.  It's so dainty, it really is suited for mostly shady sun conditions, especially in the Sacramento area with its hot summers and intense afternoon sun.

Pretty soon I realized this wasn't the best spot for 'Kew Beauty'.  But as with most things, finding the time to tend to the simplest things seems to be a challenge in life.

So, it sat, and sat, and sat.  Looking somewhat pitiful and untended after several years of being on the 'to-do' list, I finally dug up what is now a very mature plant and split it in two.  The largest piece I kept for myself and the rest, I plan on selling once it roots out (likely by late Summer).

After, I relocated the main plant into a large pot and under a shade structure, and cleaned it up, I was amazed how such a neglected plant could still be so beautiful.  Pictured is the smaller plant I intend to sell in the near future.  Funny how sometimes mild neglect can bring the best out in some plants.

Cheers!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
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Mad Man Bamboo and a Yard Crashers project...

After participating in production of the Season 7 premiere of DIY Network's Yard Crashers in October,  I have been waiting for several months now to see the show, and see what ultimately ended up in the final cut.

Ironically enough, I just watched the show, which premiered this past Monday, last night (Wednesday) as I was on a family vacation in Carmel, California.  The place we stayed in Carmel did not have the DIY Channel, so with that I had to wait until we got home to watch the show on the DVR.

So, I wanted to share with you my contribution to the project and my overall experience participating in Yard Crashers.  If you watched the show, you saw brief glimpses of me, but I was working hard behind the scenes on the second day of the project, planting plants and generally helping out where I could.

Overall, I had a really good time and was happy to be able to show how clumping bamboo and running bamboo can be used properly (planting the right type of bamboo in the right circumstances) to create a lush, green new yard.

The project itself was located in Sacramento in the Curtis Park neighborhood.  If you have ever watched Yard Crashers you know that they jam their projects into a two day timeframe.  With that, they mobilize a near army of contractors, artisans and nursery professionals to pull off a somewhat ambitious yard makeover.  The project was designed by Misha Lindsey of Design by Misha who did an excellent job in designing the makeover and guiding the project to completion. She was also very kind, down to earth and easy to work with.

I donated about a dozen bamboo plants to the project which you see lined against the fence.  They were Bambusa ventricosa 'Buddha's Belly Kimmei', Bambusa multiplex 'Hedge Bamboo', Phylostachys nigra 'Daikokuchiku (Giant Black Bamboo) and one Himalayacalamus hookerianus 'Teague's Blue Bamboo'.  Although not specifically mentioned in the show, the bamboo played a key role in accenting the overall "Thai look and feel" to the project and brought in some lush green foliage to what was once a very stark, average backyard.

With that, here are some photos of the entire project:

Here is the yard before the Yard Crashers Crew began.  Pretty typical yard.

When I arrived, on day two,  this is what I saw - the Thai style levitation bed's frame was done (Matt Blashaw, the show's host, was working on the roof), they were laying the foundation of the paver patio and they were well along the way to completing the new deck.

Here is Matt working with one of the homeowners with a saw.

A photo with Matt during a very brief break.

Clumping bamboo along the fence line to create that lush Thai-style backdrop.

The "Teague's Blue Bamboo", a clumping bamboo, was planted as a centerpiece ornamental near the barbecue.

I really liked the barbecue that Misha Lindsey designed.  Behind that are Phylostachys nigra 'Daikokuchiku' (Giant Black Bamboo) that were going to be placed in pots and temporarily staged behind the barbecue.

The finished levitating bed with bamboo in the background.

The finished project, which was done by around 7 pm the second night.  I was very tired by the end of the day, but had a great time and it was an experience I will never forget.

If you missed the show, click here to see when it will air again.  Once the video is posted, I will share with everyone as well.

Earlier this year, I also participated in Turf Wars which will air sometime soon.  I don't know the date yet, but will announce it here and also on our Facebook page.

Thanks for watching!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo - Rocklin, CA
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
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Beautiful miniature bamboo sighting in Midtown Sacramento...

I always love discovering bamboo used correctly and where it shows off beautifully.  Today, I was walking along K Street, somewhere near 24th Street in Midtown Sacramento, and stumbled upon some Plieoblastus viridistriatus 'Chrysophyllus', a 3 foot miniature bamboo that is a pretty aggressive runner (not suggested for planting in the open ground, but great in a patio container).  Here is 'Chrysophyllus' planted in an enclosed planter in front of a business.  Perfect spot for this type of bamboo.

Since it is now spring, the fresh new leaves, with its bright lime-yellow coloring, are really shining.  Always a nice thing to see...

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
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Awakening from a long winter slumber - running bamboo is now shooting...

For a couple of weeks now, I have spent several strolls through my garden with a keen eye on new bamboo shoots popping out of the ground from my running bamboo plants.  Until today, I strolled back in the house a bit disappointed, but still hopeful that it would only be a few more days until I see those beautiful bamboo shoots poking out of the ground, showing awakening from the long, cold winter slumber.

The way bamboo works is - running bamboo shoots in the Spring (March through June) and clumping bamboo shoots in the Summer (late July through mid-October).  So these times are particularly exciting for a 'bamboo geek' like me.

Today, sure enough, I saw this, which put a smile on my face and I found myself gawking at it:

This is Phylostachys nigra 'Black Bamboo'.  A running bamboo that shoots bright green and turns black over a year and a half.  This was the first shoot I discovered this season.

This is one of my favorite running bamboos - Phylostachys bissetti.  Tough as nails (takes high wind and minus 10 degrees), beautiful with lush green foliage and it is fast growing.  I got a glimpse of several shoots like the one pictured above peeking out of the ground.

Yes, I am a 'bamboo geek', finding these little garden surprises makes my heart go pitter-patter; and, this is just the beginning, more shoots are working their way up through the soil to the warm Spring sun.  Can't wait...

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo
(916) 300-6335
www.madmanbamboo.com
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Watch us on DIY Network's Yard Crashers on April 2

New update on Yard Crashers: The show, Season 7 premier, I participated in will air Monday, April 2nd on the DIY Network. Please check local listings for time. I plan on sharing photos of the project after the episode airs on this blog and also my Facebook page. Also will have the video linked as well when it posts on the DIY Network website. Looking forward to seeing it!

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo

(916) 300-6335

www.madmanbamboo.com

Twitter | Facebook

Bloom Tour at Rice River Ranch

Last Sunday, my family and I had the pleasure of attending the 2012 Rice River Ranch Bloom Tour and BBQ. This is a family owned farm, managed by Tom and Jeanette Rice. Tom and Jeanette grow a wide variety of stone fruit (nectarines, peaches, prunes and many more) on their 16 acre farm in Arboga, California (just south of Marysville, CA, near the Feather River). The farm started around 2001 when Tom left his 'cubicle job' for a life in farming with Jeanette.  Jeanette has been around farming for most of her life with her family being in farming in the area since 1955.

The Rice's exhibit the best that California farming is all about. They are a regular at Placer County Farmers Markets and we had the pleasure of being a fellow vendor with them in the 2011 Farmers' Market in Rocklin (which we hope to repeat in 2012).

We had a great time touring the farm and having a great lunch, and it was especially gratifying to see our youngest daughter make the farm to food connection. In fact, she made the statement that she wanted to return in the Summer to help Tom and Jeanette pick peaches off the trees. Guess it really made a good impression.

So, here are some photos of what we saw on the farm tour:

Nectarine blooms

Jeanette showing us the small fruit in the bloom.

The view of the farm from the river levee (behind me was the Feather River).  In the foreground is are the yellow flowers of the Wild Mustard plant.

Blooms on a Plum tree.

Tom and Jeanette. They live and breathe farming, they love the land, love their trees and it shows in the wonderful fruit they sell at Farmers' Markets in Placer County and beyond.  

Its through the hard work of people like Tom and Jeanette that we get wonderful, fresh California produce.  Many take this for granted, many more have no connection to farming and where their food actually comes from (other than the supermarket), but today's tour reaffirmed my appreciation for our local farmers and why California is still a special place to live.

Sean

Mad Man Bamboo Nursery - Rocklin, CA

www.madmanbamboo.com

(916) 300-6335

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Amazing bamboo photography by Nate Abbott

In the bamboo community, which spans the world, it's a unique group of people - some are into the scientific aspects of bamboo, some love to work with bamboo to make furniture, art or structures, others love to farm bamboo as a food and timber source. There are many that love bamboo for its sheer beauty and uniqueness in the plant world.

In this post, I want to show the fine photography of Nate Abbott, a fellow bamboo aficionado and photographer from Utah.

Nate Abbott

 
As Nate said in a interview by e-mail, "Living in the high desert of Utah presents it's share of obstacles to creating a lush oasis."  Many people would never imagine bamboo growing in a arid, cold climate such as Utah.  Abbott added that, "My favorite bamboos are from the Fargesia genus, the reason being their clumping habit, hardiness, and refined beauty."

Nate's first bamboo plant was Sasaella masamuneana 'Albostriata', a beautiful, cold hardy running bamboo.

Applying a lifetime of plant knowledge from books, learning from a diehard gardening grandmother, and obtaining a B.S. in Horticulture from Utah State University. Nate Abbott began to transform his yard into a tropical paradise reminiscent of Thailand where he served an LDS mission for 2 years.

Coupled with his love of gardening and bamboo, Nate has had a passion for capturing nature's beauty for over 20 years. The passion began in high school begging to borrow his fathers old Minolta SRT 101 camera and has never stopped.

Nate has taken some very beautiful, artistic photos of bamboo that he has given his permission for me to show to you, reader of the Bamboo Geek blog:

Nate's beautiful photography can be found here - Nate's Photos and More of Nate's Photos.  Nate also has his photography available in high quality prints and posters - more information.  Note that I am not receiving any compensation from Nate for this post.  I just love his work and hopefully you do too.  He captures the beauty and peace that comes from bamboo perfectly through his photography.

Cheers!

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