Bamboo Open House is set for March 13, 2010 and other events for this spring...

Bamboo Open House in March

We hope you had an enjoyable holiday season. We are busy getting ready for Spring when the gardening season begins. We have set the date for our next Bamboo Open House. Here are the details:

What: Bamboo Open House - dozens of running and clumping bamboo plants for sale.

When: Saturday, March 13, 2010; 9 am to 3 pm

Where: 5719 Jersey Drive in Rocklin (95765) [Map]

Looking forward to seeing you there and we'll be on hand to answer any bamboo questions you may have.

Looking for that special kind of bamboo or a large quantity? Special ordering is highly recommended.

If you have a specific kind of bamboo you are looking for or you need a large quantity to create a privacy screen, putting in a special order for your bamboo is highly recommended.

We have access to well over 100 different types of running bamboo and are currently assembling an order for delivery in late February, early March.

The advantages of special ordering bamboo plants from us is:

(1) We set the plants aside for you,

(2) You get the plants you want, and at the quantity and sizes you want.

Here is how you can place a special order - send me an e-mail (sean@madmanbamboo.com) with the quantity, size (5 or 15 gallon) and varieties you want by Saturday, February 13. We ask for a 50% down with the balance payable upon pick-up. We accept checks or we can bill you via PayPal which allows you to securely pay by credit card. You do not need to be a PayPal member, its really easy.

If you need recommendations on the right bamboo plants for your garden, call or e-mail us. After a few questions, we can provide some bamboo varieties for you to consider along with pictures that will fit your needs.

We'll also be at the Sacramento Perennial Plant Club's Annual Plant Sale on March 20 in Sacramento

On Saturday, March 20, we will be at the Sacramento Perennial Plant Club's Annual Plant Sale at the Shepard Arts and Garden Center located in McKinley Park (3330 McKinley Boulevard, Sacramento). The sale is open to the public and will have a large variety of plant vendors there from bamboo to succulents to fruit trees to water plants. If you love unique plants, this is a fun event and worth attending. Hope to see you there!

Can't make the Open House?

No problem, we are also available by appointment. Call (916) 300-6335 or e-mail at sean@madmanbamboo.com to set up a time to come by and see our bamboo garden, ask questions or seek advice. If you want to see what clumping bamboo will look like in the ground after several years, you are welcome to set up a time and see for yourself. We also have several types of running bamboo growing in containers as well.

Were on Facebook. Become a Fan.

We know Facebook is not for everyone, but if you are a Facebook user and want to follow what we are doing, see new bamboo photos or check out other interesting aspects about bamboo, check out our Facebook page and become a fan.

Have a fun, prosperous and happy 2010!

Cheers!

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

How to turn an ugly plastic container into a something worth planting in...

I was given some plastic horse troughs by a co-worker a while back and wanted to use them to plant some running bamboo. On their own they are not appealing to the eye. Here is what I did using bamboo edging (a common item that can be ordered from the internet) to spruce them up and make them a container reborn and nice to look at. This took me about 20 minutes to assemble. Here is the step-by-step instructions. Enjoy!

Sean

Spring season kick-off Bamboo Open House

Getting ready to send out details on our spring season kick-off Bamboo Open House. Also will have information on special ordering plants and much more...... Check back with our Facebook Page, this page or sign up for our e-mail newsletter at the Mad Man Bamboo website (black box to the right).

Stay tuned.....

Sean

Photo by Gerhard Bock (www.gerhardbock.com)

Happy belated World Bamboo Day!

Happy belated World Bamboo Day! September 18. It was declared at the 8th World Bamboo Congress in Thailand this year. The latest Bamboo Magazine said it right - "Plant a bamboo! Build with bamboo! Sing with bamboo! Wear bamboo! Eat bamboo! Breathe bamboo! Walk among the bamboo, and feel good." That's what World Bamboo Day will signify every year moving forward - a time to celebrate all the practical, environmental and social benefits of bamboo.

Photo by Bamboo (Facebook page)

Bamboo that seems to glow in the dark at dusk...

Can you say... glow in the dark? This is Phylostachys bambusoides 'Allgold'. A running bamboo that grows 35 feet max with 2 inch diameter culms. At dusk, in the summer, it almost seems to glow in the dark it such a nice bright yellow. Photo by Gerhard Bock (http://www.gerhardbock.com/).

Cheers!

Sean

Beautiful leaves for an exceptional bamboo plant - Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima'

This is a favorite..... Hibanobambusa tranquillans 'Shiroshima.' A running bamboo that grows to 16 feet max with 1.3 inch diameter culms. As you can see the leaves are really beautiful (if you look close enough to the photo, the new leaves have hints of burgundy red in them). The culms turn a dark burgundy color as well.

Photo is by Gerhard Bock (www.gerhardbock.com).

Place to go someday..... bamboo forrest in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan

This is one of the places I have on my list to visit...... Arashiyama on the outskirts of the old capital of Japan, Kyoto. Specifically I want to visit the large Phylostachys edulis 'Moso' bamboo forrest. Here is what I found on Japan-Guide.com on the area: Bamboo groves are found behind Tenryuji Temple and along the trail to the Okochi Sanso. The bamboo is still used to manufacture various products, such as baskets, cups, boxes, mats and pieces of art at workshops in the Arashiyama area. Attached is a video on YouTube I found. This is a place I dream of going to someday....

Many types of black bamboo....

This is Phylostachys nigra punctata 'Giant Black'. Gets to 60 feet tall with 4 inch culms. There is another variety called 'Daikokuchiku' that comes from a grove in Folsom that is about 57 feet tall, fairly rare and hard to get. To give some perspective, regular black grows to about 30 feet tall max with 2 inch culms. There is a smaller version that I am hoping to get as a trade here soon that was referrred to as "Baby Black Bamboo" formal name is Phylostachys nigra 'Hale'. 20 feet max. These are all running bamboo, but they perform really well in containers, like large pots or horse troughs.

Cheers!

Sean

From ugly horse trough to bamboo container with style....

I was given some plastic horse feeding trough's by a co-worker a while back. I am wanting to screen my back wall with some of the large running bamboo I have growing in containers. So, I ordered some bamboo edging and attached it to the sides of the plastic horse troughs with copper wire. I'm pretty happy with the result. The one pictured is going to be home for a really nice Giant Black Bamboo that I have that is jet black and probably 25 feet tall. It will probably get up to 40 once it gets established in the container.

Cheers!

Sean

Hard freeze, what hard freeze?

Finally had a chance today to go outside while it was still light out. Lifted the frost blanket I had on the Mexican Weeping Bamboo and the Bambusa Oldhamii "Giant Clumping Timber Bamboo," and no damage, woo hooo! All my other bamboo in the ground looks unfazed by the weather. Hard freeze, what hard freeze? Did pretty good. I'm a happy man!

Cheers!

Sean

Bamboo in a playground

Bamboo plants I donated to the City of Roseville for a jungle themed playground (Mel Hamel Park) in north Roseville. It is Bambusa multiplex "Golden Goddess" and its hedged low. Uncut it grows to about 10 to 12 feet tall, full sun and is a clumping bamboo. "Golden Goddess" refers to the culms that turn a golden yellow as it ages. Finally got around to visiting the park to see how it was planted. Definitely works for the theme.

Cheers!

Sean

Bamboo forest

By invitation, I visited a 50 year old grove of Japanese Giant Timber Bamboo at a private residence in Citrus Heights, CA this past weekend. Wow, what a site! Phylostachys bambusoides 'Japanese Giant Timber Bamboo' gets up to 72 feet tall and can get 6 inch culms.

That's thinking outside the box when it comes to commercial landscaping

Driven by the Panda Express on Rocky Ridge Road in Roseville, CA many times and never noticed that they have bamboo planted in front of the establishment. It was hedged and looked nice. Upon a closer look, they planted what appeared to be Phylostachys aurea, which is pretty common and something a little less common, Phylostachys aureosulcata 'Spectabilis; which gets really nice vivid red coloring when its cold and exposed to sunlight. Good to see bamboo used in commercial landscaping. That's thinking outside the box!

Like blue bamboo? Try Yushania boliana...

This is Yushania boliana, a clumping bamboo that grows to 24 feet max with 2 inch culms and has a really nice blue coloring. According the the American Bamboo Society 2009 Source List, this comes from Sichuan, China via the Fuji Bamboo Garden in Japan. From my understanding this is one of the varieties that has ties to bamboo pioneer, Gerald Bol. Yushania boliana needs afternoon shade in the Sacramento area. We have one of these in stock right now and more coming in the Spring.

Cheers!

Sean
Mad Man Bamboo Nursery - Rocklin, CA

Phone: (916) 300-6335
Website: http://www.madmanbamboo.com/
E-mail: sean@madmanbamboo.com
Facebook Page for Mad Man Bamboo Nursery