3,000 Ladies are munching on bugs...

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!

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...

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...

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

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!

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

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)

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

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)

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...

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...

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
Mad Man Bamboo on Facebook
Twitter: @madmanbamboo