Re: any experience with Galvezia? and Santa Barabara Botanic Garden

I also have G. speciosa cv 'Boca Rosa', but have never
tried propagating it from cuttings.  It does set large
amount of seed every year, and looks like it should be
easy enough to grow from cuttings or seed.  Like
Jason, I find that it is much more restrained/compact
if grown in full sun, but also does well in deep
shade; in my garden it has grown up and over a 12 foot
tall Pittosporum tobira, and is in bloom nearly all
year long.  It is in a section of my garden that
receives no irrigation, and still blooms all year
long.

I was not familiar with G. juncea until seeing it used
as a container plant this past weekend at the home
demonstration garden at the Santa Barbara Botanic
Garden.  I had to do a double take, as it looked more
like an Ephedra or Euphorbia xantii at first glance; a
mass of rubbery green twigs with virtually no leaves. 
It wasn't in bloom, but an interesting accent plant
none the less.  I was tempted to purchase the plant in
their nursery, but the younger plants were more lush,
covered with small leaves, and didn't appear to even
be the same plant.  I wonder if the mature character
requires age or drought stress?

Off the topic, but there was also a beautiful pink
blooming Aesculus californica cultivar 'Canyon Pink'
selected at the Botanic Garden, with none available in
their nursery.  Anyone know if this is being sold
anywhere?

The SB Botanic Garden is certainly a must see for
those  interested in natives, with very sensitive and
beautiful planting combinations throughout.  I was
most impressed with the breath of their Dudleya
collection in particular, which I had somehow missed
seeing on previous visits.  There were still alot of
California Poppies in the central meadow, but they
were mostly being superceded by the various Salvias.

The Alice Keck Memorial Garden in town is also in
prime bloom at the moment, and well worth a visit for
its use of mediterranean climate plants and
subtropicals.  Lots of Erythrinas such as the huge E.
falcata in full bloom, as well as Jacarandas,
Bauhinias, Tabebuia impetiginosa, Hymenosporum flavum,
etc.  Worth a visit if you've never been to see it. 
Located between Garden and Santa Barbara Streets and
Arrellaga/Micheltorena Sts.  City Hall is also worth a
visit for the palm collection, with some Kentia/Howea
forsteriana at least 50 feet tall, as well as very
mature Jubaea chilensis, and Rhopalostylis sapida and
R. baueri.  Not often seen at these sizes in
California!






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