tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post6962054808352288640..comments2023-07-26T17:20:34.426+02:00Comments on Elephant's Eye: My pioneer plant - spekboom or Portulacaria afraDiana Studerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-64515651717496500602012-04-15T12:00:47.338+02:002012-04-15T12:00:47.338+02:00Diana - Better late than never - I hope. Your post...Diana - Better late than never - I hope. Your post helped me to discover that I have a pioneer plant in my garden : http://experiments-with-plants.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/pinks-15-apr-2012.htmlb-a-ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01565084697297328338noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-66334455931763506662012-03-31T19:48:23.745+02:002012-03-31T19:48:23.745+02:00Fascinating article. I'm originally from South...Fascinating article. I'm originally from Southern California and now living in Sweden for 6 years. Wanting to move away from this climate and a back to the heat. I'm a desert rat at heart. <br /><br />The plant you referenced is commonly grown in so-Cal, but you never know or appreciate where from. I just posted on a few traditionally grown plants in So-Cal that actuallt hail from the Canary Islands, Canary Island Pines, for which I understand some places in South Afirca have gotten away as a weed of sorts in the mountains there if I'm correct. And of course their native Date Palm<br /><br />Love the reference to nurse plants. I actually have three blogs and one is dedicated to what I call the Earth's Internet, which deals with mycorrhizal relationships of all sorts. Certainly nurse plants will be a major subject down the road once I get past some more basics. <br /><br />Thanks for your blog. I'll check regularly. Looking forward to any info on African Acacias. I'm interested in Savanah and desert restoration projects and work with alot of African students here.<br /><br />Take care, Kevin<br /><br /><br />---Chaparral Earthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00618976919417073750noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-5911258092048711842012-03-24T11:03:48.787+02:002012-03-24T11:03:48.787+02:00Beth - never too late. Always welcome to join in!Beth - never too late. Always welcome to join in!Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-76024851813951121632012-03-24T04:23:16.406+02:002012-03-24T04:23:16.406+02:00Hi Diana: I'm probably too late for this month...Hi Diana: I'm probably too late for this month, but my "plant of the month" post is now live at http://bit.ly/GYWtIC. Thanks! BethBeth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-48372080035641595242012-03-23T21:09:05.313+02:002012-03-23T21:09:05.313+02:00I could use a spekboom in my poor dry garden. Too ...I could use a spekboom in my poor dry garden. Too bad it is to cold here.Denisehttp://denisenoniwa.weebly.com/1/archives/03-2012/1.htmlnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-22598282066486764592012-03-22T11:54:10.602+02:002012-03-22T11:54:10.602+02:00The concepts of nurse trees and pioneer plants wer...The concepts of nurse trees and pioneer plants were unknown to me till I read this article. I actually had figured out for myself the function of nurse trees and have been planting several recently without giving them that title. For people like us who are trying to establish sustainable naturalized gardens that are part of healthy ecosystems, pioneer plants are essential. Thinking of that book Rambunctious Garden, I think they don't strictly need to be indigenous. Great post. Great elephants.Sue Catminthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14242341696447975933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-85519233120544472742012-03-21T14:14:58.474+02:002012-03-21T14:14:58.474+02:00Diana: I learned a lot from this post. Thanks so m...Diana: I learned a lot from this post. Thanks so much! I didn't know anything about Spekboom before this. I just finished up the "Lessons Learned" wrap-up late last night. I'm glad you found it! Thanks for info about the rankings! And thanks again for joining in the meme! I will post my "plant of the month" on Friday.Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-64572161921625169632012-03-21T11:27:30.961+02:002012-03-21T11:27:30.961+02:00No apologies Pam! This is an as and when meme. Run...No apologies Pam! This is an as and when meme. Running on African time ;~)Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-61117736482356647232012-03-21T04:37:42.833+02:002012-03-21T04:37:42.833+02:00Dear Diana, I posted my third signature plant, Bla...Dear Diana, I posted my third signature plant, Black Walnut tree, at last. Sorry I took so long. P. xPam's English Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01359787694149174369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-57748890243502395972012-03-20T17:06:52.549+02:002012-03-20T17:06:52.549+02:00Pioneer plant or nurse plant... hmmm, have to look...Pioneer plant or nurse plant... hmmm, have to look it up in the net as I have never heard about it before... thank you for sharing the information...Lrong Limhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16071380270069499888noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-59694826699312341422012-03-19T10:11:20.334+02:002012-03-19T10:11:20.334+02:00Hi Diana - My post is now live:
http://www.thegard...Hi Diana - My post is now live:<br />http://www.thegardeningblog.co.za/gardening/third-of-my-twelve/Christine @ The Gardening Bloghttp://www.thegardeningblog.co.za/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-30600712037321192502012-03-19T10:03:56.941+02:002012-03-19T10:03:56.941+02:00I love Spekboom and have a couple in my garden. I...I love Spekboom and have a couple in my garden. I even have a bonsai spekboom. As for Addo, its one of my favorite destinations.Firefly the Travel Guyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03278794823093520621noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-8042027415909333912012-03-19T08:09:04.350+02:002012-03-19T08:09:04.350+02:00Fascinating post - and like everyone I loved the s...Fascinating post - and like everyone I loved the shot of the elephants eating spekboom. In New Delhi we only see them working and being fed fruit. <br />I remember studying pioneer plants when I was in the US, but have no idea what they might be here on the dry plains of north India. I shall be following Stacy and Christina in doing some research.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-9192557276764672092012-03-19T03:38:59.600+02:002012-03-19T03:38:59.600+02:00Dear Diana, Love your pioneer -- those leaves look...Dear Diana, Love your pioneer -- those leaves look really juicy, so it is obvious why the elephants love it too. (My walnut tree is coming -- the weather has been too nice to post.) Pam xPam's English Gardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01359787694149174369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-84534035213666460812012-03-19T00:35:50.056+02:002012-03-19T00:35:50.056+02:00Diana, thank you--it's so kind of you to ask! ...Diana, thank you--it's so kind of you to ask! The wind is strong here (38 mph sustained winds, gusts to 65 mph), but the hatches have been battened down and all is well. The photo you sent was taken just a couple of miles from my house.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08297253093260251145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-22696911315791542322012-03-18T12:38:53.053+02:002012-03-18T12:38:53.053+02:00those pioneers give a lot back for seemingly littl...those pioneers give a lot back for seemingly little effort oot! Such a natural looking garden Diana, the elephants will soon stop by for a graze on your succulent Spekboom<br />p.s. have not gone native but Franco-Japanese this timeLaura Bloomsburyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03163589497828975276noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-36947874238564919992012-03-18T12:31:23.494+02:002012-03-18T12:31:23.494+02:00A great post Diana, I'm beginning to understan...A great post Diana, I'm beginning to understand that English gardeners really don't understand the necessity for use of natives, pioneers etc. even with a hosepipe ban already in SE England most plants will grow everywhere. It is never too cold, never too hot and even if there isn't rain there is mist and humidity. I'm going to follow your lead and discover more about pioneers in my area. Love the elephants! ChristinaChristinahttp://myhesperidesgarden.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-26782838437188840042012-03-18T04:43:27.776+02:002012-03-18T04:43:27.776+02:00Diana, now you've sent me on a research kick t...Diana, now you've sent me on a research kick to find pioneer species for New Mexico. An obstacle I've run up against in an urban setting is that the close walls change the environment--there's not enough light for most desert plants, but too much heat and not enough moisture for more montane/riparian ones. Blue grama grass seems to be my best pioneer choice so far (though some ecologists consider it a climax species, too!). <br /><br />The vibrant green of your spekboom is wonderful--that color is all too rare in an arid climate. Enjoyed all the information about it, as well as your elephants, large and small.Stacyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08297253093260251145noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-51653015000343454322012-03-18T04:15:31.325+02:002012-03-18T04:15:31.325+02:00I enjoyed seeing your photos and a glimpse of the ...I enjoyed seeing your photos and a glimpse of the railway! I was unfamiliar with spekboom until reading this post. Very interesting, and points out how important particular species can be. It reminds me that we all are interconnected, with each part playing a vital role.debsgardenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15656883577922890561noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-53130022641533029232012-03-17T23:47:48.422+02:002012-03-17T23:47:48.422+02:00Christine - In my dreams ;~))Christine - In my dreams ;~))Diana Studerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12286066768376135880noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-2403435657475232012012-03-17T22:33:38.102+02:002012-03-17T22:33:38.102+02:00You won't believe this - I was at Stodels toda...You won't believe this - I was at Stodels today and in the short time I was there I saw three people put Spekboom in their trolleys. I bet it was your post that sent people shopping for it!! <br /><br />I've never really taken note of this shrub and will take another look now. It looks fabulous in your photos and I liked what I saw today. Lovely choice & thanks for introducing me to another fabulous South African plant!Christine @ The Gardening Bloghttp://www.thegardeningblog.co.za/blog/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-79385517568927472732012-03-17T17:14:19.721+02:002012-03-17T17:14:19.721+02:00Sounds like a vital plant for the landscape. The ...Sounds like a vital plant for the landscape. The leaf litter part is really important. When we, the people, start messing with the ecosystems....especially along the rivers....we have the ability to destroy what has grown there for thousands of years. The Amazon is the exact same way....that leaf litter, etc is important for keeping the ground moist and rich....without the shade or trees, the place would turn into a desert environment. Fun shot of the elephant.:) These plants are important to the health of our individual ecosystems.Rohrerbothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02136631378931478644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-36599486501650546392012-03-17T15:53:17.241+02:002012-03-17T15:53:17.241+02:00I've seen those growing here as tropicals...ha...I've seen those growing here as tropicals...have to take a good closer look next time I see them.<br /><br />Amazing story.<br /><br />Jen @ Muddy Boot DreamsRURAL https://www.blogger.com/profile/11871803235521431504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-1037781697566990872012-03-17T09:40:16.359+02:002012-03-17T09:40:16.359+02:00Facinating to read how the Spekboom leads its own ...Facinating to read how the Spekboom leads its own ecosystem and produces so much leaf litter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6234209863121615779.post-77774291970819650362012-03-17T00:15:41.296+02:002012-03-17T00:15:41.296+02:00Diana I love this plant...how it can sprout from s...Diana I love this plant...how it can sprout from stems that drop to the ground...I was surprised to see elephants eating it...we don't see anything larger than a deer so it was different...I can see where the ecosystem is so fragile for you. I love plants you can eat too.Donna@Gardens Eye Viewhttp://gardenseyeview.comnoreply@blogger.com