{"id":2304,"date":"2007-10-22T04:01:34","date_gmt":"2007-10-22T10:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zanthan.com\/gardens\/gardenlog\/?p=2304"},"modified":"2017-07-19T19:16:20","modified_gmt":"2017-07-20T00:16:20","slug":"its-a-jungle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zanthan.com\/gardens\/just-browsing\/its-a-jungle\/","title":{"rendered":"It’s A Jungle"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I wrote a post on local nurseries<\/a> for Metroblogging Austin last spring, I missed several nurseries that I’d never personally visited. Eager to make amends, I’ve since been to Red Barn, Emerald Gardens, Hill Country Water Gardens, and It’s a Jungle.<\/p>\n

I had tried to find It’s a Jungle, which specializes in roses and orchids, a couple of times before; this time, armed with better directions from its website<\/a>, I succeeded. Located in a converted suburban house on Kramer Lane, it’s easy to miss. The tiny parking lot was almost full when Margaret and pulled in although there didn’t seem to be anyone about. We peeked in the back yard which is completely filled with potted roses and one very prolific pear tree. We wandered up and down aisles of roses in containers grouped by type. I spotted quite a few that I was unfamiliar with. Unfortunately, some of the labels were difficult to read, faded by Austin’s glaring summer sun. Few things irritate me more in a garden center than poorly labelled plants. So I was beginning to feel dismissive until the owner came by to see if we had questions.
\n\"roses\"<\/p>\n

In Austin, most local nurseries get their roses from The Antique Rose Emporium<\/a>. I didn’t see their labels on these roses so I asked who supplied them. “Oh. We grow them all ourselves. Except the ones that are patented. We get those from Jackson and Perkins.” I just stood there with my mouth open. “You grow all these yourself?” “Most of them. And we have free classes<\/a> so you can learn how to propagate them yourself, too. We use the same “bag” method that the rose rustlers<\/a> use.” Now I was suddenly very impressed.<\/p>\n

We wandered around the grounds with a new appreciation for what we were seeing. Then we decided to check out It’s A Jungle’s other specialty, orchids. I’ve never been the least bit interested in orchids or houseplants of any kind. But I do like visiting greenhouses and orangeries. The first hothouse we went into seemed to be a working greenhouse and many of the orchids were out of flower. Still Margaret and I both saw things we liked.<\/p>\n

Then we entered the main hothouse and were stopped stunned in our tracks.
\n\"orchids\"<\/p>\n

It really was a jungle.
\n\"orchids\"<\/p>\n

We wandered around and around enchanted by flowers each more exotic and beautiful than the next. How could anyone decide among them? I can see why orchid people become fanatical. The owner was at the potting bench repotting several orchids and Margaret said that she could tell by the way he lovingly cradled each plant that he absolutely loved them. She insisted on buying me one. And, indeed, we could hardly walk away from such a personally tended collection without supporting it in some way. But was I ready for the commitment? Me, who’s never met a houseplant that’s survived the experience. Aren’t orchids horribly fussy? Maybe I should read some books on them first.<\/p>\n

Within a few minutes I was walking out the door with a little dendrobium and a pamphlet from the American Orchid Society on how to take care of it. “Come to the class next month and learn how to repot it.” the owner said as he rung up the sale. I promised I would. Is this the beginning of a new passion?
\n\"roses\"<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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