Ghost Plant-I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy  Clarkson  from the July 2018 Edition Graptopetalum paraguayense Family: Crassulaceae Also known as: Ghost Flower or Mother of Pearl Plant (After delving deeply into, and all but rabidly rooting through, my little library of botanical books, I thought I’d finally identified this attractive succulent as a member of the Crassulaceae family (the Jade Plant […]

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Rabbit Tracks-I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson from the June 2018 Edition Rabbit Tracks, Maranta leuconeuru, ‘Kerchoveana’ Family: Marantaceae Also known as: Calathea, Husband and Wife Plant, Prayer Plant, Rabbit’s Foot or Rabbit Tracks Calathea As I’ve mentioned in other Maranta or Calathea genus writings, there is substantial confusion between the two groups. To quote Robert Lee Riffle – one […]

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Shaving Brush Tree-I Planted Tree in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson from the June 2018 Edition Pseudobombax ellipticum Family: Bombacaeae Also known as: Amapolla, Bobax, Pink Bombax or Pink Shaving Brush Tree Upon seeing the flowers of the Shaving Brush Tree, one instantly comprehends how and why it got its name. But beyond looking a great deal like what its name implies, they are […]

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Mondo Grass-I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson from the May 2018 Edition Ophiopogon japonicas Family: Liliaceane Also known as: Dwarf Lily Turf, Monkey Grass or Snakebeard Like a somewhat nondescript person that we busily pass, unnoticed, on a bustling, crowded street, we’ve all seen this plant in a variety of locales and applications. Yet, most likely we looked right past […]

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Variegated Screw Pine-I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson from the April 2018 Edition Pandanus veitchii ‘Variegata’ Family: Pandanaceae Also known as: Variegated Hala, Screw Palm or Pandanus Palm (This beauty’s origin? Madagascar, maybe. Southern Asia, perhaps. New Britain, closer perchance. Or is it, in fact, Australia? Finding definitive, confirmation of this plant’s beginnings is scarcer than locating native palm trees in […]

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Texas Sage-I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson from the April 2018 Edition Leucophyllum frutescens Family: Scrophulariaceae Also known as: Texas Ranger, Texas Rain Sage, Texas Barometer Bush, Texas Silverleaf, Ash-Bush, Wild Lilac, Purple Sage or Cenizo On the left side of Calle Loma Bonita driving up the (very) steep hill to Ola Brisa Gardens grows a fine looking and healthy […]

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Pepperface-I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson from the March 2018 Edition Peperomia obtusifolia Family: Peperacease Also known as: Baby Rubber Plant, Jade Plant, Blunt-leaved Peperomia, Marble Peperomia, Florida Peperomia or American Rubber Plant Thriving worldwide throughout the tropics, there are around 1,000 different herbaceous species in the Peperomia genus. Yet, even with this large of a group, it is […]

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Striped Dracaena-I Planted Roots in Mexico

By Tommy Clarkson from the March 2018 Edition Family: Agavaceae Also known as: Dragon Tree Dracaena is the Greek word for “female dragon.” In turn, the thickened sap of this plant, supposedly, resembles dragon’s blood. (However, in that it’s been some time since I last slew a dragon and, quite honestly, with all the roaring, flapping […]

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Manzanillo Sun article

The new book is ready! You can now order Volume II of “The Civilized Jungle”

By Tommy & Patty Clarkson from the February 2018 Edition Who doesn’t enjoy tropical palms, bright jungle flowers and a mango margarita? Well, in the words of that smooth crooner of the late 70’s Meatloaf “Two out of three ain’t bad.” (And, actually, the last one can easily be realized by a personal trip to Ola […]

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