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Bainbridge Island Vineyards and Winery, Bainbridge Island, Washington
Bainbridge is unique among western Washington wineries in that all of their wines are made from grapes grown on site on Bainbridge Island, rather than shipped over from eastern Washington. Additionally, the owner, Gerard Bentryn, likes cool plants, includng hardy cacti and succulents. This site is interesting because it demonstrates how vigorously some desert plants can grow given full sun, freedom from competition with other plants, and a mulch of loose gravel which warms the soil when the sun shines on it and ensures good drainage around the base of the plants. Some of the more cold-tender Agaves pictured here experienced heavy frost damage the February 2006 freeze when the temperature dropped to 20°F, yet they grew out of it very quickly and looked fine by the following September, when I took these pictures. |
Plants and Gardens Gallery |
Opuntia engelmanii var. linguiformis, cow's tongue prickly-pear.
Agave weberi, a very vigorous grower.
This is probably Agave protamericana 'Mr. Ripple', a nice compact selection of A. protamericana that seems to be quite hardy for us.
Agave protamericana, as usual, thriving very well in the Pacific Northwest.
An interesting Agave species, we are not sure what this one is. It could be a very compact form of A. parryi - it resembles some tender Mexican species, but it is very cold-hardy.
Agave americana 'Marginata', looking a bit peculiar since it has just recovered from heavy frost damage.
Malephora crocea, one of the hardiest South African mesembs from the winter rainfall area that will grow in the Pacific Northwest.
A wider shot of the cactus garden, which I assume will be planted with more cacti in the future. The tree in the back is Eucalyptus bicostata.
A shot of the garden just 1 and 1/2 years prior. |
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