Dance with the Devil
Went for a visit yesterday with my usual cohorts, Sophia & Ivan to the UC Santa Cruz Arboretum & Botanic Garden. I had never been, they visited approximately a year ago. The garden is in the middle of fixing a retaining wall, so we had to enter in a roundabout way through the main campus. We parked and were walking down to the nursery to pick up some plants I had ordered online. When we saw THIS. These, there's actually 2-one male, one female. Leucadendron argenteum. To say I lost my mind would be an understatement. Sophia was laughing at my response to seeing a full grown specimen. In the sunlight, it looked like a shimmering metal tree - and yet, the foliage is incredibly soft. I'm beyond infatuated. *Mine have grown well, having been planted in 2024. But I'm well aware I'm taking a chance on them living - they like it a little cooler, more coastal conditions and a bit warmer winter than they'll get ...