Cheesehead Travels: Gardens of Casa/Casita Del Rio & Exotic Cactus Ranch

Large hot springs tub of Casa Del Rio overlooking Rio Grande river and Turtleback Mountains

This will be the last post on my travels to New Mexico.  I promise tomorrow to feature a hosta for you!  I just enjoyed my stay in New Mexico so much that I wanted to share it.  I don't think New Mexico is usually on the top of everyone's travel list.  There are natural hot springs that run throughout the town of Truth or Consequences.  Our house featured a hot spring tub, which was where we spent the majority of our vacation.

Everyone was so nice in Truth or Consequences.  Even though it was a small town and everyone knew everyone they never made visitors feel unwelcome.  It was not uncommon to walk into a store or restaurant and people would just start talking to you, asking about your day, like you were one of the local towns people.  Here are the last of some of the pictures of gardens and such of the house we rented while there, and of the nursery I visited there called Exotic Cactus Ranch:

Another hot spring tub of Casita Del Rio house

Casa Del Rio

Spaceport America is not far, and they launched a rocket during our stay. 

Overlooking Rio Grand and Turtleback Mountains

Love this metal garden sculpture

Heron on Rio Grande

Loved these hooks they had placed all over the gardens and fences.

Visiting Exotic Cactus Ranch

Cactus in bloom

Another Cactus bloom

Large display cactus

Sign for Exotic Cactus Ranch

Shade Plant of the Week - Astilboides tabularis

I obviously have an obsession with foliage, how else could you explain my hosta obsession?  So when I saw this plant in a catalog many years ago I was automatically drawn to it's very large circular shaped leaves, almost like green umbrellas.  I didn't even care if it bloomed, I knew it would make a great addition to my shade garden.  The leaves can measure 24 inches across, and the plant itself can grow 3-4 feet tall.  In mid summer, it also has white plume like flowers (much like and Astilbe).  If you decide to add this plant to your garden, make sure to give it lots of room!

Not the best pictures, but it's the very large circle leaf plant

Cheesehead Travels: Irises of Casa & Casita Del Rio

View of Iris garden overlooking Turtleback Mountains

 

The house that my husband and I rented last week was located in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico.  I was very surprised when we arrived to see their irises in bloom.  I didn't expect to see irises in the desert climate of New Mexico.  The owner told me that it was actually quite early for the irises to be blooming, much like many of the flowers here in Wisconsin.   Because the house is located on the Rio Grande river, they can use the water from the river to keep their gardens watered.

Cheesehead Travels: Elephant Butte, New Mexico

Last week my husband and I traveled to New Mexico.  What made us go to New Mexico?  We wanted to go somewhere warmer then Wisconsin, and we didn't want it to be a state we had already visited.  We didn't have any plans in mind for our vacation, except to get away and relax.

Elephant Butte, is a small town outside of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, where we stayed.  It was very unexpected for us to find a lake in New Mexico.  Elephant Butte Lake is a man made reservoir formed in 1916 when a dam was built on the Rio Grande river.   40 miles of lake surrounded by great beaches and mountain landscape.

The lake and town got it's name from the volcanic core that sits in the lake that some say look like an elephant.  It's a beautiful lake, and I can only guess that during the summer it's a very popular spot.  The park is open year round, and is very popular not only for boating and swimming but also fishing.  I was just blown away by the spectacular views!

The volcanic core known as Elephant Butte

Views of the Lake

Part of the Elephant Butte Dam

The Elephant Butte Dam

Views of the lake

One of the many beach areas

The marina at Elephant Butte Lake

Hosta of the Day - 'Kofukiiwa Fukurin'

I'm sure this hosta goes by some other name, but I only know it as 'Kofukiiwa Fukurin'.  It's the Japanese name for this hosta.  Did you know that hostas are indigenous to Japan?  Over 3/4 of all hosta species grow in Japan.  I think it would be awesome to go on a hosta hunt in Japan, but I guess that's is my inner hostageek coming out!  'Kofukiiwa Fukurin' has glossy green leaves with a very thin white margin.  The leaves have a slight ripple to them.  This one has been a very slow grower for me, but it has been well worth the wait.  Pair this one with blue or dark green hostas.

Hosta 'Kofukiiwa Fukurin' 2009

Hosta 'Kofukiiwa Fukurin' 2011

Hosta of the Day - 'Kaleidochrome'

Hosta 'Kaleidochrome' 2011

Hosta 'Kaleidochrome' is a newer hosta to my garden.  I couldn't resist the lance shaped leaves that are streaked green and gold.  I have been told that the seeds it produces are very viable, which is exciting because it means it could produce other streaked hostas.  This hosta is small to medium in size, and would look best in the front of a hosta bed with other small to miniature sized hostas.

Shade Plant of the Week - Arisaema

Arisaema is known to most people as simply 'Jack in the Pulpits'.  They come in all different heights and colors, and are growing in popularity in the shade gardening world.  Some can be very slow growers, taking years to show up above ground.  They produce interesting flowers in spring and sometimes in summer, depending on the variety.  Then in fall they make another display with their bright red berries.

Arisaema triphyllum

Arisaema berries add color to the fall garden

Arisaema heterophyllum