That is a great set of aloe pictures, Thijs. Some nice full-size plants. The Aloe wickensii looks unusual... the leaves are normally incurved, not spreading, and the flowers don't have any yellow in them. Maybe a hybrid? Or maybe just growing in a shady place where the rosette can relax completely.

Be strong and keep warm, you people in colder climates. We have gotten down to 48°F. It should not get much colder than that.

Aloe flowers from the park



The other succulents in the picture include 4 native agaves (front), 3 Euphorbia polygona hybrids (in between the agaves), 2 more tree aloes and 2 stemless aloes in between the trees.

Another aloe in bloom in the public garden... some nice fiery tones.

@AgaveGirl1, yes, it is not our typical winter though. We just have a lot of cloudy/rainy days this year. It surprises me also! Climate change? But then, when it shines, boy, it shines, we have winter days that we wear summer clothes still in January or February. It would be an even more surprise to tell that March can usually more cold than winter months.:D
All efforts for plants are worth it, after all, they give us such joy when our efforts flourish. Plants are the ultimate frontier. :)
Hope you are having a nice day!

Hello everyone!

Thought I would share my first crested succulent I have growing from propagation! Fred Ives

Congratulations, Lindsey! What is the netting?

Thank you, Karen! They are just those little mesh soil pods you get in tray kits that expand when you set them in water! No idea what the technical name is for them, if there is one!

Ah, ok! I've used little pods like that but they were just peat pots or poo pots made from manure. Mine haven't had any netting.

Congrats on your crested Fred Ives Lindsey.

Thank you!

Well done Lindsey! How lovely!

Goodmorning/afternoon plant family! The weather is so lovely here today, the sun is shining! The forecast is not predicting any rain. I have spread all of my babies, plants and pets, lol, all over the living room and I am still having a cuppa and enjoying the loveliness. I keep adding to my sucs and cacti collection, I now have 42 all together! I am lovin' it and I hope my collection grows and grows and my babies stay healthy through the winter. I am especially worried for the cacti, it's the first time that I am seriously into cacti (I have some others from years ago, but wasn't in the place to continue the collection up to now).
Hope you have a great day or night everybody!

Hey guys,

Well, the weather here is back up in the low 80s and high 70s and shall remain so for the next week. Will be staying in the upper 40s and low 50s at night. Uh....I thought this was January still.

Since it doesn't look like we are in danger of any more frosts or dropping night temps I'm going to have to play Mother Nature and give the plants a good watering. It has been awhile since we've had some rain. Things overall seem o.k. here and happy and growing.

Hoping in February to do some shopping and add to the yard. Mostly stuff for a few empty pots that can take the full sun. Has anyone done any shopping lately or found any goodies that are new and exciting?

Hello everybody! I got me some new babies today and I am so glad I found some I wanted for months! I got some more Opuntia cacti, some lovely variegated succulents, an Opuntia subulata monstrose, a Kalanchoe tomentosa, and more. I have also decided to give a propagation from leaves another try. After all, it's through mistakes that we learn, right? Even if it fails, I will get the success formula eventually!
I am also starting to attain to the appearance of my cacti and sucs, so when spring comes and we start our balcony makeover, my plants will be ready and more...photogenic.
I can't wait for April!

Hey gang,

Sounds like Spring shopping is kicking off. I'm jealous! I haven't done a thing in regards to my yard. I just haven't had a moment's time to get to the store and do some shopping for new plants. Been busy shopping for other stuff my husband claims we 'need' or 'have to have so things in the house work'. What-ev-er!

Anyhow.......plan on shopping the end of this month for plants and goodies and getting out in the yard in earnest. Did get out and watered yesterday and took some photos today. Have a few blooms going on and lots of new growth.








Oh also got a case of what I call 'the floppies'. What causes this? For some reason both the pine cone cacti and this one particular p.pear have gone 'floppy' and won't stay upright. Some days are better than others. Not rotten, not over or under watered. No problems. They just kind of do this. Does anyone know why? Also what kind of p.pear is this?


mystery floppy p.pear and close up of new growth on it.

Chuckled at a case of the "floppies". I was thinking to myself I have that too but then I realized you meant your pretty plants. I love the colors at this time of year.

In your sixth photo, tell me what that plant with the interesting vase shape is. It is under the window on the left side. Very pretty.

Thank you Kristi for the nice compliment on my plants.
Much appreciated; and I hear you on the 'floppies'. I get a case of them too every now and then!

I think the plant to which you are referring is an Agave desmettiana. This one was given to me as a birthday gift from my husband two years ago and I've tried very hard to take good care of it for that reason.

My climate here in southern AZ in the low Sonoran desert is very different than yours! If you get this Agave check and make sure it likes your temps, sun and growing conditions----oh and that you have space for it. It will get big and make lots of pups (which I need to separate).

Hi AgaveGirl! You got some beautiful things happening in your garden! I love the blooms!
About the flopping cacti, perhaps they could perk back up if you gave some more water? I recently fell upon a conversation of another cactophile that had the same problem, and when he gave them more water they just rebounced.

My aloes and kalanchoes are blooming, but my favorite bloom right now is the gazania krebsiana. I just want to sit and look at it all day.

It's beautiful, Liz!

AgaveGirl1 said:Thank you Kristi for the nice compliment on my plants.
Much appreciated; and I hear you on the 'floppies'. I get a case of them too every now and then!

I think the plant to which you are referring is an Agave desmettiana. This one was given to me as a birthday gift from my husband two years ago and I've tried very hard to take good care of it for that reason.

My climate here in southern AZ in the low Sonoran desert is very different than yours! If you get this Agave check and make sure it likes your temps, sun and growing conditions----oh and that you have space for it. It will get big and make lots of pups (which I need to separate).

[lightbox]2018-02-04/AgaveGirl1/50ab12[/lightbox

That is one gorgeous Agave! Tell your husband I think you are one lucky gal!

But no I wouldn't consider it. It wouldn't be suited for this climate. I will only admire yours from afar.

Liz, that is a beautiful bloomer!

Thank you Kristi.
Yeah......The husband has his moments. They come and go. Wasn't exactly the string of pearls I had been eyeballing but I'm not complaining as at least he:
Remember it was my birthday;
Got me something I not only felt I wanted but I liked!
Oh and I didn't have to worry if it fit and about exchanging it and I wasn't embarrassed to say he gave it to me and I owned it.
(Now that I'm done man bashing...... )

What a bummer the plant wouldn't work in your climate or else I would have happily sent you a pup. I can see from the pic of the 3 kitties that keeping it as a house plant may not be a good idea either.

Not sure if your fur kids are anything like my dog. I have a retired racing Greyhound that treated every house plant I ever had like her own personal salad bar. Could leave my designer purse and expensive shoes out and the dog ignored them. She never chewed up the furniture or anything in the house for as long as we've had her. Show her a house plant and she goes positively ape over it and will rip it to shreds and then kindly regurgitate it on something that is usually near to impossible to clean. So no house plants for me.

I often thought it was a jealousy issue because I spent time on the plants and fussed over them but who knows what goes through little doggy brains. She ignores all the plants outside and has for years. Then again the majority of the ones outside aren't exactly approachable or user friendly. *tee-hee*

Speaking of jealousy, you have a spectacular climate to grow so many yummy Agaves and Aloes that I can't here in my climate. Most of what I like is more suited for your climate than mine! What are you raising? Have some pics for us of your favorite agaves and aloes or just your plants in general?

Faridat..............good advice! I think I'll give your suggestion a try and water them again and see what happens. Couldn't hurt as we've been so dry, dry, dry and did I say, we've been so dry here? Maybe they'll perk up. I've often though it had to do with the light but I'm often wrong. Still new to the gardening game. Let's see if others weigh in with an opinion. Glad you like my plants. Looking forward to seeing some of yours. Sounds like you are amassing quite the collection.

Liz..........How gorgeous! Just awesome. I'd want to look at that all day too. Do you have a full body shot (so to speak) of the plant? Just curious because I am unfamiliar with it and from the pic it looks like a shrub. Is it?