A Convention of Echeverias

OK. Not really a "convention". Just a gathering on our deck. They've now been moved to allow us room to enjoy the deck...when it's not raining!
We've had to cove the pond to the left with netting to protect the fish from a very interested Great Blue Heron which has been visiting our yard on a very regular basis. I think they must have a rookery just over the hill from us and we must look like an easy food source.It hasn't been back for a few days, so maybe... We also haven't been able to get a good photo so I'm including one from another source. Since they don't mind nesting within a short distance of the downtown core of Portland, they're the official city bird!

Image by mikebaird via Flick

Echeveria 'Etna' and Echeveria 'Arlie Wright'

Tonight I'm posting a couple more classic Echeveria cultivars. The first one is another in the volcano series but not by Dick Wright, but by his close friend, Denise Manley: Echeveria 'Etna'. Some people are attracted to the carunculation of the leaves (that's the name for all the lumpy-bumpies); others are turned off. Each to their own. I like them in their own weird sort of way.

The second is a hybrid by Dick Wright, this one named for his mother, Arloine:  Echeveria 'Arlie Wright'. This one has a fantastic crinkly edge and beautiful color in bright light.

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• Etna explodes: Stunning close-ups of Europe's most violent volcano that nearly cost the photographer his life (theboldcorsicanflame.wordpress.com)

Echeveria 'Mauna Loa' and E. 'Culibra'

We came back from our trip with a fairly large assortment of Echeverias that we haven't had for sale before. Actually, these aren't for sale yet but will be later this year. The first is Echeveria 'Mauna Loa' and the second is Echeveria 'Culibra'. Mauna Loa is one of the volcano series created by Dick Wright. It grows massive heads up to 50cm across.

The second is Echeveria 'Culibra', a (relatively) smaller growing cultivar with fantastic rolled leaves, another hybrid developed by Dick Wright.

A visit to Solana Succulents

One of the places we always try to visit when we're in Southern California is Solana Succulents. It's hard to believe that Jeff is able to get so many fascinating plants in such a small space. Jeff Moore (third photo) is the owner and I certainly recommend a visit to his nursery if you're in the area.

Finally, if you can help us identify this plant. It certainly looks like an Opuntia or certainly of the Opuntiad family, but I'm not familiar with one that has this particular hairiness. And if it has glochids, they certainly aren't a bother. I just handle it with my bare hands with no problem. Jeff hadn't been able to I.D. it and we're not doing much better. Help!

Enjoy your plants!

Anzo-Borrego Desert Photos

Tonight just a few photos from the Anzo-Borrego Desert State Park. It's a very large park with lots of diversity, so this is just a tiny sample. Tomorrow we'll meet Jeff at Solana Succulents in Solana Beach and take a peek around his retail nursery.

Above we see a cholla along with Opuntia basilaris, a view with some ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), and an agave in flower.

Under foot in the desert

As I said last night, we just returned from a week and a half in the Southwestern United States- specifically Arizona and California. We didn't spend much time in Arizona - that's a whole other story - and I'm not sure where Lynn-Marie took these photos...probably somewhere near the Anzo-Borrego Desert State Park in Southern California.

We exited the I-8 freeway at Ocotillo, California and went north through a stretch of the park, connecting with Highway 78 and following it over the pass and down the Carlsbad on the coast. (This is a much more interesting trip than the freeway and, considering the traffic, about as fast.)

But back to the photos, sometimes the most interesting things are right at our feet and this was no exception. Not that there weren't plants of interest; there were. And we had fun looking for some petrified wood, finding a few smaller pieces. We'll get to the plants. But for now, the hard pan beneath our feet. That's all for tonight.

 

We're back...

We've been off on a road trip to Arizona and Southern California and just returned after driving Sacramento to Portland today, so I'm a bit tired. Just a reminder for those in the Portland, Oregon area that the next meeting of the Oregon Cactus & Succulent Society is Thursday night at the same place, 7 pm. I'll be back with more photos later this week. Missed you all.

Back at ya!

I've not been posting for the last few days and don't expect much over the next few weeks as we leave the nursery and home in charge of other family members while we head out on our annual wholesale buying trip. There will still be people here but they don't do photos and postings. I'm sure I'll be posting a whole lot when we return. (The days of the trip aren't sure yet, but soon.) In the meantime, a couple of "Medusa Head" Euphorbias...

Enjoy your plants!