Lophocereus schottii monstrose "Totem Pole"

One thing almost all visitors comment on when here in Portland is that everything is so green. If you've seen the TV program "Grimm" (filmed here in Portland) you know what we mean. Even the trees are covered in moss green. So I suppose that these Totem Poles are still getting over the shock of blending in so well with the background. Natives of Baja, things are a little drier there. But they adapt well, at least during the warmer days of summer. During our wet and gray winters, they're in the greenhouse and are kept away from the water. We kept three in an unheated shelter last winter and they came through fine...but it was a mild winter.

Euphorbia lactea crested variegate graft

The colors on these can be quite variable. This one has some of the most outstanding reds I've ever seen. These are always grafted, as the lack of chlorophyll inevitably would lead to an early death if grown on their own roots. The multicolored part on top is called the "scion" and the green section it's grafted onto is called the "stock". This one seems to be grafted onto adequate stock, but the problem with some of these popular grafts is that the stock isn't adequate for the scion as it grows to a mature plant. At that point it sometimes needs to be re-grafted.

Pleiospilos simulans

Lynn-Marie caught this late afternoon photo of Pleiospilos simulans in flower.

Hoya kerrii (pubescent leaf)

This is one of the hoyas we've had in our collection for many years and highly prize. In this fairly rare version of Hoya kerrii the leaves are large and heart-shaped, like the other versions, but they are also pubescent (fuzzy or hairy). The flowers are outstanding, but - as in the older flower on the right - they will drip a caramel smelling and sticky "sap" on whatever is below it. So...don't hang it over something you don't want it to drip on. This is a common characteristic of hoyas, which some people find annoying. In my opinion, though, it shouldn't keep you from having these wonderful plants in your home.

Echeveria runyonii 'Topsy-Turvy'

A new photo of another plant I've posted plenty of times. It's the widely distributed and very easy to grow 'Topsy-Turvy'. Named by former Huntington Botanic Garden Director Myron Kimnack, it is widely used as a landscaping plant in Southern California and, given decent drainage, is hardy to about 25 F.

Nothing to Post...

I don't have anything to post tonight. Or, another way to put it, I'm too tired to find something to post. If you're coming to the picnic, I'll see you there. Otherwise...goodnight!

Echeveria pulvinata 'Frosty'

This is the other 'Frosty', and it's pretty obvious why. Like the other 'Frosty', it's a natural form which has been propagated and circulated in the nursery trade. The frosty appellation was first applied to the other "frosty", so this one is - technically - the imposter. Confused? Yes, this kind of confusion isn't supposed to happen, but it does. Sometimes it's called 'Suave' to avoid the confusion, but this doesn't seem to have caught on. Maybe we should just take to calling it Frosty II, or...the other 'Frosty'!

Echeveria leucotricha 'Frosty'

Lynn-Marie's been propagating this plant for a couple of years and we finally have enough to add it to our nursery list. They're what I call "fun" plants. They brighten up the room.

Off to the Oregon State Fair tomorrow....  Actually, I think it's already tomorrow...err, today!

OCSS Picnic and Open House

Tonight, just a reminder for those in the Portland area that we will be holding our Open House and Annual Picnic at our place on Sunday afternoon. You don' have to be a member of the cactus & succulent society to attend and we'll be open from 2 pm on, with the picnic beginning around 4:00. The meat dish will be provided by the society and the rest of the picnic is potluck. Please bring a dish to share.

The starter went out on the van today when I was away from the nursery, so I was unable to work on getting things ready for most of the afternoon while I waited for the starter to be replaced. And on Friday, we're going to the Oregon State Fair. So please forgive if everything isn't "spick and span." [For those translating from English: neat and tidy, all cleaned up.]

Hope to see some of you there. Ladybug will be here to great you.

Oreocereus doelzianus

 

I know, I posted this plant back in June or July, but - hey! - it's blooming again. It's one of those gifts which keep on giving. We don't give this plant any special care. In fact, it gets neglected an awful lot. But then, every summer it blooms and blooms. It's as if it's saying, "Hey, look at me; I'm still here, stupid. Water me!!!"

Hoya obovata

It's been a while since I've posted any hoyas and, unfortunately, I failed to take many pictures this year. It's a shame, because we have so many different kinds and the flowers are so striking.

This is Hoya obovata, a wonderful plant that flowers over a long period of time with these gorgeous flowers. We don't grow these commercially and yet we must have at least 25 or thirty large plants.

Euphorbia guiengola "String of Stars"

These are tiny little flowers, but they form a string of little flowers; hence the name. The plant itself is rather sprawling, making it a nice hanging basket plant, with the bonus that it forms an interesting caudex with time.

Fockea edulis

Nicely grown specimens of caudex forming plants can be very impressive. For perspective, this is an 8 inch diameter pot and the caudex is 4 inches (10.16 cm.) in diameter. And the great thing about the Fockea is that they're very easy to grow!

Parodia subterranea

I took this photo a couple of days ago, before the heat wave began. 103F (39C) today, 100F (37 C)  predicted tomorrow. And this room isn't air conditioned.

This has been flowering for about a week but I think the flowers are wilting in the heat!

Echeveria 'Rubra'

I don't have any idea about where this cultivar originated or if this is even the correct name, but it's not the same in appearance as any of the other one's we grow. Of course, it appears to be a form of Echeveria agavoides, but whatever it is it's quite impressive. It came to us labeled 'Rubra', so until we learn otherwise, we'll keep that label.

 

Cephalocereus senilis "Mexican Old Man"

Finally! I finally got our 4 foot plus Old Man out on the deck. It's just getting harder and harder to get these plants out of our house - where they've been all Winter...and Spring and most of the Summer. I know he's breathing a sigh of relief and taking in all those rays. "At last!"

Even with all that hair care has to be taken not to let him burn. Especially with the 100F temperatures expected this weekend!

Eriosyce heinrichiana var. setosiflora

I think it's time to post something other than the Echeverias. The name is longer than the plant flower, and it's a large flower for the size of the plant. (For some, the name becomes Eriosyce heinrichiana ssp intermedia var. setosiflora!) Nice plant. Horrible name! I thought the whole point of the binomial system was to get rid of  unwieldy names like this. (Just my frustration showing through...)

 

Enjoy your plants!

Echeveria 'Camisole'

Again we don't have any information on the pedigree of this cultivar but it has a lot to recommend it, with light green rosettes which blush delicate rose in strong light or cold temperatures. Another new Echeveria being added to our list.

Echeveria 'Zorro'

Echeveria 'Zorro', originating as a seedling at Dick Wright's Nursery in Fallbrook, California was named by Australian collector Bev Spiller. Will form heads 16" across, with the leaf color varying dependent upon environmental conditions. It will do best in bright light.

Christmas in August

Echeveria 'Christmas', that is! Now, wouldn't an Echeveria wreath of these beauties be amazing? Unfortunately, we only have a limited supply available at this time...

 

If you're interested in viewing our latest newsletter from the Oregon Cactus & Succulent Society, I just posted it in PDF format at the OCSS homepage.

Echeveria 'Lola'

I've posted 'Lola' before - probably many times - but it's worth it. A Dick Wright hybrid of E. lilicina & E. derenbergii, it's stood the test of the years, and - happily - we now have enough of them that are mature enough to sell. So, it'll be going back up on our nursery list any day now.

Thus ends day 2 of shameless advertising...
On another note, if you're in the Portland area - defined broadly - you're invited to come to the OCSS (Oregon Cactus & Succulent Society) picnic and open house at our place (7009 N Fiske Ave., Portland) on the afternoon of August 26. This is a correction so, if you put it on your calendar for July???, please correct it also. And thanks for calling it to my attention :)

Echeveria setosa var. oteroi

For those of you who have begging me for more pictures of Lithops - you know who you are :) - I will get there. But before that I've been told by Lynn-Marie that - since we are in the process of updating our Echeveria pages - I needed to post some of those Echeverias first!!! Since we do have a business to run, I suppose she's got a point....

I've posted this one before; we've been growing them on and we now have some we can sell. Also known as the "Naked Setosa", it's certainly unique and beautiful in a very different way than the regular setosa. A choice collector's plant.

Echeveria 'Powder Puff'

This is Echeveria 'Powder Puff'. I don't have any information about it...who developed it or what its parentage is, though I could make some guesses. Whatever, it's a very nice plant, a fine addition to our Echeveria collection.

 

Melocactus matazanus

Melocactus matazanus is a cephalium bearing cactus that forms the cephalium while the plant is still rather small, making it a great choice for the hobby grower. This is a good place to begin with a fascinating group of cacti.

 

Three cactus flowers

Three closeup photos tonight of the flowers of three different cacti: Rebutia narvaecense, Rebutia krainziana and Mammillaria zeilmanniana.

 

 

The rest of the country has been sweltering under recording breaking temperatures for over a month, while we've been cooler (and drier) than normal. Yesterday broke that string, breaking the record high for the day with a temperature of 103F. It cooled into the 90s F today, and should be in the 80s for the rest of the week. Whew!

Copiapoa malletiana ("Copiapoa de Carrizal")

Another Copiapoa from the Atacama Desert of Chile, one of the driest deserts in the world. That fact provides a fairly glaring hint about how to grow these plants: keep dry in the winter and water during the heat of summer only when the potting mix has totally dried out. In addition, they should be grown in a potting medium with excellent drainage and which dries out fairly quickly.

This is Copiapoa malletiana, also sold as Copiapoa carrizalensis. These are hand-held photos, without a closeup lens, taken by Lynn-Marie.

It's possible that some of my friends in Southern California may say that I'm overly cautious, but I can only speak to the growing conditions experienced here in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Documentary Film with Dr. Audrey Low

One of the early "followers" of this blog was Dr. Audrey Low. I don't know if she even visits it any more but a new documentary, featuring her (and, of course, the sun bears), is now available to download. It can be either rented or purchased and the price is very reasonable. It's about the sun bears of Borneo; I've only seen small clips, but I know already that it will be worth the purchase. Check it out at the Wildhoop Productions website.

Copiapoa krainziana

A nice young specimen of Copiapoa krainziana, a cactus from the northern coastal regions of Chile where it receives most of its moisture from the coastal fog, known locally as the camanchaca. This is a hot and dry region and therefore, in cultivation, they prefer bright, warm situations and are sensitive to cold. These plants are on their own roots though they are sometimes grafted.

Enjoy your plants

Sempervivum calcarium 'Mrs. Giuseppi'

This summer has been ideal for the alpine succulents such as the semps and sedums. This is Sempervivum 'Mrs Giuseppi', a plant we obtained many years ago from Helen Paine, author of the book Plant Jewels of the High Country, now out of print.

Another view of the semp and sedum beds.

Echinocereus subinermis

This came to us under the name Echinocereus luteus, which is perfectly correct, except that it's generally considered a synonym with Echinocereus subinermis. Some would add luteus as a variety. The spination varies considerably.

 

More Lithops tomorrow.

Lithops pseudotruncatella

This picture shows some of the plants still in a juvenile stage and others with more separated leaves. Endemic to Namibia, they are quite variable but always interesting. These plants didn't have collection numbers or C numbers connected to the seeds, nor did they specify a subspecies, but my assumption at this point is that they are ssp. pseudotruncatella. There are 5 subspecies in Cole's naming system (Lithops, Flowering Stones. D.T. & N.A. Cole) which I mostly accept.