Happy Thanksgiving

To my friends in the U.S.:

I am aware that many other countries have harvest festivals of various kinds and at different times. Let this also be my best of wishes to all of you as well. I'll be celebrating with family tomorrow and get back to the blog in good time. In the meantime, enjoy your plants!

Sedum rubrotinctum 'Aurora'

Sometimes called "Pink Jelly Beans", the color can be quite variable, but this is beyond the pale.

Echeveria 'Dick's Pink'

Of unknown origin, this cultivar can go through fairly extensive color changes throughout the year, sometimes becoming almost totally purple or red.

Echeveria 'Giant Blue Curls'

This is Echeveria 'Giant Blue Curls'.

As the name implies, this is a larger version of 'Blue Curls', becoming very impressive plants.

Graptoveria 'Debbie'

"Debbie' is a real beauty...fat leaves with a pink blush. Always a stand out.

Haworthia splendens GM452

One of the very highly desirable forms of Haworthia splendens. We've been growing these on for several years now and will be releasing some more for sale soon.

More Lithops flowers

Lynn-Marie was checking on the lithops today and couldn't resist some more flower pictures. So, naturally, we share them with you!

Echeveria 'Icycle'

Apparently misspelled intentionally (the English word is spelled "Icicle"), it's a cross of E. agavoides x E. leucotricha. A slow grower which sometimes produces offsets. One of our parent plants, this is used for propagation, but it's slow and therefore, it's mostly just for our enjoyment. But that's OK too!

Haworthia truncata 'Lime Green'

These cultivars really make a fantastic display when the begin to clump.

Lapidaria margaretae

I actually had time to be in the greenhouses for a bit today; I had to get the heaters going as the weather is now getting a bit chilly. These plants have a growing habit which is very similar to Lithops, but it has more leaves at a time. The flowers are big and impressive, with upright stamens.

Echeveria 'Pappy's Rose'

This is one of those old timers, a hybrid by Dick Wright that's been around for a long time. But it's not readily available because they can be tricky to grow well. They're nice and dark right now but will lighten up some this Winter.

Lithops trays

OK. The election's over so I can concentrate on getting some photos for the blog - among other things! This shows a portion of our lithops growing area, now mostly under lights for the winter. Not much of a picture, but it's all I had tonight. I promise. I'll do better!

If in U.S., VOTE!

If you live in the U.S., it's time to vote. Here in Oregon, where we vote by mail, you now need to take your ballot to a nearby ballot drop-off location.

Those of you who have followed me over the years, know that I'm a supporter of President Obama, and still am. This is my 12th Presidential election, and I believe it's as important as any in the past, or more so. My opposition to McCarthyism at a young age, my concern for international justice stemming from my time in Germany as a part of the American Field Service Exchange programs, my involvement with the American Civil Rights struggle (however meager, though adequate enough to bring about an editorial against my presence in Charleston, SC in 1964), my work with migrant labor through the Valley Migrant League in the 70s, and my ongoing concern for children through the Children's Defense Fund and Stand for Children -- all of these things continue to inform my political activism to this day.

Yes, I hope you will vote for President Obama's reelection. But, no matter what, it's important for you to vote. Don't let any scare tactics or voter ID law keep you from exercising your right to cast that ballot. Our democracy certainly has its flaws, but the ballot box is the only way that change is likely to happen.

There! I can now get off my soapbox and get back to the plants we all love. Tomorrow.

Lithops aucampiae ssp. aucampiae v. koelemanii C016

These are the nice krinkly faced L. aucampiae var. koelemanii C016. And they don't have the excuse of age like we do :) .