Aloe 'Latte'

The color on the aloe hybrids is absolutely wonderful at this time of year.

Haworthia bolusii 'Odetteae' GM555

A seed-grown clump of one of my favorite haworthias (and there are many), they're all looking very nice right now. I need to spend more time out in the greenhouses right now but a couple of pests have been keeping me busy: a raccoon which likes to visit our pond and dine on the goldfish and a squirrel which is trying its best to chew its way into our attic. We're periodically successful, but they're persistent!

Epi bloom

Like I said yesterday, there are other signs of Spring in the greenhouse...

Rebutia crest flower

This crest ( we have a couple of them) is the first to flower for us every year, but this is even early for it. After all it's not even February yet and it's been flowering for a couple of weeks. It's our harbinger of Spring.
O yes, other signs of Spring are appearing too: the daffodils are sending up spikes of green and the snowdrops are ready to flower any day now. But those are expected at this time of year, in this area at least. But rebutia flowers this early.
I should add that one of our epicacti flowered this week too. I'll post a picture tomorrow.

Enjoy your plants.

The Jungle

Just a shot across the bow of the greenhouse...a miscellaneous collection of plants.

Pleiospilos nelii 'Royal Flush'

I love the color we get from these at this time of year.

Aloe nobilis variegate

Tonight's images are closeups of the aloe - Aloe nobilis variegate. This variegated succulent isn't terribly rare, but it's certainly impressive. It's one I would want in any collection.

Gasteria and Aloe variegates

A couple of gasterias and an aloe variegate form a border for a Fockea in the background. I'll post closeups of the variegates in the next day or so.

Enjoy your plants!

An assortment of truncatas

 

 

Tonight I'm just putting up a few shots of some of the Haworthia truncata plants in our collection. Each one is distinct and quite fascinating.

Haworthia emelyae picta

 

I had to take two separate pictures to show the plant off as it should be. Haworthia flowers aren't generally though of as anything special, and we growers of lots of plants may sometimes get a little jaded on them. But I think they're a part of their charm.

Pachypodium lealii var. saundersii flower

This is growing on the windowsill in our front room next to the Christmas tree...making its own contribution to the holiday spirit.

Massonia jasminiflora (pustulate form)

Guess what? I'm finally back with some photos! I'll try to be a little more consistent than I have been lately.

This Massonia jasminiflora was flowering recently and I took these photos. This plant was originally from Guy Wrinkle and has collection data.

Happy New Year!

Another post with no photo! I promise, more are coming. In the meantime, passing another one of those milestones, I turned 74 today. It's hard to believe how much has gone under the bridge in that time and how much has changed. But I'm continuing to enjoy the ride and that's what counts! And, trying to make at least some positive difference one small experience at a time.

So today we raised a glass to the future and the wonder and love which it will bring. My best wishes to all of you for a magnificent 2014, and many more years to come.