Epicactus 'Madelyn'

Day two of Epicactus, this time it's large-flowering 'Madeline', one of our old time favorites. I understand it's a French hybrid, and it produces truly magnificent flowers. The color of the yellow will vary depending on the light but it's always very impressive.

 

These photos were taken by Lynn-Marie.

Epicactus 'Clown'

It took quite a few years after we purchased this plant before it bloomed, but now it blooms reliably every year. And what a beaut!

Our epicacti are really blooming like mad right now, so guess what I'll be posting for the next few nights. And, during the day, I hope to get the garden area tilled. Anyone want to help?!?

Echeveria 'Christmas'

It's a new one for us: Echeveria 'Christmas'. Aptly named, if a little out of season. What can I say except that it's being propagated. 

Frailea mammifera

We have always liked Fraileas, even if they aren't much of a commercial success. We seldom keep enough to sell, since they don't sell very well...which really is a shame. Fraileas are cleistogamous, which means the flowers can produce seed without opening. And they don't open unless the temperature is high in bright sun, which is something we don't get very much at this time of year. Usually. But this year, with temperatures running in the high 80s F, and no rain in sight, was an exception.

Check out the Fraileas. They're neat little plants.

Euphorbia millotii

A plant from the weird side of things tonight, weird but strikingly beautiful nonetheless: Euphorbia millotii from Madagascar. Critically endangered in its habitat, it's not that difficult to grow, and when it flowers, it's quite impressive.

Echeveria x

Sometimes incorrectly sold as Echeveria grusonii, this is not a species but a hybrid of unknown origin. But it's a beautiful little plant with amazingly brilliant red flowers.

We had a very wet March and April and now it looks like we'll set a record for the number of days in a row with no rain. Today was day number 7 and there's no rain in the long-term forecasts. And hot! Understand, this is Portland in Oregon. We don't expect 90F at this time of year...

Echeveria 'Tippy'

We've offered Echeveria 'Tippy' for quite a while now, but it's one of those plants which goes out of stock fairly often, as we just can't keep up.

I should say that Lynn-Marie can't keep up, as she's the one who does almost all of the propagation. We try to obtain additional stock periodically but we also do a lot of our own propagation. At Kara Nursery it's Lynn-Marie and me. That's it. No one else to blame it on. And we're both getting older and a little slower and there are a few more creaks in them there bones. After all, we're in our 70s now.

All of this is to say to our customers that, if we're a little slower getting things out, be assured it's speed, not quality, that's being compromised.

Echeveria 'Golden Glow'

A lovely Echeveria cultivar, this plant really glows in the summer sun. Easy to grow and hardy down to the mid 20s, forming clumps up to a foot tall and 10" across. Makes a wonderful potted specimen for your deck or patio.

The weather gods decided to bring summer on in one swell foop: mid eighties today, possible 90F tomorrow. Whatever happened to gradual change???