A Quick Note

First, an apology for not posting recently. Other things keep getting in the way, and I don't have any new photos to post.
Second, for those who are interested and are local, I will be preaching again at Northminster United Presbyterian Church this Sunday at 10 am. Northminster is one block west of N. Greeley Ave. on N. Rosa Park Way.
Peace.

New Record for Cold

We set another record for cold weather this time of the year: 19 degrees F (-7.2 C). The record had been in 1955 with 20 F. I looks like we'll get back to normal weather by Tuesday.

New "Cactus Chatter" now online

As the editor of the Oregon Cactus & Succulent Society newsletter this is a note to let people know that the latest newsletter is now available to download in pdf format here.

The cold weather is hanging on, record cold for this time of year. This is more like the weather we sometimes get in January.

The Winter Chill has Arrived!

We've been having a very mild Fall but we got a sudden blast of cold today. Usually, when the Midwestern and Mountain state get an arctic cold mass moving south, we get the spill-over in the form of East winds down the Columbia River Gorge. This is a little early, but typical. So...I spent much of today getting the greenhouses all closed up. We're expecting a low tonight and tomorrow night of 27F(-1.6C), along with some fairly strong wind gusts. I'll be glad when we get back to our milder weather.

Haworthia cooperi var. pilifera ex. MBB6565

The two plants above have been grown from the same batch of seeds in exactly the same soil and conditions. In fact they have been growing adjacent to each other in the same tray. We will wait and observe.

Senecio haworthii (Cacoon Plant)

Not that rare, but that doesn't really matter, does it? (It is considered threatened in it South African habitat.) We collect plants because we enjoy being in the company of that particular plant, and sometimes just because the form of the plant catches our fancy. That's certainly the case with this plant, which we've grown for about 40 years, just because it is what it is. No other reason needed.

Spines of the Golden Barrel

Now those are spines!

Echeveria agavoides

Deservedly popular and easy to grow as well.