tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-45544897790565271672024-03-13T07:06:51.393-07:00California Arid GardenI have finally embraced the fact that Southern California is dry/semi-arid. This has opened the door to interesting landscape possibilities and plant discoveries. My favorites are succulents and sub-tropical natives. These are my ramblings as I explore my new obsessions!Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-8172674160991901492015-09-11T09:17:00.003-07:002015-09-11T09:17:54.549-07:00Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tYkdxWdTv2E/VfL9Vl5bypI/AAAAAAAAEI8/gnzaVZo09-o/s1600/IMG_3811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tYkdxWdTv2E/VfL9Vl5bypI/AAAAAAAAEI8/gnzaVZo09-o/s640/IMG_3811.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beautiful color! Growing in sandy soil over clay, in full sun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Pups remain fairly close to the plant and side shoots are getting crowded.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This plant is about six years old.</span></div>
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Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-38808526576555645392015-09-11T09:11:00.003-07:002015-09-11T09:11:38.653-07:00Ferocactus johnstonianus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_q1t-fwcnQ/VfL6HzNR7KI/AAAAAAAAEIw/HmSQMeqrfQQ/s1600/Ferocactus%2Bjohnstonianus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_q1t-fwcnQ/VfL6HzNR7KI/AAAAAAAAEIw/HmSQMeqrfQQ/s400/Ferocactus%2Bjohnstonianus.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Picked up this gem at the last SDCSS sale. It has beautiful yellow spines that glow in the morning and late afternoon sun.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Does well with lots of water during the warm months, allowing the soil to completely dry in between waterings. No winter water.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Likes full sun and gritty, well draining soil.</span></div>
Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-43772039660589329722013-07-27T11:25:00.001-07:002013-07-27T11:26:25.190-07:00Duvalia pillansii in bloom<br><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Mez_9Z7iQ2k/UfQQorjLpaI/AAAAAAAADi8/vK7qrbVVFSA/s640/blogger-image-1257607981.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-Mez_9Z7iQ2k/UfQQorjLpaI/AAAAAAAADi8/vK7qrbVVFSA/s640/blogger-image-1257607981.jpg"></a></div>Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-78843083586952666042013-03-17T23:24:00.001-07:002013-03-17T23:24:14.064-07:00Late winter bloom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vDuNn1Y3-d0/UUD3fXGKmQI/AAAAAAAADVc/LnFMh-C2dSc/s1600/IMG_6711.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vDuNn1Y3-d0/UUD3fXGKmQI/AAAAAAAADVc/LnFMh-C2dSc/s320/IMG_6711.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Took a few photos around the garden today. So many succulents in bloom. Here are a few to share....</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Crassula pubescens 'rattrayi'</b></span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fE6U0exiotc/UUD3mDs8B_I/AAAAAAAADVk/HtKpAU6bXpQ/s1600/IMG_6732.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fE6U0exiotc/UUD3mDs8B_I/AAAAAAAADVk/HtKpAU6bXpQ/s320/IMG_6732.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Echeveria pulidonis</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C7MQdZZgp8E/UUD3q_Y9VeI/AAAAAAAADVs/PyZy_Saz_us/s1600/IMG_6738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-C7MQdZZgp8E/UUD3q_Y9VeI/AAAAAAAADVs/PyZy_Saz_us/s320/IMG_6738.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Mammillaria spinossisima</span></b><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cl6N2B5GJOE/UUD3xdf6-FI/AAAAAAAADV0/JJ-FK0jfHvc/s1600/IMG_6764.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cl6N2B5GJOE/UUD3xdf6-FI/AAAAAAAADV0/JJ-FK0jfHvc/s320/IMG_6764.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Pleiospilos nelii</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zhdWQdICowk/UUaxfZUFw0I/AAAAAAAADWM/ixBU_7mYdlw/s1600/IMG_6716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zhdWQdICowk/UUaxfZUFw0I/AAAAAAAADWM/ixBU_7mYdlw/s320/IMG_6716.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Crassula 'Brides Bouquet'</b></span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89c7XhEMsaM/UUayDArhjpI/AAAAAAAADWU/JD6GBvKhAa0/s1600/IMG_6770.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-89c7XhEMsaM/UUayDArhjpI/AAAAAAAADWU/JD6GBvKhAa0/s320/IMG_6770.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Pachyphytum 'Bill Baker'</b></span>Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-84676271038933367742013-03-05T09:56:00.004-08:002013-03-05T09:57:11.127-08:00Haworthia cymbiformis var 'Ramosa'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vR8rVdIH9sQ/UTYeHA_G7MI/AAAAAAAADSI/13sL6bfJ-y4/s1600/IMG_6659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-vR8rVdIH9sQ/UTYeHA_G7MI/AAAAAAAADSI/13sL6bfJ-y4/s640/IMG_6659.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Haworthia cymbiformis </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">var 'Ramosa', </span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">blooming in late winter</span></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> and producing first pups. </span></span></b></div>
Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-46800662204774468242013-02-12T14:09:00.004-08:002013-02-12T14:09:59.690-08:00Haemanthus coccineus<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nt1m484qdZ4/URq8dbhBd9I/AAAAAAAADOs/fJeLxDPMVbY/s1600/IMG_6643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">I<img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nt1m484qdZ4/URq8dbhBd9I/AAAAAAAADOs/fJeLxDPMVbY/s400/IMG_6643.jpg" width="400" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I've always wanted one of these as I have several H. albiflos in my garden</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and they do very well. I assumed this would be just as easy to care for, but I happened to encounter an "expert" in SA bulbs at the sale and he said this species is a little more difficult to grow. Lucki<span style="font-size: small;">ly, </span>I got a few pointers<span style="font-size: small;">! </span></span></b></span></div>
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<br />Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-10867761525036438262013-02-11T17:04:00.003-08:002013-02-11T17:04:34.921-08:00Kalanchoe synsepala<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jpOJuYQ-m7k/URmT9UhelqI/AAAAAAAADOc/mIBbXV--Wlg/s1600/IMG_6682.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jpOJuYQ-m7k/URmT9UhelqI/AAAAAAAADOc/mIBbXV--Wlg/s640/IMG_6682.jpg" width="425" /> </a></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>This is <span style="font-size: small;">one of my favorite Kalanchoe's<span style="font-size: small;">.<span style="font-size: small;"> The maroon <span style="font-size: small;">leaf margins <span style="font-size: small;">are </span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">eye-opening. I have found it difficult to<span style="font-size: small;"> maintain this coloration on plants</span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">in my garden. <span style="font-size: small;">I will try to ex<span style="font-size: small;">pose it to more sun.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CccOanZiBUk/URmUG1HaQTI/AAAAAAAADOk/14Vzhl-ifJs/s1600/IMG_6679.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CccOanZiBUk/URmUG1HaQTI/AAAAAAAADOk/14Vzhl-ifJs/s640/IMG_6679.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Here's a different plant, showing the blooms. Very small, but beautiful!</span></b></div>
Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-87984460981775640322013-02-09T18:57:00.002-08:002013-06-07T11:44:59.251-07:00Cheiridopsis peculiaris<br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AM687-jTYQ0/URcLh9Gkk7I/AAAAAAAADOE/yXl7mdjrUCo/s1600/IMG_6645.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AM687-jTYQ0/URcLh9Gkk7I/AAAAAAAADOE/yXl7mdjrUCo/s400/IMG_6645.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Came across this Cheiridopsis peculiaris at the SDCSS sale today.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">It's my lucky day as I have never seen this one for sale! It was labeled</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">C. peculiaris 'Steinklopf'. Since other Cheiri's do well in my climate, </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">I hope this one does too!</span></b></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HfVU5ucGyTQ/UbIoljub1-I/AAAAAAAADdk/jfvYSEVQNMA/s1600/IMG_6810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HfVU5ucGyTQ/UbIoljub1-I/AAAAAAAADdk/jfvYSEVQNMA/s400/IMG_6810.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">Blooming in Spring. Notice old leaves are beginning to die back and turn red. I may have it in too much sun?! </span></b></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lL9mUQGP1o8/UbIoHvcdE4I/AAAAAAAADdc/xvZtCDBNNqY/s1600/IMG_6922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lL9mUQGP1o8/UbIoHvcdE4I/AAAAAAAADdc/xvZtCDBNNqY/s400/IMG_6922.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">A couple of months later, new (green) growth emerging from the center of main plant and small pup growing at the right side. Flower remains on plant and has not completely dried. Not sure if purple coloration is dying tissue or a response to increased sunlight. </span></b></span></div>
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Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-92091896640621519472013-02-09T18:51:00.000-08:002013-02-09T18:51:09.687-08:00Mammillaria duwei<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"></span></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">I've <span style="font-size: small;">started collecting <span style="font-size: small;">c</span>actus with interesting and/or beau<span style="font-size: small;">tiful</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">s<span style="font-size: small;">pines are soft<span style="font-size: small;">, feathery, <span style="font-size: small;">and cover <span style="font-size: small;">nearly the entire plant.</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">(<span style="font-size: small;">Infrequent summer water; dry in winter)</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></b></span><b> </b></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ccfL5-JX-kU/URcG4bqK6fI/AAAAAAAADMw/RarRWWUdkwo/s1600/IMG_6638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ccfL5-JX-kU/URcG4bqK6fI/AAAAAAAADMw/RarRWWUdkwo/s400/IMG_6638.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-23293300913894830992013-02-09T18:32:00.000-08:002013-02-11T16:20:18.984-08:00Cheiridopsis candidissima bloom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMDPLCHpOew/URcFVKJWfvI/AAAAAAAADMo/UYvPxR8MHAQ/s1600/IMG_6601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fMDPLCHpOew/URcFVKJWfvI/AAAAAAAADMo/UYvPxR8MHAQ/s400/IMG_6601.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This plant is a prolific bloomer, especially after abundant winter rain. Here it is in full bloom. It seems to be responding to the sun, as flowers did not develop at the back side of the plant which faces away from the low winter sun. This Cheiri does very well here, enduring dry summers and cool, wet winters. </span></span></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>Here's a young, white blooming <span style="font-size: small;">Cheiri</span></b></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h5ZEIdF5pio/URmGfBNXvqI/AAAAAAAADOM/1jDOkhZ0Glk/s1600/IMG_6655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-h5ZEIdF5pio/URmGfBNXvqI/AAAAAAAADOM/1jDOkhZ0Glk/s400/IMG_6655.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-26788392880617812202012-10-03T10:32:00.003-07:002012-10-28T07:49:40.325-07:00Sedum multiceps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">This is an attractive, small, branching sedum. Leaves grow at the ends of the branches, giving it a "tree-like" appearance. Some say it looks like a miniature yucca, especially with the dead leaves accumulating under the new growth. This is a winter grower, but can be watered occasionally in summer. One of my favorite sedums!</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7uh0-2ElFOE/UGxxfA_wTzI/AAAAAAAAC8c/V_qm0fBI-30/s1600/IMG_5959.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" mea="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7uh0-2ElFOE/UGxxfA_wTzI/AAAAAAAAC8c/V_qm0fBI-30/s400/IMG_5959.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: small;">Same plant in summer</span></div>
Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-51427242022921577682012-09-25T17:30:00.003-07:002012-09-26T07:15:48.112-07:00Haworthia viscosa dwarf form<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckLQ13OjPKI/UGJJNatfDfI/AAAAAAAAC2M/su8hFVWMHXU/s1600/IMG_5939.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ckLQ13OjPKI/UGJJNatfDfI/AAAAAAAAC2M/su8hFVWMHXU/s400/IMG_5939.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I picked up this Haworthia at a society plant show/sale last year. Before I paid for it, several people approached me asking if they could buy it off me!! Such a cool plant!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shortly after I brought it home, the color of this Haworthia changed from deep green to reddish brown. It also has shown very little, if any, growth. I thought I killed it! The roots were sparse but didn't look diseased or rotted, so I left it alone. Over the past few months (summer), it has bloomed consistently. A good sign!</span></div>
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This is how the plant looked a year ago. Beautiful dark green.<br />
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Growing point. You can also see remnants of old flower stalks.Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-24084037293967685622012-09-16T15:03:00.006-07:002012-09-16T23:45:47.143-07:00Aloe 'Cynthia Giddy'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o0X12mMsznI/UFZHm2mS_SI/AAAAAAAACxA/mZQvr57s0m0/s1600/IMG_5790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-o0X12mMsznI/UFZHm2mS_SI/AAAAAAAACxA/mZQvr57s0m0/s400/IMG_5790.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Blooming, September (late summer)<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aH1dXPXTFA8/UFZLWL-beOI/AAAAAAAACyY/ylYRE7YZU7k/s1600/IMG_2237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aH1dXPXTFA8/UFZLWL-beOI/AAAAAAAACyY/ylYRE7YZU7k/s400/IMG_2237.jpg" width="400" /></a>Same plant, two years earlier, same time of year. Colors are strikingly different. Possibly due to smaller pot and leaner soil. Hard to see, but inflorescence is forming in this photo<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inflorescence (plant in top photo)</td></tr>
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Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-56961120555150767632012-09-16T14:28:00.003-07:002012-09-16T23:12:41.689-07:00A new approach<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I spend a lot of time looking at photos of plants in their natural habitats. There is so much to learn; soil composition, landscape, position, plants with similar cultural requirements, responses to seasonal changes, etc.. Although I admire the presentation of a specimen in an artistic pot or pulled up to reveal more of it's caudex, etc., I have grown to appreciate plants presented in a situation that mimics nature. I have lots to learn, but this is my first attempt.<br />
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Here's an older presentation.<br />
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I tried to mimic plants growing in rock crevices. These quartz stones work out pretty well. Only time will tell if these lithops survive!Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-30768308868728416162012-09-14T12:52:00.001-07:002012-09-16T13:47:50.362-07:00It's Santa Ana time!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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September is when summer REALLY arrives in San Diego County. Weather patterns change; winds shift from the east and air masses traveling over the inland deserts, arrive at the coast. These are referred to as "Santa Ana" winds. Temps are soaring today! This is the thermometer on my shady porch. Okay, I know all my desert friends will have no sympathy for me, but it's OUR time to pay the piper!!<br />
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This is also the time when some succulents, including cactus, can get severely burned. Temps can rise very quickly. A couple of years ago, I recorded a rise of 25 degrees F within an hour! It peaked at 115F. The sun is also lower in the sky now, so it peeks under eaves that normally provide shade to sun sensitive plants. Anyone who has lost a favorite plant to severe burn, (guilty), will start moving potted plants and covering ground dwellers when the weather reports call for another Santa Ana!<br />
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A few casualties in my garden....<br />
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This one is delosperma spalmanthoides. It was in mostly shade, but a short dose of sun caused this burn. I have no doubt it will recouperate.<br />
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Aeonium 'voodoo'. This is growing in dappled shade in the morning, full shade the remainder of the day. Sun was hot enough to burn the tender center leaves within an hour. <br />
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This aeonium grows in half day sun and closes up a little more in summer. As a result, the exposure was reduced and the burn was limited to the outer leaves.<br />
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Dracaena marginata. One branch grew too far out from underneath the eaves of our house and suffered pretty severe burn. The growing point is protected, so it should recover well.<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2BwMKpGFfeE/UFY4f-PqBeI/AAAAAAAACvo/R3eSpxoqs18/s1600/IMG_5791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2BwMKpGFfeE/UFY4f-PqBeI/AAAAAAAACvo/R3eSpxoqs18/s320/IMG_5791.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Argyroderma testiculare. Normally, this plant likes a short dose of morning sun, but not at 100+ degrees! Gave it a drink and moved it to full shade for a while.<br />
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Sedum hispanicum. Doesn't like heat; doesn't like full sun. Should recover once Autumn is in full swing. Notice the larger sedums did fine?<br />
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Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-73326301205515491332012-09-03T11:02:00.002-07:002012-09-03T11:05:15.236-07:00Adromischus buds<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Adromischus marianae v herrei "Little Spheroid"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Adromischus herrei</span>Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-31674821925464487622012-09-02T23:16:00.003-07:002012-09-02T23:16:58.976-07:00Summer Dormancy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">September </span><span style="font-size: large;">is the time of year when Coastal Southern California</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">joins the rest of the nation in uncomfortably hot temps. Monsoonal air flows from the south/southeast </span><span style="font-size: large;">(sans precipitation),</span><span style="font-size: large;"> and Santa Ana winds from the eastern deserts, bring </span><span style="font-size: large;">uncomfortably hot temps. It's also the time of year my appreciation for succulents in the garden, is renewed. While many other plants wither and grow tired, growth is at it's peak for many of my heat loving succulents. Conversely, summer dormant succulents are showing their unique ability to slow down and preserve energy, some feigning death. </span><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few sleeping beauties in my garden....</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, gotta show </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a few Cono's....</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tnA5BQTKJEM/UEPfv1XndAI/AAAAAAAACRw/YtWQ8Scf1yg/s1600/IMG_5728.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tnA5BQTKJEM/UEPfv1XndAI/AAAAAAAACRw/YtWQ8Scf1yg/s400/IMG_5728.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...looking like two horned aliens</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TeEtpRihWBs/UERHQDCzrTI/AAAAAAAACho/nds03ObpOk0/s1600/IMG_5729.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TeEtpRihWBs/UERHQDCzrTI/AAAAAAAACho/nds03ObpOk0/s400/IMG_5729.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tylecodon paniculatus<br />Nice green, papery bark</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Othonna retrofracta</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aeonium crest. <br />Looking a bit like rosebuds.</span></td></tr>
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Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-83756226902955862192012-08-26T16:27:00.001-07:002013-03-05T08:42:06.212-08:00A special Antimima ventricosa<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This isn't just an ordinary <b><i>Antimima ventricosa</i></b>. I grew this beauty from seed!!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A couple of years ago I ventured into sowing succulent/mesemb seeds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a complete novice, I haphazardly chose this species. It </span><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">was with </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">continual astonishment that I watched it </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">grow to maturity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've grown many other succulents from seed since, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">but cannot help but be very proud </span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">of this one! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a recent photo of the plant at 1.5 years old. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Following is a photo timeline.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJffK3mh65Y/UDqhNjH1a0I/AAAAAAAACLw/rjBjoCaKUMA/s1600/IMG_5696.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-GJffK3mh65Y/UDqhNjH1a0I/AAAAAAAACLw/rjBjoCaKUMA/s400/IMG_5696.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10 day old seedlings (3/2011)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgKHykdS7aU/UDqiTiBB0LI/AAAAAAAACMI/bJTAdDUYqVI/s1600/IMG_3317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pgKHykdS7aU/UDqiTiBB0LI/AAAAAAAACMI/bJTAdDUYqVI/s320/IMG_3317.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One month (4/2011)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two months (5/2011)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Six months (8/2011)<br />Not much growth over summer!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRH3_OSrMzE/UDqjEcpwWHI/AAAAAAAACMg/-EdN81vr6ss/s1600/IMG_4169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dRH3_OSrMzE/UDqjEcpwWHI/AAAAAAAACMg/-EdN81vr6ss/s400/IMG_4169.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eight months (11/2011)<br />Obviously a winter grower</span></td></tr>
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Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-91533344434382416242012-08-26T15:19:00.005-07:002012-08-26T15:20:00.011-07:00Stapelianthus pilosus<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">My Stapelianthus pilosus bloomed!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-55109052702219095792012-08-24T22:20:00.002-07:002012-08-24T22:23:06.240-07:00Aeonium arboreum rubrolineatum<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Aeonium arboreum rubrolineatum</i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've always loved this species of Aeonium. It is robust, sturdy, and freely branching like other arboreum cultivars but what makes this one unique is the beautiful coloring. In late spring, the leaves turn ash brown with maroon striping and margins, exaggerated on the undersides of each leaf. The maroon markings are unique on each plant. During the cool/growing season, colors turn back to a rich green and the maroon markings disappear.</span><br />
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Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-9713161301274279992012-08-21T20:45:00.003-07:002012-08-21T20:49:28.671-07:00Cresting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stapelia variegata crest</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have always been drawn to the downtrodden, strange, and deformed. The straggly puppy in the corner missing an ear would easily be my first choice. When things go awry in the plant world, it's as if a new species has formed. What makes them bizarre, also makes them beautiful. One manifestation of this is the crested succulent. An arm or a branch decides to rebel and in doing so, becomes more attractive...and gets cut off and repotted! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aeonium arboreum crest</span></b></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't completely understand why this happens. Seems the more fleshy species are more prone, but I really don't need to know the scientific reasons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are a few of plants that have spontaneously crested in my garden.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Echeveria 'Topsy Turvy' crest</span></b></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Echeveria 'Pappy's Rose' crest</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Echium candicans crest<br />Not a succulent but I had to include this one. </b></span></td></tr>
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<br />Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-39204395934021696852012-08-19T21:50:00.001-07:002012-08-21T10:40:00.131-07:00Seed Determination, Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the third update to the Seed Determination post....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A ten day trip out of town left me a little anxious about the fate of my seedlings. I had to figure out how to prepare them for survival on their own. Most seeds had already germinated, so I hesitated keeping them in baggies, yet the late summer high temperatures were due to arrive, so I also feared they would dry out without my twice daily misting routine. What to do?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I decided to place all of the pots in a large plastic tray with about an inch of small gravel covering the bottom. I poured a small amount of water over the gravel, then placed the entire setup in a large, white plastic bag, sealed it, and kept my fingers crossed!! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first thing I looked at upon my return was my seeds. Carefully opening the bag, I prepared myself for what I expected to be pots of sand with no signs of life. On the contrary!! There were lots of tiny green blobs looking up at me and smiling. They did amazingly well. I was so relieved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite the successes with this batch, the germination rate is pretty low. I would guess it at about 20%. Surprisingly, Lithops were the lowest and Faucaria the highest. I also had great luck with a couple of the cactus species, with an especially good showing of Echinocereus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below are the latest photos. I will post another update soon!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Echinocereus reichenbachii and <br />Echinocereus coccineus</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Overview of seedlings </span>Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-68393126470044123352012-08-06T10:22:00.002-07:002012-08-06T10:45:39.921-07:00Seed Determination, part 2<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is the first follow up to my "Seed Determination" series... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been almost two weeks since sowing seed representing ten succulent genus, see <a href="http://aridgarden.blogspot.com/2012/07/seed-determination.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #741b47;">Seed Determination</span></a>. Of these, five have sprouted: <i><b>Faucaria, Odontophorus, Lithops, Aloinopsis, and Echinocereus</b></i>. Culture has been the same for all ten genus (baggie method), and consistent with past sowings, the same genus' have the strongest showing. Also, I sowed a couple of dozen Lithops in one larger pot, yet there are only five sprouts, all located at the perimeter of the pot despite the highest concentration of seeds being sowed toward the middle. Not sure why that occurred, but it may have to do with water condensing and/or heat emitting, from the pot walls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I removed the baggies from all pots after a week and have been misting twice a day. Temps are unusually cool, nights in the 60's (F), days in the 70's. S</span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">till hoping for signs of life from the other pots!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are photos of the strongest seedlings. Others are too small to photograph. More updates to follow.....</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Faucaria kingiae</span></td></tr>
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<br />Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-43253381702363913632012-08-02T16:51:00.001-07:002012-08-04T09:29:02.842-07:00Survival of albino Aloes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">variegated. The variegation patterns are widely varied, ranging from almost full green to albino*. Striping is light to dark green, often turning red/brown in full sun.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">*In the context of this post, "Albino" are plants with very little chlorophyll.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvhhWAty92E/UBquW47HWzI/AAAAAAAABkw/ocJ4YpQrwZM/s1600/IMG_3817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kvhhWAty92E/UBquW47HWzI/AAAAAAAABkw/ocJ4YpQrwZM/s400/IMG_3817.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I was curious if the albino forms would survive on their own. I removed four similarly sized pups, three albino and one standard, and situated them in half day sun. This is a photo of the four pups a few months after removal. The standard form has grown twice as large as the albinos and has begun to produce pups. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">More recently, I removed these four pups and planted them in the same pot. They represent a wider range of variegation. There is one almost completely white specimen. Curious to see if it survives.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This pup was lightly variegated and unlike the others, took on the reddish "stress" colors of the mother plant. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Of the first group, only this one and it's green sibling, survived. The other two turned brown and died. This plant is exhibiting the same problem, browning of the leaf margins. Plants in the second group have survived so far. All but the whitest plants, regardless of the proportion of green to white, did very well. On some plants, green stripes have thickened, but the all-white leaves never developed new striping and are weaker and more sensitive to light. They cannot tolerate much direct sun, yet do poorly in bright, full shade. They seem to do best in dappled shade with a dose of early morning, direct sun. I am still experimenting with exposure</span></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; text-align: left;">. </span><br />
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<span style="color: red; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;">I can only conclude that the albino plants, lacking in chlorophyll, are weaker, less tolerant of light/sun, and grow much more slowly than their greener counterparts, if they survive at all. More updates to come....!</span></td></tr>
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</div>Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4554489779056527167.post-5023186207078636252012-07-27T22:29:00.001-07:002012-07-27T23:21:09.410-07:00Desert Garden ~ Balboa Park<div style="text-align: left;">
Whether a visitor or resident of San Diego, you will probably visit Balboa Park. It is one of the gems of our city. There are several notable gardens within the park, one of which is a cactus/succulent garden or <a href="http://www.balboapark.org/in-the-park/desert-garden" target="_blank">Desert Garden</a>, established about 70 years ago. As a plant enthusiast and succulent collector, I find myself walking through here many times a year. Here are a few photos from a recent visit. Notice the number of very large, old specimens.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Old, very tall Yucca</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Huge clump of Agave attenuata, growing in shade.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Below: Although disturbing, I thought I would add a few photos of what tends to occur in public gardens ~ vandalism by graffiti. Fortunately, most plants either cannot be carved or they have enough spines to protect themselves. Opuntias and agaves are the primary victims. Such a shame!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Back to the more natural....</i></b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Blooming Crassula falcata growing under cactus</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Unknown Opuntia with very large pads. Some were over 12" in diameter.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This clump of aloes looked like flames of fire</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Aloes and euphorbias</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Aloe dichotoma</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loved this combination!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Opuntias were all forming fruit. Guess I'll have to visit again when they ripen!</span></td></tr>
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</div>Aridhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17529797160408162111noreply@blogger.com10