A special Antimima ventricosa

This isn't just an ordinary Antimima ventricosa. I grew this beauty from seed!!

A couple of years ago I ventured into sowing succulent/mesemb seeds.

As a complete novice, I haphazardly chose this species.  It was with 

continual astonishment that I watched it grow to maturity.

I've grown many other succulents from seed since, 

but cannot help but be very proud of this one! 

This is a recent photo of the plant at 1.5 years old. 

Following is a photo timeline.

10 day old seedlings (3/2011)

One month (4/2011)

Two months (5/2011)

Six months (8/2011)
Not much growth over summer!

Eight months (11/2011)
Obviously a winter grower

One year old

Stapelianthus pilosus

My Stapelianthus pilosus bloomed!

Aeonium arboreum rubrolineatum

Aeonium arboreum rubrolineatum

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.

A smaller plant showing more prominent markings.
This one was a show stopper!

Colors fading as the plant prepares for summer dormancy.

Summer dormancy

Winter

Developing inflorescence

Cresting

Stapelia variegata crest

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!  

Aeonium arboreum crest

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.  

Here are a few of plants that have spontaneously crested in my garden.

Echeveria 'Topsy Turvy' crest

Echeveria 'Pappy's Rose' crest

Echium candicans crest
Not a succulent but I had to include this one.