I was strolling through the garden last evening, at the end of a hot day. Checking to see how everything fared. Whaaaa, what's weird about that aloe? I *think this is Aloe Africana, probably a hybrid. I purchased from the Dry Garden in Berkeley - no tag. Please weigh in if you have thoughts on ID.
I realize I shouldn't have been so stunned, Aloe's do bloom in September. However, I always feel like mine are late to the party, everyone has been enjoying their blooms all winter -a huge plus when not much is blooming- and then mine show up when it's all over. This will be fun to watch!
In other news, I've been doing the boring rituals. Removing the tomato plants, cantaloupe vines. I grew the worlds tiniest cantaloupes this year. Not even enough to keep Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca happy! I won't bother again, they need copious amounts of water -although the 4 bites were juicy and sweet. Not worth it.
Random shots: Xanthorrhoea preissii, I put a couple of these in 2023. They are slow growers, reportedly 1-2 cm per year. I've been pushing a little water on mine in the hotter months and they've def put on more growth than that. 🤞 continues.
And xanthorrhoea quadrangulata, Mt. Lofty grass tree. I present LORD LOFTY. He is growing much faster than his "back-up" in exact conditions about 5 feet away.
In response to my "monsoon" experiment a few days ago, I have this !@#$ing spotted spurge everywhere.
Annoying. And a reminder I need to put Preen down on all the pathways before we get rain, I have plenty of time.
I am slowly starting to prep for the weather changes to come, put together shelving for the greenhouse. This smaller shelf next to the house for things that need to stay dry & a little warmer.
A. melanacantha is showing pretty color from the stress of summer.
NoID, a stout little Aloe.
A check-in the greenhouse, Dr likes to use this as his sauna. *I didn't see him there until after the photo.
I can't show the front garden right now, it's a jungle of scorch. A nice evening shot of "starting to open up her leaves" A. Helenae, always pups - never flowers.
I know everyone is enjoying their cool downs, today we're still near 100°. However, with the shorter days and cool nights I can't complain, I love this time of year. I'll be sharing a fun project soon, it involves that area that Ivan cleared out on the slope.
Ivan's clean up Hint, I've been pouring over
Kris's Late to the Garden Party posts on her lath house. *Hers is beautiful, and intricate & way more angles than I'm capable of.
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Any fun projects or travel planned?
Do you hand out Halloween candy & do you have a favorite? Tracy- gimme chocolate
September birthdays?
Such specimens you have. I am knowledgeable about none of this, and don't have much to say, but I am always impressed.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anvil, I adore seeing everyone's gardens. All kinds, I lean into the dry garden because of where I live.
DeleteI have two different aloes in my home collection (houseplants, of course, in zone 6a) and they have never bloomed. Your garden is a lot of work, and I'm glad I get to enjoy it from a distance because our cool down is still going on. Today I think it reached 64.
ReplyDeleteI'm thinking 64 sounds lovely - I'm trying to remind myself how much I will miss being outside all day when it's cooler.
DeleteAh, the fun of the change of seasons. I hope you get cooler weather soon. (No, I don't hand out Halloween candy. I live in a condo complex, and no one comes around trick or treating. They go across the street to the large neighborhood.)
ReplyDeleteI haven't the last few years, I've been too lazy!
DeleteI noticed a bloom starting on my Aloe labworana a couple of days ago so yours is not alone! I like your Xanthorrhoea even if it is a slow grower. I hate that spotted spurge - after 2 years of decent rain it's everywhere in my garden, including embedded in the gravel paths between the raised planters in my cutting garden. Every time I pull some of it out I think it doubles down.
ReplyDeleteMy lath house took some hits with all last year's rain - the roof overhangs are a little delicate. I haven't wanted my husband up on a ladder to make the repairs it needs so I'm ignoring the damage at the moment.
Oh good, I think I'll watch a "Whats Blooming in October, Ruth Bancroft garden" from last fall to see if they had Aloes blooming - I'm assuming yes. Ugh, the spurge - I think it quadruples down! I'm guessing with my construction skills, I'll have yearly fixes on a shade house. lol
DeleteHi... I am still laughing about the melon not being even enough for Tom Thumb or Hunca Munca. Ha! I am happy you enjoyed four nibbles. :-)
ReplyDeleteWe do hand out candy, we do hand out chocolate, R. Peanut Butter Cups.. my husbands favorite.
Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca losing their minds over plastic food has always sent me into the giggles. If I feel angry, nothing better to think of than the line "there was no end to the rage and disappointment of Tom Thumb and Hunca Munca". It's always good to have your favorites on hand for Halloween!
DeleteUgh, spotty spurge. It's a constant battle, isn't it? At least it comes out easily.
ReplyDeleteYour Xanthorrhoea preissii is bigger than mine. They're so slow, why are we even bothering, LOL.
Unclear what your mystery aloe is. The flowers will tell us more.
I don't know why we bother, hahaha. Sometimes I think "wow, that will be beautiful when I'm 110". I've been pushing water on that preissii during ALL the dry months, I think it's helping the growth.
DeleteIt is a beautiful garden, supervised by a beautiful cat!
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed with the plants that will last outdoors. We'll expect -20 C. and a couple feet of snow in winter.
My garden is nearly set for winter. I enjoy putting it to bed.
haha, Thank you, he is a good little buddy! I love the snow, and I get what you mean about putting it to bed.
DeleteSuch a cute astrophytum bloom, I am happy to see :)
ReplyDelete:). Thank you S!
DeleteFunnily enough we have a spurge here in the UK Euphorbia peplus which is the bane of my life as it seeds into the crown of herbaceous perennials.
ReplyDeleteThey are prolific reseeders!
ReplyDeleteI love the different textures of the plants in your garden - especially in the first of the 'random shots.' It's something I'm trying to work on instead of always relying on flowers.
ReplyDeleteI had a real insightful comment ready and then you mention Halloween candy. Mmmmm peanut butter cups :) It looks great, love how happy the aloes look and if you want more spotted spurge just ask.
DeleteThank you Graeme, kind of a it happened to me because of the climate - instead of my planning!
DeleteHahaha, No thank you Frank- But I'd take a peanut butter cup!
DeleteYeah I have a similar problem with squash as you do with canteloupe. I don't know why I bother either, but I keep hoping I will hit upon that magic recipe that will guarantee big bold fruit by the end of the season. Spotted spurge - we've got lots. In contrast to Gerhard, I find it annoyingly difficult to pull. I can't get a good grasp and the branches break off, leaving the rest of the plant behind. Hundreds of seeds even on tiny plants. So, Preen, huh? Works well?
ReplyDeleteI don't think Preen is a panacea, but it does reduce the amount of new sprouts - I have the same issue as you in the dg pathways, difficult to pull the roots. So, I'll get a bucket late winter and walk the pathways spilling it around like the Morton Salt girl.
DeleteChe invidia! Qui riesco a tenere davvero poche succulente in piena terra ma questo inverno mostrerò qualche immagine! Mi godo le tue nel frattempo!
ReplyDeleteTi auguro un buon autunno!
Non vedo l'ora di vedere il tuo bellissimo giardino d'inverno! Grazie, buon autunno a te e ai tuoi cari.
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