Hi!

 I'm back home after visiting with lifelong friends in Cave Creek, AZ for about a week. *We all met in high school in Portland- David Douglas HS, home of the Scots!  I'm looking forward to catching up on all your blog posts I missed out on.  I came home to the Aloe africana bloom getting taller, way over my head.  

Close-up.  As you can see hoses strewn about, I left sprinklers on timers during the time away.  It was HOT.  I have gazillions of weeds to pull.  

And little pots everywhere.  Aloes from John Miller Institute for Aloe Studies. He sent an email out right before I left.  Aloe Time! 2025 Offering! I couldn't resist. Including Aloe namibensis & Aloe powysiorum he recommended (I'd not heard of either). 

I was anxious to check on the garden.  During a quick walk around, was delighted to see Brunsvigia grandiflora had woken up! 

Closer. 

From Dec 3, 2024.  This is what it looks like for several months in the winter.  Flatty. *Bulb purchased 2023 from The Bulb Maven. 

little mushroom sprouted in sempervivum.

Bold Senecio cephalophorus 'orange flame' brightening up a shady spot. 

Asclepias physocarpa, Family Jewels Tree living up to it's name.  I admit to fearing a massive seeding of these all down the street (into grassy lawns) and chopped off the family jewels.  I did not notice any butterflies/caterpillars on this milkweed this year.  

Oooh la la, Pyrrosia lingua 'Keikan (Cockcomb) from Far Reaches Farm has suddenly gotten very dramatic- on it's undersides especially.  Thanks to Loree, Danger Garden for the introduction to the wonderful world of Pyrrosia.  

Kumara plicatilis.  As an experiment suggested by Ivan, I planted this in a shady spot by the front porch.  He had seen one in Berkeley, planted in deep shade that twisted and reached for sunlight in a very interesting way.  So hey, why not copy that.  Surprisingly it has grown faster than others I have in full sun.  Probably because the front gets watered more regularly.  

A "regular" Pyrrosia also seems to be taking our heat in stride.  

A scorcher is in store today, 100° -hopefully the last triple digit in 2025?  Although it's still quite summery, the sunlight is hitting in that autumn way.  I have so much to do in our second spring of September/October, I'm ready to get on with it!