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 (Cockscomb) 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!
100F again! But your garden's taking it in stride. Your Aloe africana is magnificent and I envy the Brunsvigia blooms. I'd be happy to see cooler temperatures here too but the forecasters seem intent on lying - we're in the upper 80s this morning rather than the 70s they "promised." Humidity is still up without any real chance of rain.
ReplyDeleteI think we will be cooler today, but our forecasters are liars as well, lol.
DeleteExciting times in your garden! All your succulents are so impressive, and your arrangement of all of them is wonderful. I love the Asclepias physocarpa. Stay cool in the heat! We're having a simply dreamy September here in my part of Wisconsin--just enough rain and high temps in the 70s and 80s for most of the month. Don't work too hard. ;-)
ReplyDeleteBeth, that sounds absolutely perfect!!
DeleteI'm sure it was nice to get away for a few days. And the garden kept on in your absence.
ReplyDeleteIt was lots of fun, as always I'm happy to be back home.
DeleteWelcome back, just in time for what is hopefully the last heat wave of the year.
ReplyDeleteI got the same aloes from John Miller, Aloe namibensis & Aloe powysiorum, and a few others.
I know exactly where that deep-shade Kumara plicatilis is. It's barely recognizable though. Yours will look a lot nicer
Ha, yesterday was a scorcher! No surprise we ordered the same ;). How funny you know where that Kumara is, small world.
DeleteYour garden did not lag in your absence.
ReplyDeleteThank you Anvil, it did grow lots of weeds tho!
DeleteOooh la la .. I agree, what a plant!! I love your garden and so happy you share it with us.
ReplyDeleteI am happy you had a fun getaway.
Carla
Thank you Carla, it was a fun trip.
DeleteYay a get away to see old friends is always a good thing (I just had my own version). Your plants all look happy, love your pyrrosia!
ReplyDelete:) It looks like you had a great getaway, more plant focused than mine -which is always a plus!
DeleteRoad-tripping, quick note. If you learn anything about readership spikes please share. Will do likewise. Btw, worked over the hill from Cave Creek, ranger in Chiricahua NM. long ago. Neat area. (From Hollis who can’t log in grrrrrrr)
ReplyDeleteHollis, I knew this was you right away :). I thoroughly enjoyed looking at the rocky ground there, we were near "Black Mountain" it had gorgeous outcropping of boulders set in it.
DeleteWhat a fun post I loved the shadows in the first picture and all of the flowers. Sounds like your garden had as much of a vacation as you did. It’s just fine in the 100° heat where mine would just burn up if I wasn’t around.
ReplyDeleteHa, you went down the pyrrosia rabbit hole! You are in great company!
ReplyDeleteI love the 'flatty' look of Brunsvigia grandiflora... so decorative.
"...chopped off the family jewels". Gulp. LOL. Do they dry up well?
Chavli