Chilly morning

 I hope everyone had a fun holiday.  We enjoyed ourselves, and I think I've recovered from a few late nights and general indulgence.  It was 37° this morning.  We're headed into a few rainy days, but we are supposed to get a very polite amount of rain over the week - under an inch total.  

Doesn't that Aloe striata look like she could use a puffer jacket? I have to remind myself that the plants are better handling the weather than I would be.  

We did not get the deluge of rain that other places did over Christmas.  A few light showers over a few days did add up to just over an inch. Still, with more rain coming I've been checking the borders of beds.  If it gets too soggy, I'll just pull smaller plants out.  Better to be undressed on higher ground if we get rain like a few years back.  *I know it seems silly, we are SO dry here.  Only 50-ish days with rain, 14" in a year, which predominantly falls Dec-Feb.  But, it just takes a second to pop a small something out of the ground, so why not?  

Trying to stay on top of weeds/grass and all the dumb leaf & pine needle litter.

As I got closer to the back fence, I noticed Aloe karasbergensis getting that water logged mush look.  I love the lines, will pop out and hopefully it will dry out.  

A couple of the Tillandsia are blooming.  Which seems like a strange timing choice, but I approve. 

The Parodia leninghausii, are a nice warm prickly spot. 

Agave colorata x.celsii is warm & cold at the same time?

Aeonium sunburst, look like summertime. 

Aeonium 'Emerald Ice' -not sure which category.  For me, these haven't been as tough as nails as sunburst.  

This little protected area has worked out well.  These are mostly small & new, and I thought the first winter I'd give them a little help.  Next year, they are on their own.

Well, the pilocereus will always need some winter "help".

This Gymno pflanzii v. albipulpa looks so purpley/maroon velvet in its creases.  I think that's cool. 

This beauty, Mangave 'bloodlines' - a really nice gift from Gerhard, succulentsandmore. I can't wait to get this planted.  *I think this is yours Gerhard, the handwriting sure looks it?

Aloe tauri, stunning color. 

Agave 'burnt burgundy' 

Protea, Ivan mentioned the buds mimicked the Christmas lights strewn around it. 

He's right!

Off topic, my Stenocereus beneckei has started to recover from a mishap...  a mistake.  During the summer, I noticed spider mites -and I sprayed it (hort. oil) without thinking.  Ruining the gorgeous farina 😬.  Ugh and oops.  Thankfully it's looking better.  

Happy New Year!  We don't do much around here for that, maybe I'll make a nice pot of soup on the 1st.  Do you go out and whoop it up?

I'll end with  "A Tale of Two Panettones"  ... a fruit filled success

and a chocolate disaster!  *If you haven't made it before -you hang the bread upside down to cool, so it doesn't collapse into itself.  It's near to a brioche dough, very buttery.  This one lost it's mushroom cap, but was still the hands down favorite, the dough was insanely delicious.