Howdy

 I'm back from Arnold.  We had a great time!  I was excited to see the Plumeria blooms opening this morning.  It's basically a stick for 8 months of the year.  Lovely fragrance even at this early stage. 

I didn't take many photos while I was there, too busy relaxing. Here's my friend's nice cabin, with outdoor seating on 2 sides. You can seek out the sun or shade. 

Manzanitas are plentiful in Arnold, I snapped a photo of their bear box surrounded by them.

Came home with a new sticker for my waste bin, and a new t-shirt from The Lube Room (cool bar we stopped at to wet our whistle before playing BINGO with the locals). 

Before we left, I was in full sweat inspiration mode.  Now, of course I'm searching for that spark. Aloe 'Yemeni Orange' first bloom stalk toppled over.  There are a couple more coming, and they do look a bit sturdier. 

Gasteria bloom arching over Ptilotus & Phylica.  

My surprise comeback stand of Dahlia Cafe au Lait had fallen over, top heavy.  Made the best of it, chopped and taken inside. 

 Aloe distans harboring a snake.

Aloe Dichotoma getting that hunky trunk.  

The Echium wildprettii which survived a lot of manhandling over the winter & spring is blooming really late- I'm not sure that it's crested but it's definitely a little oddball. 

The meteor is shrinking as things grow around and on it. 

I planted a quintet of Agave ocahui at the base, a couple are thriving (like this one) but 3 look iffy.

I thought this oregano was 'Kent Beauty' but it looks a little pinker and not as fluffy?  Maybe it's scorched. 

My 2nd try of Acacia glaucoptera or 3rd?  I see new growth! 

This year I've been more consistent with banana feeding.  I think this is Blue Java, Musa acuminata x balbisiana.  It bears a small blue banana, that is custardy and lightly sweet with a hint of vanilla. Also called the ice cream banana.  I WANT THOSE BANANAS!  With consistent feeding and no doubt the milder summer -those leaves are looking healthy.  We shall see, with my banana luck it will bloom in November and not make it through winter.  

That's a wrap.  I'm curious if you have a lull in energy after a few days of downtime?  I always seem to require a fight back for my normal energy level.