Friday, September 18, 2015

Flashback Friday: Aloe suprafoliata

What a difference two years make! 

I love succulents, however aloes are my favorite, and euphorbias (which are a type of succulent) are a close second. The diversity is astronomical. I love the shapes, sizes, colors, forms, and textures, plus they flower every year.

 September 2013

I purchased this aloe from an online vendor. I couldn't resist, as I was intrigued by its distichous leaves while in its youth. As it matures, it becomes a lovely swirl rosette, but for now I'm enjoying it's juvenile years.  I'm in zone 7b, so my aloe is container grown. It receives about 5 hours of morning sun per day.

August 2014

One year later it has grown some, though it is hard to notice on a daily basis; remember it is an aloe - not bamboo. I think the color is just gorgeous; it looks green from the picture, but is actually turquoise in color, when viewed in person. While in a pot it's a slow grower, but I don't mind, as I love watching it grow.
September 2015

Here it is today, growing nicely and developing a trunk. Isn't she a beauty! Aloe suprafoliata is a solitary succulent., but some are known to offset or branch out.  Mine doesn't look like one of those cones - or maybe it's too soon to tell.

Top view

Aloe suprafoliata is hardy to 25 degrees F, so it should spend the winter in the garage along with all my other succulents. For now it seems to be loving the cooler temperatures, we are experiencing at the beginning of fall.  September 21st is just days away.

Sunday, September 13, 2015

Winter Growers are awake!!

Fall is 13 days away, however my winter growers are already showing new growth.

 Back row left to right  Tylecodon dinteri and Tylecodon paniculatus
Front row left to right Tylecodon grandiflorus and Tylecodon wallichii

Monday, September 7, 2015

Labor Day Blooms


Enjoy the current blooms from my garden.
 Bulbine Hallmark
 Purple Shamrock
 Sedum autumn joy
 Sedum montrona
 Sedum siebodii
 Stokesia Honeysong Purple
 Variegated toad lily

Variegated toad lily

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy 4th July

Wishing everyone a happy 4th July, be safe and enjoy.
Enjoy the last of June blooms from my garden.






Saturday, June 20, 2015

June Blooms

More blooms from the garden.
 Crocosmia
 Crocosmia
 Liatris
 Liatris
 Liatris
 Platycodon grandiflorus
 Platycodon grandiflorus
 Echinacea p. "Rubinstern"
 Echinacea "PowWow Wild Berry"
 Hydrangea
Shasta Daisy

Sunday, May 24, 2015

May Blooms

Here are some flower power from around the garden.
 Amaryllis
 Euphorbia
 Euphorbia
 Hibiscus
 Rose
 Marigolds
Clematis
Iris

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Local Plant Sale

Yes it that time of year again. Douglas County Master Gardener's plant sale was last Saturday. I  look forward to this sale every year, not only for some good plants but also to support our local community. As always the staging was good, the plants were healthy and Master Gardeners were available and informative.  The local Boy Scouts had a booth again and also were assisting shoppers to their vehicles with their purchases.  All were welcome, and it did get busy during my visit. I'm hoping it was a success.

Here is my haul:
                                      Back row left to right:Variegated toad lily (2) and a Rose Champion
    Front row left to right: Dianthus mixed, Stokes aster and Zinnia sunburst

Maihuenia poeppigii