09/22/10

Euphorbia cotnifolia

A couple of nights ago I looked out my back window and saw a plant glowing that at first I didn't recognize. I realized it was my Euphorbia c. with back lighting. I quickly ran and got my camera. Some plants are even more beautiful when the sun shines behind them. I now know Euphorbia c. is one of them.

09/14/10

Senecio scaposus and Euphorbia anoplia

It's interesting that so many succulents look like sea creatures. I came across Euphorbia anoplia (Zipper Plant) and thought it looked like an octupus. When some Senecio scaposus (Silver Coral)

caught my attention I knew the two had to go together in the same pot. I surrounded the Euphorbia with the Senecio in a pot that reminded me of the ocean. What I ended up with was a strange looking sea creature. I kind of like it.

I owe this spurt of creativity to Debra Lee Baldwin who wrote a fantastic book titled Succulent Container Gardens. I decided to throw my own mix together after reading her book. I have a feeling I'm hooked!

09/10/10

Potted succulents

I've begun to add potted succulents to my flower beds. If I had it my way I'd plant them in the ground. I live in Zone 8 however and most of them would perish. People ask me why I wish I lived in my birth state of California - this is one major reason! The grass is always greener...

9/07/10

Oxblood Lily

Last fall I transplanted all of my Oxblood lilies into one bed. Before that they were scattered here and there. I decided they would look great in my circular bed of variegated Liriope. The show is not quite as spectacular as I had hoped. They are popping up sporadically rather than en masse. I have hope for future displays though since the lilies multiply rather quickly. One year in September I will look out my kitchen window and see a circle of bright bright red and green.

09/01/10

Re-seeding 'Balcony' Petunia

I grew this heirloom petunia last year. It almost made it through the summer. I was hoping it would re-seed. I gave up thinking it had until this one popped up in the middle of spring. It has been going strong all these months. It soared through August and this is what it looked like last night. I do believe this one will make into the fall. It is a climbing petunia and it's almost 4 feet high on the arbor I have it growing up. It grows beside a bright bougainvillea. Balcony Petunia is a real winner!

08/29/10

Birthday Pot

This past July my twin brother and I had one of the 'big' birthdays. The kind where you look down at your written age and shake your head in disbelief! To mark the occasion my brother surprised me with this beautiful pot. When he told me he made it I was even more impressed.

The heat in Texas this August has been pounding down on us like the fury of satan. I noticed that the plants showing no sign of pain were my potted succulents and cacti. As my pot sat empty I decided I wanted to pot something in it that would add to my healthy assortment. What better plant to plant than a cactus! I found this 'Ming Thing' (Cereus forbessi monstrose) on sale and knew it would be perfect. I was glad to be able to add my brother's gift to my blossoming collection of potted beauties!

08/18/10

This blog is not dead!

Sorry it has been awhile since I've posted anything. It is August and HOT! These days all I am doing is keeping things from dying. There have been very few 'Kodak moments!' Look for new posts soon, as the weather gets cooler. Can October get here fast enough?!?