Yellow iris (NOID
Gerbera after rain (not expecting this to come back)
Small and delicate iris (NOID)
Pink azalea (NOID)
Thursday, May 8, 2014
TBT - Random blooms (May 2013)
I remembered having taken a few pictures with my phone last year, to post on Instagram. In the spirit of Throwback Thursday, here they are - none of my flower beds quite look like this yet (we are a little behind).
Wednesday, May 7, 2014
I might have found an ID for one of my Succulents NOID??
I can't even remember how I fell upon this webiste, but, if the info there is accurate, based on a picture, I think I *might* have found out the name of one of my succulents - and it turns out I would have been right about it being an aloe.
My first blog post about the succulent can be found here. (Click the here).
One of the pictures I posted back then -
I think I can say that it is an aloe 'Bright Star'.
The following website seems to sell one that looks an awful lot like it. There's also another aloe that seems similar, named aloe 'Christmas Carol', but I think the fact that the edges of mine aren't quite as vibrant and that it has more white spot on the leaves, that it's likely the 'Bright Star'.
Succulent Gardens - The Growing Grounds
A quick Google search made me confident that it was indeed the right plant, mostly because the first few hits looked a lot like my own plant, but it doesn't seem to be something too common,
What do you think?
My first blog post about the succulent can be found here. (Click the here).
One of the pictures I posted back then -
I think I can say that it is an aloe 'Bright Star'.
The following website seems to sell one that looks an awful lot like it. There's also another aloe that seems similar, named aloe 'Christmas Carol', but I think the fact that the edges of mine aren't quite as vibrant and that it has more white spot on the leaves, that it's likely the 'Bright Star'.
Succulent Gardens - The Growing Grounds
Picture from the Succulent Gardens
A quick Google search made me confident that it was indeed the right plant, mostly because the first few hits looked a lot like my own plant, but it doesn't seem to be something too common,
What do you think?
Saturday, May 3, 2014
A new Schlumbergera
Yes a new Schlumbergera. And no, not a true Christmas cactus (although I saw a very large one of those today, sadly already sold), but another Thanksgiving cactus.
Why?
Well it had buds. And those buds had a really nice colour to them.
Pictures don't really do them justice.
The edge of the petals are a dark pink, but then fades into a peachy/orange colour and since I'm still hunting for a peach or orange coloured Schlumbergera, I caved - the $2.99 price tag didn't help me either.
.
Funnily enough, although the website for the nursery from which I acquired my new addition stipulates that all employees have horticulture degrees, a number of these cacti were being sold as Christmas cactus; it just shows how uncommon the differences seem to be around here.
I'm also would have loved to know how much the true Christmas cactus sold for; but the label didn't share that information. I do wonder if they were donated the plant, as it was huge and probably several years old and, I think, in need to be re-potted. Some of the branches also looked like they would fall if gently touched.
How I wished they had smaller versions for sale, but all the smaller ones had, as the Boy calls them, "cat face" segments typical of the Thanksgiving cactus. I also didn't think of taking out my phone to take a picture of the behemoth of a plant.
The picture above showcases my new acquisition next to one of my established Schlumbergera, one that has been giving me a few flowers over the Spring. I have always found that one to be on the pink side, although in the picture above looks a little magenta. But it does show that my new plant isn't really pink.
I am actually truly looking forward to the largest bud to open and to see what it's true colour will be!
As for the total of Schlumbergera that are beyond the stage of cuttings, I'm still at 6. I parted with the larger one I had a few weeks ago, when it appeared the soil and segments looked contaminated with what could have been mealy bugs. It wasn't worth the effort to try and get rid of them and I didn't want to chance it spreading to my other plants.
Why?
Well it had buds. And those buds had a really nice colour to them.
Pictures don't really do them justice.
The edge of the petals are a dark pink, but then fades into a peachy/orange colour and since I'm still hunting for a peach or orange coloured Schlumbergera, I caved - the $2.99 price tag didn't help me either.
.
The largest of three buds
See the gradient?
Funnily enough, although the website for the nursery from which I acquired my new addition stipulates that all employees have horticulture degrees, a number of these cacti were being sold as Christmas cactus; it just shows how uncommon the differences seem to be around here.
I'm also would have loved to know how much the true Christmas cactus sold for; but the label didn't share that information. I do wonder if they were donated the plant, as it was huge and probably several years old and, I think, in need to be re-potted. Some of the branches also looked like they would fall if gently touched.
How I wished they had smaller versions for sale, but all the smaller ones had, as the Boy calls them, "cat face" segments typical of the Thanksgiving cactus. I also didn't think of taking out my phone to take a picture of the behemoth of a plant.
Colour variation.
The picture above showcases my new acquisition next to one of my established Schlumbergera, one that has been giving me a few flowers over the Spring. I have always found that one to be on the pink side, although in the picture above looks a little magenta. But it does show that my new plant isn't really pink.
I am actually truly looking forward to the largest bud to open and to see what it's true colour will be!
As for the total of Schlumbergera that are beyond the stage of cuttings, I'm still at 6. I parted with the larger one I had a few weeks ago, when it appeared the soil and segments looked contaminated with what could have been mealy bugs. It wasn't worth the effort to try and get rid of them and I didn't want to chance it spreading to my other plants.
Opened blooms!
Yesterday, they had started to open, this morning, they were fully there!
Bloom #1
Both opened blooms
Bloom #2
Bloom #1
Overview shot
This made me incredibly happy this morning.
Thursday, May 1, 2014
TBT - Lilacs (2013)
These pictures were taken on May 16th of last year - and I don't think we'll be seeing blooms fully open by that time this year, although it is warming up.
I don't have a large enough property for a full size lilac bush; fortunately, these were found across the street from us.
I don't have a large enough property for a full size lilac bush; fortunately, these were found across the street from us.
Monday, April 28, 2014
Succulent NOID
Yes, another succulent with no identification!
I got this one last Friday (where I debated between it and another I purchased the following morning). I'm leaning towards it being a Echeveria, although it could possibly be a Sempervivum or possibly even something else.
I loved it's colouration; the pictures don't really do it justice. The tips of the leaves are also pink.
I debated adding it to the multi-succulent planter, but I really liked the look of it on its own; it does really suit the individual round pot. I also wouldn't mind if it sprouted some offsets, although I guess I could pick some of the leaves at the bottom and try propagating it that way.
This is definitively one of my favourite succulent in the house!
I got this one last Friday (where I debated between it and another I purchased the following morning). I'm leaning towards it being a Echeveria, although it could possibly be a Sempervivum or possibly even something else.
I loved it's colouration; the pictures don't really do it justice. The tips of the leaves are also pink.
I debated adding it to the multi-succulent planter, but I really liked the look of it on its own; it does really suit the individual round pot. I also wouldn't mind if it sprouted some offsets, although I guess I could pick some of the leaves at the bottom and try propagating it that way.
This is definitively one of my favourite succulent in the house!
Sunday, April 27, 2014
My first multi-succulent planter
If I am totally honest, this was not the entry I intended to post next. I had processed the pictures I wanted to use for it earlier today in order to have them ready for a week post, but seeing how many pictures there were and thinking of things to say (which I might forget along the way), I realized I don't have time for such a post over the week. And this blog is too new for me to just want to post pictures and leave (which take no real time).
My addiction to succulents slowly growing, after having made a purchase last Friday night where I made myself decide between two different (unnamed) succulents and finally deciding on one (post to follow), I kept thinking of the other, then thought that the one I left behind might be a Echeveria Perle von Nurnberg (PVN) so guess where I ended up Saturday morning...yeah.
On the way to the store I also decided that I was going to go ahead with something else I was thinking about, which was to buy one of the large but shallow pots I've been eying and buy a few additional succulents and bring them altogether, and hope that this would quench my thirst for additional succulents, at least for a little while (yeah right...)
So after deliberating which other succulent to purchase from the small selection (how I wanted a different variety of "grapey" looking sedum from what I already had), I made my pick of two additional potted succulents and took some small pieces that had fallen off/were broken off others and figured it was a good starting point.
I also meant to take pictures of the individual plants still in the containers they came in, but didn't.
The large succulent in the bottom left "corner" (picture above) is the one I believe to be an Echeveria PVN. I'm curious to see what it will look like after a few weeks sitting near my south facing window. I'm hoping the colour will improve (and the overall shape). It does, however, bear a close resemblance to other pictures of Echeveria PVN I've looked at on other websites.
I have no idea what the following succulent is called, nor do I really know what family it belongs to. But I found it to look nice and liked it and it became the second one I picked for this planter.
This little bit of succulent between the Echeveria and the aforementioned unnamed succulent was falling off the mother plant, so I took it home. Not sure if it'll survive, but it gives it a second chance.
Below is the third one I purchased. Again, I'm unsure what it might be, and given that the plant was located on the bottom shelf with more plants behind it, it didn't get the nicest exposure to light, it is likely not in the best shape it could be. Having looked around, it does reminder me of an Echeveria 'Set-Oliver'. So until I hear or figure out otherwise, I'll consider this one an Echeveria.
Finally, I have two more sets of cuttings. The one pictured above was from a plant that also was on the bottom shelf and somewhat in the way so some branches were snapped - and I figured I'd give them a second chance as well. The ones below were from a plant that, although not on the bottom shelf, was on a shelf with larger cacti and some "not for sale" plants that get moved around so was in the "way" - some branches fell off and others were snapped so I picked up three little pieces. Hoping these do root as I really like the variegated leaves and it would look nice draping over the lip of the planter.
I said somewhere above that I had hoped that bringing together this larger planter would satisfy me for a little bit and stop me wanting to go out and get more succulents. Sadly, it seems the addiction is growing stronger and I'm pondering where else I could find a larger selection of (hopefully properly identified) succulents in my city. I need to keep telling myself that space is limited and my existing plants will grow...but not sure how effective it'll be!
My addiction to succulents slowly growing, after having made a purchase last Friday night where I made myself decide between two different (unnamed) succulents and finally deciding on one (post to follow), I kept thinking of the other, then thought that the one I left behind might be a Echeveria Perle von Nurnberg (PVN) so guess where I ended up Saturday morning...yeah.
On the way to the store I also decided that I was going to go ahead with something else I was thinking about, which was to buy one of the large but shallow pots I've been eying and buy a few additional succulents and bring them altogether, and hope that this would quench my thirst for additional succulents, at least for a little while (yeah right...)
So after deliberating which other succulent to purchase from the small selection (how I wanted a different variety of "grapey" looking sedum from what I already had), I made my pick of two additional potted succulents and took some small pieces that had fallen off/were broken off others and figured it was a good starting point.
I also meant to take pictures of the individual plants still in the containers they came in, but didn't.
Overall view
The large succulent in the bottom left "corner" (picture above) is the one I believe to be an Echeveria PVN. I'm curious to see what it will look like after a few weeks sitting near my south facing window. I'm hoping the colour will improve (and the overall shape). It does, however, bear a close resemblance to other pictures of Echeveria PVN I've looked at on other websites.
Echeveria Perle von Nurnberg?
I have no idea what the following succulent is called, nor do I really know what family it belongs to. But I found it to look nice and liked it and it became the second one I picked for this planter.
Unnamed succulent
This little bit of succulent between the Echeveria and the aforementioned unnamed succulent was falling off the mother plant, so I took it home. Not sure if it'll survive, but it gives it a second chance.
Below is the third one I purchased. Again, I'm unsure what it might be, and given that the plant was located on the bottom shelf with more plants behind it, it didn't get the nicest exposure to light, it is likely not in the best shape it could be. Having looked around, it does reminder me of an Echeveria 'Set-Oliver'. So until I hear or figure out otherwise, I'll consider this one an Echeveria.
Echeveria 'Set-Oliver' maybe?
Finally, I have two more sets of cuttings. The one pictured above was from a plant that also was on the bottom shelf and somewhat in the way so some branches were snapped - and I figured I'd give them a second chance as well. The ones below were from a plant that, although not on the bottom shelf, was on a shelf with larger cacti and some "not for sale" plants that get moved around so was in the "way" - some branches fell off and others were snapped so I picked up three little pieces. Hoping these do root as I really like the variegated leaves and it would look nice draping over the lip of the planter.
I said somewhere above that I had hoped that bringing together this larger planter would satisfy me for a little bit and stop me wanting to go out and get more succulents. Sadly, it seems the addiction is growing stronger and I'm pondering where else I could find a larger selection of (hopefully properly identified) succulents in my city. I need to keep telling myself that space is limited and my existing plants will grow...but not sure how effective it'll be!
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