I usually don't have a problem with DH, because he is a plant nut also. He doesn't mind having some common plants around, but he goes for those weird ones. The more difficult they are to grow and the stranger they appear, the better he likes them! He has an old friend, that is a Botanist(PhD) and when I go along on visits to his garden, it's like being in a foriegn country, where no English is spoken! We went to a Big Box store(the Orange one) early Sun AM to obtain some potting mix to finish? my Spring ritual, "Divide-the-Plants", for my Garden Club fund raising sale. DH went along to load.(They don't provide that service, anymore). Found some Hydrangeas that I had been wanting for a year or more. His only comments were; Do you really need that many and where on earth are you going to plant them? I only purchased the best 2 of the 5 in stock, even though they were extremely reasonably priced. Looked at the JM's, but selection was VERY limited and price was astronomical! Very likely, the vendor will be taking those home, after the planting season is over. I have grown and sold those in the past and would have been very embarrassed to quote a price that high, even to a stranger!

You guys (incl. gals) are making me laugh! Good thing! What I like on a forum. Love this, Laura: You guys must hate all the "I bought a darn cactus and I have not a clue what it is" posts. Don't you just want to ping a rock off my head? As the others have said, no...I enjoy identifying plants. Keeps my brain cells working. =) I think all remarks have been in fun. There are, on rare occasions, posters who are mean-spirited & say nasty things. But, for the most part, we like educating & being educated about all succulents! So, no need to be paranoid, Laura, as we were all newbies at some time & can relate! Mrlike2u, pretty plant and pot!! Thank you, Rina, for turning the pic upright. =) Jeff & Dzitmo have a way with words (among others). Not always easy for me to decipher, but fun to read! Sometimes, explanations are in order (as seen above). If you're not sure about something, just ask! A hybrid E. obesa seems likely (as Jordi, Geoff & others indicated). Do you have any closer (clear) pix of the blooms (cyathia)? RoRo This post was edited by rosemariero6 on Sat, Jan 5, 13 at 13:19

Yes, my problem has obviously become more serious. I came home from shopping and I could only bring 3 elves in the house with me. I didn't think DH would take it well to find an army of elves when he walked in the living room! And since the elves are over 2ft tall it's not like he wouldn't notice! Alas, another sign I have a serious problem as I'm now hiding elves (hanging my head in shame). Once DH left for work I quickly scurried to gather my elves from the car. Thank goodness DH didn't take my car to work as he would have had a heart attack to look in the rear view mirror and see all these elves staring back at him! As I sit here there are 14 very happy elves watching me. Our little puppy girl gave them a few barks and determined they were friendly, and she was outnumbered, so she backed off. Now what to do with the elves? It's not like DH (though sometimes oblivious) won't notice a 2ft elf. Without a doubt he'd notice 14 of them! You may be thinking the best way to handle this is to put out the 3 elves and each day as we get closer to Christmas just add another one and maybe DH won't notice the elf population has exploded. If he does notice then pretend he's loosing his memory and we've had them for years or vigorously assert that you read on the internet a recent article about the unexplained elf population explosion. I know what your thinking ... the problem is even more serious then you thought as she is now lying to cover-up her elf addiction. Not to worry I've already figured out what to do! We are living in a very small rental while building a new house. All of our Christmas stuff is packed away so we are not actually decorating for Christmas. So only 1 elf will be enjoying the holidays with us this year as there is not enough room in this small rental for more. My plan for next year is to strategically place them throughout the new house which is much bigger! I may stick with the idea of putting out a few and then just add one (or two) here (and there) as we get closer to Christmas. Hopefully DH doesn't think to take a daily elf "head count". Honestly after more than 20 years together he shouldn't be the least bit surprised. Now I must get busy and do something with all these elves before DH gets home from work! I have to find some big boxes to pack them in (note to self ... do not label boxes "elves"). Then I'll slip them in the pile of boxes to go to the new house. And just a little snicker on my part as DH will unknowingly be the one that takes the boxes full of elves to the new house and puts them in the storage area. Someday (but not anytime soon) I will fess up to my DH on my "elf capade" and we will have a good laugh! I'm not doing that though till I have too ... Did someone mention they know of a 12-step program for elf addiction?

No, it is not Bob Serbin or Zoe. It is more of a double that a triple. The petals on those two are tighter and firmer, more orangey-red or brick in color. It does look like the photo Aegis posted of Sun Sizzle, another of the Lyon's hybrids. It might be an Arthoflores or Anthroflores or however it is spelled. Or a local grower might have developed their own hybrids. Or maybe it is one that Su suggested ... In any case, you have a very pretty plant. Regarding people in stores grabbing what you are looking at, I think your looking at it just makes them want it! You have already pre-selected it for them. I have had people follow me around, waiting for me to put something down so they could pounce on it. However, in retail, the stores also know that if you pick it up, it is hard to put it down. That is why grocery store packages have all the bright colors and screaming headlines, to try to make you pick it up.