Good job picking up that Frithia pulchra! They've been showing up recently for the first time in my area. I bought all 4 the first week, then all 4 the second week, (I always get multiples for seed production) so now I have 8 and mine are flowering too. The flowers are taking a long time to open so be patient. Yes, they have similar care to Lithops and other Mesembs but they seem to like to stay moist, being from the grasslands. Also, they seem to prefer more shade than other Mesembs. Some sun won't hurt but I would give it the same amount of light as you would a Haworthia or Gasteraloe, limited sun, bright indirect light. Keep it from turning pink. If the leaves feel soft to the touch, it needs a little drink but don't soak it, just a sip. The condition you describe of your Gasteraloe sounds like it had too much sun, dried out, maybe the roots had died off. You seem to have revived it nicely so just keep doing what you're doing. Some plants have an actual dormant period and some just grow better at certain times of year. I personally only change up my routine for Haworthias, Aeoniums and Mesembs. Everything else does fine with regular watering year-round. Eventually, you'll learn to read the plants and react accordingly instead of following set rules.

Thanks all for the compliments. The Undivided Heart Seedlings are amazing. I still have 3 more from this cross that haven't even sent up a scape. Not sure if they are going to be lates or if I will just have to wait another year. Rita - It is good to be back. I so missed everyone and seeing their daylilies and garden shots. Mantis - the Golden Throne seedling is a first year 3-way branching with 9 buds. The first bloom got caught up with that edge but each one since then has greeted me wide open every morning by 7 am. (and it held up thru the 5 min down pours we have been having.) Vickie - Usually a white piece of paper (even if I have to have it in the shot) gets me the correct color. But, not that seedling. I sure wish I could capture the color it is amazing.

It can be very cold in El Paso. They actually got a decent amount of snow this last winter, more than us up north in central NM. My dad who grew up in Michigan and resides here in NM where it snows regularly says the biggest snowflakes he has ever seen in his entire life he saw in El Paso! Warmer atmospheres allow for bigger flakes, incidentally. Colder than one would think. It doesn't snow often, but it can surely snow (unlike most of AZ). The ariidity helps tremendously with the palms.

Bonbon, you do hear the locust, crickets and whatever else critter-bug out there. Baci, I'm not sure what the name of that one is. I planted a pack of Crimson rambler (NK lawnand garden) and a pack of Dwarf Early Call (American seed)ths pack had different colors in it. Actually that just started growing out of no where, cos a few packs didn't take the 1st or 2nd time... Did I mention that teepee one is from ONE plant? That was another surprise. I had them in pots and thought they hadn't taken so I dumped the dirt into my garden and 'willaw'... Arum, you're right about 'never getting tired of seeing them!