Hi Phoenix, The short, unfortunate answer is no. The longer answer is this - Since I didn't know much about cacti or succulents when we moved here, I read up a bit online and it seemed most people's problems were caused by overwatering. We've not watered too much, and maybe have even neglected them too much by not watering enough. I've not put any fertilizer on them, just left 'em alone, and hoped. But this is the year where I'm determined to get them to bloom, or at least learn what the secret is to get them to bloom *next* year. I had to drive all over Tucson yesterday and whilst doing so couldn't help noticing there's cacti blooming all over the East, Central and in my Westside neighborhood, but not my yard :/ Do you know any good books on the subject of cacti?

There is a group that meet in Pittsburgh, and one in Philadelphia, if either of these work for you, I will get current information. Norma

I like books on single families of plants. There are way too many succulents to cover well in one book. I just bought Greg Starrs book on Agaves and I love it. I suggest looking at the photographs in the forum and then googling their names and their relatives in the family. Take those names and look in past articals using the search mechanism on the forum,. That will give you an idea of what you are drawn to. Aloes, , Haworthias, Agaves, mesembs, caudex forming woody types. SO MANY TYPES. Do you want to grow them outside or if you CAN grow them outside. I have only gotten books on agaves, because that is my focus for growing outdoors. Everything else I get off of sites online. There is a lot of info circulating online. There is a forum that has Garden and Dave's in the reverse order in their name ( we aren't allowed to say the name here). There are great articles on aloes on it. ALL sorts of allows written by a member of our forum here.

Thanks!.I'm over here in the eastbay,Hayward. I think the Hercules flowers are the only pics on the net.No matter how much i looked,didnt find any.So,even i was wondering what they were going to be like! My advice to anybody is if you want a branching tree Aloe-Hercules might be the hardiest.If you want a tree Euphorbia cactid,E abysinnica might be the hardiest of those and E.ammak the fastest growing(haven't tried E.ingens)and almost the same in cold hardyness.E.ingens could be best of all.A neighbor planted a 6" dish garden plant 5 or 6 years ago and its a very bushy 6' now. I didnt see a bit of damage from the freeze on it..and they have it in the middle of the front yard-no cover whatsoever. Global or urban or both warming has really added to the menu of tropicalia to be grown in the bay area. If it keeps us above 32..the sky's the limit..