Some Serious Spines ...
These look like some serious spines! But I love their color and I've never been poked by them. Even in a small pot this variety blooms beautifully in the spring.
I've taken a more serious interest in succulents because the last few year's drought, and succulents of course includes cacti. Many of them have been passed along by Mara. Maybe she will ID the one above.
Another with serious looking spines is Grizzly bear, but while not exactly furry they aren't too pokey either.
There are three 'grizzly' plants of maybe three varieties that take all day hot reflected sun in these small pots. Plus there has never been the slightest damage from freezing temps the last three winters either. Many thanks Mara! BTW, do you think they need transplanting into larger pots?
This guy, though I love him, has more to be feared in those beautiful cinnomon glochids. They will transfer immediately to anything that touches them and I've had a run in with them a couple of times. The stickiest tape you can find is helpful in removing them.
This beauty will get me every time I get within a foot of it, or so it seems. But when it covers itself with yellow blooms in spring all is forgiven.
Happily, there is nothing to be feared from the speckled leaves of Manfreda macho mocha, a natural cross between a manfreda and an agave.
Nor from the soft leaves of Color guard yucca. Plants such a this and all the above give year round interest.
I don't know why I waited so long to use gopher plants. They are not spiny, but still bear watching out for. Being euphorbias they ooze a sticky white sap when cut that can be irritating to the skin. I'm really enjoying them and am wondering if they will they persist from year to year, (?)
I like to live dangerously myself (grin), but for those who like soft plants here's an African violet that's been blooming on my kitchen window sill for a couple of months now. What a color!
So these are some of the plants that have offered interest through the winter. What have been good for you in that respect?
Happy gardening!
Comments (11)
roselee z8b S.W. Texas
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoRelated Discussions
Need some serious Daylily help
Comments (12)We are in Western New York state, Buffalo/Niagara Falls area. To answer the others questions: It is 40 inches from ground to the floor of the porch. I'll be painting the base of the porch a sparkling white. I'm going to guess that there is about 8 to 10 feet from the edge of the wide front stairway, which is on the left side of the porch, to the far right corner of the porch, (sorry, I haven't measured it yet). The front wall of the house, downstairs, is white and the floor is new Timber Tech in light gray. There's a white bead board ceiling. We have a large metal glider with two metal chairs which I am considering painting a butter yellow which would work with the yellow day lilies. I would love to come up with plantings in front of the porch that would just take your breath away. Hopefully plants that would flower all summer. I've even thought of bringing in more top soil to bank that area in front of the porch base. There is a beautiful Clemantis climbing at the far right end of the porch. We're going to put in new posts and railings on both the first floor porch and the second floor porch. I'll be putting flower boxes on those railings. A major reason for going with the yellow is because the front wall of the second floor was painted a medium green that is almost a gold. Getting into painting the entire house this summer is not on our to do list so I have to work with what is there. I hope this is not too much information, but I thought the full picture would help to to find the right answer as to what to plant in front of the porch. Please ask any questions you need to! Thank you sooo much for any direction you can give me. Christine...See MoreBell and jalapeños having some serious issues
Comments (2)Fertilize 7-10 days with MircleGro veggie food. No granular. Soil is a western mix of compost sand and some natural mulch. It was recommended for garden dirt at the dirt/mulch place. I used it last year and had great results. I do also have a layer of natural mulch on top of that. The idea was that it would help hold in moisture. Keeping plenty watered was an issue last year with no mulch. I did not amend the soil... i agree it does look like normal wear but these plants are so small for over two months in the ground....See MoreHome is in need of some serious curb appeal!
Comments (3)I feel like because you have a front door already. This should be a sliding glass door. Or French doors. That will solve a lot of the prob 😊 After that I’d probably paint. ( White?) Pave the driveway. And update the walkways and lighting. This house has so so much potential! Love it....See MoreDated laundry room in need of some serious love!
Comments (16)Thanks for additional photos. The room has three purposes at the moment: storage for water bottles and other bulky things (sleeping bag, vacuum, paper towels, etc.), clothes storage (on clothes rod) and laundry. Here are some comments: 1- I agree that adding the water bottle racks would be the first priority. They can go conveniently to the right of the entrance where the hanging clothes racks are. 2- Remove the 70% of clothes that you say you can get rid of. Can the remainder go in regular closets elsewhere? 3- Take everything else out to declutter unused things. Many of us have a stash of "dog towels" that we use frequently for cleanup, but sometimes this stash needs weeding out with extras donated to the local veterinarian or animal shelter. 4- Try using a towel bar to hang things that need extra attention before washing that you are not quite ready to tackle. It gets those things off the floor, out of the baskets, and off the tops of the washer and dryer. 5- An alternative laundry method that keeps the area clear of "pending" laundry is to bring only one load of laundry to the laundry area at one time. For example, one load of sheets, not all the sheets in the house, is brought in and started in the washer. When you move that load to the dryer, bring in the next load for the washer. For clothes, this method means using good size laundry hampers or existing laundry baskets in each bedroom. Sort the darks and lights before you bring one or the other to the laundry room. 6- Removable wallpaper or large colorful artwork can cheer up a room. Here are some good examples: https://www.houzz.com/magazine/bold-wallpaper-brings-color-and-fun-to-the-laundry-room-stsetivw-vs~80779095...See More
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoroselee z8b S.W. Texas
9 years agolast modified: 9 years ago
castro_gardener
9 years agowantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years agocastro_gardener
9 years agowantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years agowantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoHere is something kinda violet that I picked up at HD. I thought Ragna might be interested. It looks like a hybrid or E. topsy turvy. Any ideas on names. I am hoping for a similar cold hardiness because it is going to need it where I am putting it. I am thinking E. lilacina might a parent. It ois a lot more violet and glaucous than my other topsy turvy. That one is a more a pale green. The leaves are a lot meatier too.
OOH, I just found the name. E. 'Cubic Frost'. They need a new namer...Cr@ppy name.
wantonamara Z8 CenTex
9 years agoroselee z8b S.W. Texas
9 years ago
wantonamara Z8 CenTex