Hi everyone: thanks so much for all your comments. I've been down with the flu for a few so I'm just seeing them now. Yes, I've thought of using Ice Plants, Delosperma because you see them everywhere around the beach so I know they do all right in this locale. but you see them everywhere so I was hoping for something different and taller to put in a trailing/spreading/upright mix of plants. Sansevierias are planted in front of my office, but they only get morning sun in almost no wind micro-climate, so I was worried that my unsheltered windy/salty/sandy balcony was too harsh. Sunset zones are much more accurate for the huge differences in our local climate within just 10-15 miles. Although my beach and dufflebag2002 's Valley are in the same 10 zone, where I am averages 10-15 degrees higher than the Valley's lows and often 20 degrees cooler than a hot day in the Valley. HUGE spread! Parts of the Valley freeze almost every year; virtually never @ the beach. Lately it's been usually cold (lows of 40' at night) and usually hot (90' in January!). But we typically average much more moderate swings than that. Both Crassula falcata perfoliata & Oscularia deltoide will will work. I don't know if Sedums or Aeoniums will thrive, but I just ordered a book called "Succulent Success in the Garden" which has a section on selecting seaside plants so when I know, I'll post an update. Dudleyas are a great idea! I'm checking out Dudleya 'Dove White' Dudleya brittonii f. monstrosa. I've got some Lampranthus as a back-up. Do you think Carpobrotus would work as a single species in the boxes -- after all they couldn't go rampant outside of the box? I'm checking to see if I can find compact aloes and agaves which could thrive in the small space and uninsulated roots typical of containers.... THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH!

The coldest temperatures are usually around the end of December through January, with a few scattered cold days (just barely below freezing) in February and March. I've seen the temperature drop to 22 degrees, but not every year. Usually, about 28 degrees is the coldest, and it doesn't stay under freezing for very long, only a couple hours. I do have some cacti, succulents, spider plants, prickly fern (and a few other plants) outside all year, but they don't tolerate full sun, so I have them hidden, where they get very little sun, or no sun. The prickly fern, however, does tolerate full sun, no sun, partial sun, very hot weather (even up to 118 degrees F!), and the very cold, even the lowest temperatures down to 22 degrees. I lost some beautiful jades and spider plants from heavy ice on the leaves (winter of 06-07), and about eight years earlier, so I've brought all my jades inside, and some other succulents along with some cacti. They are doing very well inside! Although, I don't expect that they will flower with no sun ... - Riding 4 Life http://vj4him.blogspot.com/

Hi Rachel. Sadly succulents do tend to let us down at times. Strange, considering the natural habitat for cacti & succulents is made up of, baking hot days and freezing cold nights. I live in the SE of England. Our climate is very mixed. Perhaps the most important aspect is. The British climate is always moist. Our summers are moist so causing sunburn etc. Back to your plants. My experience with succulents, they are so tempemental. I have lost loads of them. Some that have suddenly died, I have cut back and soon new growth has sprung up. As a scientist, I have often taken the fallen leaves etc, cut away the rotten portion and inserted the remainder in pots or trays of a peaty substance and sharp sand. Soak the compost and let it drain before inserting the cuttings. Within a few days you will find the cuttings are producing roots. This must be natures way of continuing the life cycle. It's a good point to remember. Every part of a succulent will be a future cutting. I wish you well. Mike Allen. Plant Pathologist.

Thank you everyone so much for what you do with your plants. Rina, your plants looks so happy, I really adore those aeoniums & echeverias! I like the motto SOS! I need to do that during the next downsizing. I wouldn't want to move all my plants either unless of the most severe storms (tornado warnings). Margaret, your weather sounds very comfortable, and what a typical Spring would be like in New England. I'm not usually in the super hot weather for a long time as there is AC indoors. When I'm in the pool the heat is great, just trying to avoid sunburn. I guess my plants and I have a lot in common, lol. Crenda, your tricolors remind me of past problems that I am trying to avoid, so I too feel they do best away from high humidity. It's like years of growing them and a few days of humidity turns them ugly. Maybe this is why some folks choose not to grow them.... so darn fussy. Ewwmayo, agreed on that shade cloth, love having it....what percent are you using? Mine is 30% but is doubled at the moment, when I get a chance later I will make it one layer. Pagan, too funny, I hope the mesembs are happier under that tough love...seems like it :) Mike, what is this about sitting back and enjoying the plants?!? Ha... I was just thinking the other day I don't have a chair in the gazebo, it's full of plants! I keep meaning to grab a chair and I forget. I collected rain water last night and earlier today I watered the 200+ plants. Looking around I have A LOT of repotting at least 50 to a 100! I do worry of older mixes being compact or they simply outgrew their pot. I'm going out soon and will get more potting mix. I'm sure the gazebo blocks more light than the plants could take. Western sun facing the shade cloth side, mostly jades and random succulents get the brightest area. CC/TC/Rhipsallis are further inward, they get some morning sun though on the other side. -Nancy