I have a L. cotyledon in a pot here in San Francisco. It was a gift in 1978. For the first few years it did not bloom, but now it blooms every year, two or three stalks with a total of 30-50 flowers, something like apricot pink. I had it about 5 years before it bloomed around July 1, then it didn't bloom again for 4 or 5 years, after which it started blooming around Memorial Day. This year it bloomed in march due to our summer-like weather. I've had this same plant for approximately 36 years. I once went to Shasta County to see them in the wild. Far off the paved roads, west and slightly north of Yreka at the end of a logging road, I found a natural rock outcropping with them growing everywhere. Many variations of coloring. This was on a 4th of July weekend.

There is something almost sacred, I think, about knowing, understanding, the thinking and planning, the hard work and sweating, the hopefulness and the inconveniences sometimes suffered, when growing a garden. And then having not only the opportunity to look upon the results of that which you and god have created but also getting to peak into the quiet masterpiece that someone known, or maybe even completely unknown to you, has created. Then there is no denying, no misunderstanding and a complete ability to appreciate and sense, deep within, everything it took to build the masterpiece now before you. As if it were as much a part of you had you built it yourself. That is why I garden. It makes all of us one. Thank you for sharing that beautiful garden. MeMo

I'm still a sucker for Ladies Mantle. Love how it looks in everything but blistering sun, love the leaves after rain, love the airy flowers. Fortunately it had a chance to seed prolifically over time in this house before we moved in. That means I've had lots of stock to choose from while transplanting and redesigning things this year! It's a basis for my education this summer in repetition as I repeat it in several areas. Just introduced it to and gave six pots to a friend who is somewhat new at gardening. This year I've also learned to appreciate how quickly it can recover from a ruthless division into multiple small sections, even in July (with generous watering).

In my opinion it is the perfect flooring to have with kids and pets. It’s resistant to scratching; I’ve dragged furniture over it and have yet to see a scratch. Regarding footprints, I don’t have that problem with this color. In fact the color seems to camouflage any marks at all. If you love this color, I would not hesitate at all!