Plants in the Huntington Desert Conservatory

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The Conservatory in the Huntington Desert Garden is open only on Saturdays.  Today was a cold day (by Southern California standards), so the warm Conservatory was a good place to linger.  
Echeveria pulvinata 'Frosty'
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Nearly as silvery as 'Frosty', a Dyckia.
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Tillandsia duratii
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Many, many, many different Lithops.
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Many, many, many...
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Agyroderma delaetii (obviously!)
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Masses of Mammilarias
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Mammilaria humboldtii
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A forest of smaller Euphorbias
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The label on this plant had a question mark--not even the experts were sure?  
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What looked like a dried ball of dough sprouted a tiny vine.  
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Those are not fallen leaves on a rock.  The leaves are sprouting from that caudex.  
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Now there's a gem I know, Agave albopilosa.
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An Opuntia with nodes the size of your littlest fingernail
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Tree Aloes loom outside the conservatory.  Perhaps they wanted in to get warm.
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Yes, those are cacti, not the tails of cats.
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 Obviously there were many more compelling reasons to linger there than the temperature.  
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Comments

  1. Mark and GazJanuary 4, 2015 at 12:01 AM

    A spiky lover can stay there for hours! Can't wait for Agave albopilosa to be more readily available...

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    1. Hoover BooJanuary 5, 2015 at 4:23 PM

      Many fascinating plants. I hope you guys get to see it sometime soon.

      Delete
  2. rusty duckJanuary 4, 2015 at 2:54 AM

    Oh what a place! There are so many gems in there but I do love the cats' tails! Lithops were very popular over here a few years ago. I might try some again now that I'm educated enough not to water everything to death.

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    1. Hoover BooJanuary 5, 2015 at 4:24 PM

      I need to be at a higher level of skill before trying Lithops. Someday...maybe...my error seems to be underwatering

      Delete
  3. dianneJanuary 4, 2015 at 3:50 AM

    So many beautiful and unusual plants to see, there is quite a big variation in their shape, form and leaves.
    xoxoxo ♡

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    1. Hoover BooJanuary 5, 2015 at 4:21 PM

      It's amazing what grows in the deserts of the world...they are not empty places.

      Delete
  4. Kris PetersonJanuary 4, 2015 at 1:01 PM

    I haven't been through the conservatory there in years. Clearly, I must get back! Great photos (as always) and now you have me coveting that Agave albopilosa too.

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    1. Hoover BooJanuary 5, 2015 at 4:20 PM

      As I learn more and more, the little gems in the conservatory are more and more interesting (along with everything outside the conservatory as well). Hope you get there soon! It's worth the drive.

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  5. Gerhard Bock (Succulents and More)January 4, 2015 at 3:01 PM

    Thank you for posting so many photos from the Conservatory. I was there a week ago but didn't take many pictures inside. Their Agave albopilosa is fantastic. I'm hoping mine will form tufts like that soon.

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    1. Hoover BooJanuary 5, 2015 at 4:19 PM

      That one had great fluffy tufts. It was only about 5" wide, so maybe our little ones will develop them reasonably fast.

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  6. danger gardenJanuary 4, 2015 at 10:17 PM

    The only time I've been to the Huntington and found the conservatory open it was jam-packed and you moved along when everyone else in the line decided to. Your visit looks to have had more of a real plant lovers pace to it. I love the photo of the tree aloes outside, wanting in.

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    1. Hoover BooJanuary 5, 2015 at 4:16 PM

      We went early, which helped. It takes hours to look at every plant--I think I missed a few.

      Delete
  7. AnonymousJanuary 6, 2015 at 8:07 AM

    I regret that we didn't get to see the conservatory. Thanks for sharing your visit.

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  8. UnknownJanuary 7, 2015 at 3:05 PM

    A compelling place (and post) for lovers of the weirdly wonderful.

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