Back again this past weekend. On our visit the previous weekend, it was in the mid-80s F (30 C) with humidity in the skin-itching single digits. This past weekend it was in the high 50s F (14 C), with rain. This past weekend, the Arboretum played host to the the San Gabriel Valley Cactus And Succulent Show. After forgetting my spare battery last weekend, I carefully remembered to have two fully charged batteries for my camera. On arrival at the Arboretum, I realized I'd forgotten to put the memory card in the camera. ARRRRRRGGGGHHH!!!
Way cool crested Myrtillocactus geometrizans (even the name is way cool):
Once again, Beloved came to the rescue with his tiny pocket camera. The photos are his.
It poured rain all the way there, and as a reward we had the place practically to ourselves again. The SGV show is far smaller than the Inter-City, and it was a lot less of a chaotic zoo.
Way cool Euphorbia pubiglans. Look at that thing! Is that awesome or what? Like a pine cone with antennae.
Myrtileolegeium??? (I couldn't make out the handwriting) 'Polyp':
Sarcocalon piniculinum was on the big trophy table:
So was Pachycormus discolor:
One of the biggest Euphorbia obesas I've seen; it must have been 10" (25 cm) tall:
This was a big winner, too, but I have no clue what it is:
This was the trophy Agave, A. victoria-reginae
There was a variegated A. victoria-reginae for sale, why didn't I get it? Oh, right: because I have too many plants as it is. Details, details.
A Conophytum bilobus:
Mammilaria plumosa, looking like a basket of wool balls:
Another pile of globes, Lithops amethestina:
Not only was this a beautiful Ariocarpus, it was perfectly staged. The top dressing gave the impression that this was a tiny piece of desert in a pot. Really well done:
A flashy Dyckia:
A variegated Ferrocactus peninsularis:
Aloe 'Jaws II' (there's also a 'Jaws', and a 'Jaws III', one for each movie!)
Various Euphorbias:
There was a big bowl of these snowy prickly things, and one open orange flower. I desperately wanted to pick off that spent flower to restore the plant to utter perfection, but I couldn't. Must not touch other people's plants.
This following illustrates the maxim "90% of success is just showing up.". This Nolina appeared to have come straight off the Death Rack at Lowes. But since it was the only entry in category 76: blue ribbon!
Lovely show. We could stand and gawk at particular plants as long as we liked, without getting run over or pushed along. A nice man gave me some helpful hints about Bursera care. And the plant sale was better, too. No long line in 100 degree heat. No line at all. I got a couple of $2 Echeverias. I was tempted by a variegated Agave celsii and variegated Agave 'Blue Flame', but good grief, I have too many plants as it is. I do I do I do. No more. No more. If I want more I'll have to kill some of the ones I have first.
Then we went out to the Arboretum. The rain had stopped.
Admiring, but not really understanding, your restraint.
ReplyDeleteSome very intersting plants there, I would have bought the Agave Victori-reginae, I also love many of the echeverias.
ReplyDeletePleased you had a good day.
xoxoxo ♡
I'm sort of thinking about the Agave That Got Away, but truly better I didn't indulge. Having more plants than I can properly care for is plain wrong. I'm nearing my limit, if not already way past it.
ReplyDeleteOh, amazing plants which mostly i haven't seen! I wonder how they all seem so big and healthy despite the very small containers. The Conophytum bilobus looks like lithops too, are they in the same family maybe? And i laughed about your forgetfulness, I am glad I have companion. I sometimes forget my spare battery too!
ReplyDeleteYes, Lithops and Conophytum are both members of Mesembryanthemaceae, along with roughly 125(!) other genera.
ReplyDelete