Stapelia variegata. Apparently made from Grandma's old bedspread, it attracts flies.
A quick visit to the UCI Arboretum yesterday to check out their plant sale for choice Aloes. I was in and out by 10am to avoid the heat of the day. The ocean breeze, even so close to the coast, was feeble and fitful. Many flowers I am not used to seeing, as we usually only visit in winter or early spring to enjoy the Aloes.
Boophane disticha. It produces this fireworks like flower when in leafless summer dormancy. The rippled ribbon leaves are arranged in two piles, like the pages of an open book that's been soaked in water and left open to dry out. It is deadly to Oxen, hence the common name Oxbane.
Erythrina humanea, Dwarf Coral Tree.
The trunk and branches have sharp thorns.
While I photographed the tree squawking hummingbirds zipped and zoomed around me. The nectar must be prime.
Eucomis, possibly E. autumnale. 'Burgundy Sparkler' is the popular selection or hybrid seen for sale. This species is less eye catching, but has subdued beauty. The little spiky beret of foliage at the top of the flower spike is charming.
Their Aloe reitzii is way better than my Aloe reitzii. Sigh.
Because it was fairly early in the morning, some backlighting was still to be seen.
There was a solid mass of Lobelia laxiflora near the entrance. And solid it was--not many weeds could possibly compete. The plant is perhaps 18" tall (~45 cm). This well established mass was about 2' (~70 cm) deep and 8' (~3 m) or more wide.
I dunno on this one. I thought maybe Sophora, but maybe not. Thanks to Kay for the id: Clerodendum ugandense.
Short shrubby thing about 5' tall (1.75m):
Another dunno plant. Eye catching herbaceous type of plant about 3' (1 m) tall and double or triple that wide, mixed in with Plectranthus and other shrubby plants.
Lots of Plectranthus in bloom, and lots of Plectranthus available at the sale.
Mixed in with a plant the common name for which is Licorice plant, but not the Helichrysum licorice plant, the other one.
A Dudleya hidden beneath a native Rhus...
...the Dudleya in wild and enthusiastic bloom. Several dozen flower spikes.
The individual flowers. A tag said 'Dudleya anthony', which might be anthonyi. From Baja California.
A bit of the backlighting lingered long enough for me to enjoy Aloe lineata glowing like burning gold. Not blooming--but blooms would have only detracted:
Just a couple of Aloes in bloom at this time of year:
Another non-blooming plant, Agave shawii:
And this Cactus, which had a tuft of fuzz on it, like a Tribble, or a clump of Boris-fuzz.
Another Cactus oddity, this plant's old fruit looked like someone had stuck 'Golden Delicious' apples to the side of the plant.
This year's flowers are appearing, too. Probably from Baja--the Arboretum focuses on South Africa and Baja california, with a few Agaves and California natives thrown in.
Drimis maritima, looking quite similar to Urginea maritima, just smaller and straighter.
And we close with a fabulous looking Fouquieria diguettii, say ~12'x~12' (~4 m x ~4 m)
No iintriguing Aloes for sale, unfortunately. That Aloe lineata would have been a joy. I admired Tradescantia sillamontana, pink and fuzzy like a newborn kitten, but I'm not a Tradescantia person.
Haworthia cooperii came home. I had a teacher in high school named Cooper, nicest, kindest teacher that made many a grim and unbearable high-school day more bearable and less grim. I've wanted a cooperii of some genus to remember him by in the garden for a while. I think he would have liked this one. Here's to the teachers who do so much for so many simply by being themselves.
A quick visit to the UCI Arboretum yesterday to check out their plant sale for choice Aloes. I was in and out by 10am to avoid the heat of the day. The ocean breeze, even so close to the coast, was feeble and fitful. Many flowers I am not used to seeing, as we usually only visit in winter or early spring to enjoy the Aloes.
Boophane disticha. It produces this fireworks like flower when in leafless summer dormancy. The rippled ribbon leaves are arranged in two piles, like the pages of an open book that's been soaked in water and left open to dry out. It is deadly to Oxen, hence the common name Oxbane.
Erythrina humanea, Dwarf Coral Tree.
The trunk and branches have sharp thorns.
While I photographed the tree squawking hummingbirds zipped and zoomed around me. The nectar must be prime.
Eucomis, possibly E. autumnale. 'Burgundy Sparkler' is the popular selection or hybrid seen for sale. This species is less eye catching, but has subdued beauty. The little spiky beret of foliage at the top of the flower spike is charming.
Their Aloe reitzii is way better than my Aloe reitzii. Sigh.
Because it was fairly early in the morning, some backlighting was still to be seen.
There was a solid mass of Lobelia laxiflora near the entrance. And solid it was--not many weeds could possibly compete. The plant is perhaps 18" tall (~45 cm). This well established mass was about 2' (~70 cm) deep and 8' (~3 m) or more wide.
I dunno on this one. I thought maybe Sophora, but maybe not. Thanks to Kay for the id: Clerodendum ugandense.
Short shrubby thing about 5' tall (1.75m):
Another dunno plant. Eye catching herbaceous type of plant about 3' (1 m) tall and double or triple that wide, mixed in with Plectranthus and other shrubby plants.
Lots of Plectranthus in bloom, and lots of Plectranthus available at the sale.
Mixed in with a plant the common name for which is Licorice plant, but not the Helichrysum licorice plant, the other one.
A Dudleya hidden beneath a native Rhus...
...the Dudleya in wild and enthusiastic bloom. Several dozen flower spikes.
The individual flowers. A tag said 'Dudleya anthony', which might be anthonyi. From Baja California.
A bit of the backlighting lingered long enough for me to enjoy Aloe lineata glowing like burning gold. Not blooming--but blooms would have only detracted:
Just a couple of Aloes in bloom at this time of year:
Another non-blooming plant, Agave shawii:
And this Cactus, which had a tuft of fuzz on it, like a Tribble, or a clump of Boris-fuzz.
Another Cactus oddity, this plant's old fruit looked like someone had stuck 'Golden Delicious' apples to the side of the plant.
This year's flowers are appearing, too. Probably from Baja--the Arboretum focuses on South Africa and Baja california, with a few Agaves and California natives thrown in.
Drimis maritima, looking quite similar to Urginea maritima, just smaller and straighter.
And we close with a fabulous looking Fouquieria diguettii, say ~12'x~12' (~4 m x ~4 m)
No iintriguing Aloes for sale, unfortunately. That Aloe lineata would have been a joy. I admired Tradescantia sillamontana, pink and fuzzy like a newborn kitten, but I'm not a Tradescantia person.
Haworthia cooperii came home. I had a teacher in high school named Cooper, nicest, kindest teacher that made many a grim and unbearable high-school day more bearable and less grim. I've wanted a cooperii of some genus to remember him by in the garden for a while. I think he would have liked this one. Here's to the teachers who do so much for so many simply by being themselves.
Good morning, Hooverboo! One of your unknowns, the one with the blue flowers, is not sophora but Clerodendrum ugandense. Here are more photos of what you probably saw: https://www.google.com/search?q=Clerodendrum+ugandense&num=100&hl=en&lr=&newwindow=1&safe=off&as_qdr=all&prmd=imvns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=PeMLULmAB_LU2QX5yPgl&ved=0CJ4EELAE&biw=1655&bih=943
ReplyDeleteI grew it for awhile--loved the blue flowers, but most assuredly not the skunky smelling foliage or the gawky growth habit. It's one of those plants--and we all have them--that looks great when it's in bloom and drives you crazy the rest of the time.
Kay
Yes that's it, thanks. The plant was growing through another shrub, eliminating the gawkiness, but I know what you mean about that kind of plant.
DeleteYou know I would zoom in on the Fouquieria diguettii...saving the best for last:-) Amazing more are not used in So Cal, San Diego, etc landscapes, since I might imagine regular Fouquieria splendens is not as happy there?
ReplyDeleteNot sure why--the genus is said to be difficult here, but why?
DeleteGreat selection of exotic blooms there! I grow Stapelia in the greenhouse and whenever it blooms it fills it with stench. Nice looking flowers though :)
ReplyDeleteUsually I see them with flies crawling on them, but it was too early in the day yesterday. The flowers are so striking--like someone cut them out of unattractive fabric.
DeleteEvery blogpost you amaze me with the most beautiful, to me unknown flowers.
ReplyDeleteIt's a pleasure to visit your blog Hoover.
Have a great week