The Cool Season Aloes Are Waking Up

A. arborescens 'Yellow Torch':
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A. capitata
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Little A. ellenbeckii in the bright morning sun:
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Also out in the bright light was Mangave (Manfreda?) 'Spot'.  Backlit, it appears there are spots on both back and front surfaces of the leaves, in different places on each side.
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A neighbor gave me this Agave parryi truncata.  Great neighbor!!  It looked a little beat up in the container, but after some months in the ground it's now looking pristine and gorgeous. 
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This Yucca rostrata 'Sapphire Skies' was one of those plant purchases--you know the kind I am sure.  You see a plant in an article or on line, want it, and can't find it anywhere locally.  So you end up mail ordering it for a little bit too much money, and it arrives and is tiny and doesn't look too healthy.  Then the very next day you go to the big box store and they have dozens of them there for 1/3 the price at twice the size.  Then you go to the garden center and they have them there, too, at half the price and four times the size, then you go to another garden center and they have them there too, then a garden buddy said why didn't you ask me I have some extras I'd have just given you one. 
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It had just 3 or 4 leaves when it arrived.  But as it has turned out, 'Sapphire Skies' is growing well and looking great, so all's well that grows well?







 

Comments

  1. I am SO jealous of your winter flowering aloes in the ground! The agave and yucca are looking great as well.
    I know exactly what you mean about those plants that you struggle find then appear as soon as you manage to track a tiny one down.

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    1. do you have aloe gall mite over there? sometimes in the ground where the pests can get to it isn't so good. :(

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    2. I am sure they have made it over here, but so far not that you would know. There haven't been any reports of collections being effected. You would have to bring it into a collection yourself in the UK, you don't have to worry about it naturally occurring so to speak.

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  2. Hey, I wish I could get 'Sapphire Skies' locally, but I ordered a small one via mail, and then a friend sent me one as well. I'm going to start practicing fake plant orders next year to see what happens. ;-)

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    1. Yes, it's like putting the shovel next to the plant to encourage it to do better.

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  3. Your desert type plants are super; very striking. Whereas most of my plants (in Northern Ireland) need to tolerate lots of rain and windy conditions. I've enjoyed my trip to your blog; its like being on an exotic holiday!

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    1. I feel the same way about your blog. "Lots of rain" is highly exotic to me! :)

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  4. I am happy where I live, but what it must be like to have aloes bloom without a greenhouse.

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    1. It's pretty nice I guess, but what I really want to be able to grow is a Hosta. Gardeners are crazy, yes?

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  5. I just saw Calocephalus brownii outside at the grocery store while holiday shopping but have never had the good fortune to see cheap, overabundant Yucca 'Sapphire Skies.' So glad aloe season is our reward for the frenzy of the holidays.

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    1. Well you know where to grocery shop! Village in HB had a gazillion SS, but that was a couple of years back.

      The best reward for holiday frenzy is January 2nd. I hope your Thanksgiving was lovely!

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