'Easy Does It'Happy New Year? I'm hoping. In the meantime, the winter light this past Tuesday was marvelous--just enough of a thin cloud cover to bring out the richest colors without all the bleaching we get in summer.
So, just some photos, mostly Aloes, and a rose or two.
Leucadendron 'Wilson's Wonder' colored up very suddenly last week:
My favorite moment for Aloe flowers: the day before the first individual flowers open. They look pristine.
A. candelabrum:
Alligator Lizard among the Hellebores. Their showy time of year will arrive soon.
Against a background of Avocado leaves, the smaller of the two Aloe 'Hercules' and Leucadendron 'Jester':'The Ambridge Rose', somehow undamaged despite both rain and Santa Ana winds:'Brass Band' I chopped back some of the Leucadendron 'Cloudbank Ginny' so Aloe 'David Verity' could be better admired, the green-tipped coral flowers turn ivory just before they open
That lovely soft light on Aloe ferox (white version):'Moonlight' and rubroviolacea against the blue of Senecio mandraliscae:A. vanbaleni develops a bad hair day as its flowers open:A. capitata hybrid with Agave horrida in the background:Bee working the flowers of Senecio vitalis:Curving van baleni flower stem echoing an Agave 'Mr Ripple leaf:Leucadendron 'Harlequin' one more time--it's pinking up now, after a few weeks in an all-ivory state:Rose 'Easy Does It' again...
Easy Does It might be good advice for 2026. We can hope. Hope, the thing with wings.
I am indeed hopeful, while recognizing that there are still likely to be many bumps in the road this year. Your garden looks magnificent! My 'Wilson's Wonder' is also putting on a good show, although after years of regular pruning they're not as well shaped as your plant. Your aloes are spectacular - and I'm still wondering why I don't have more of those plants myself. More aloes! - that's a doable new year's resolution!
ReplyDeleteBest wishes on all fronts in 2026!
Happy New Year! Really striking photos, everything looks so fresh & full. It's magical.
ReplyDeleteAloe 'David Verity' should indeed be better admired: a gorgeous bloom. Only to be somewhat outdone by A. candelabrum with it's great hue of brick-red, giant blooms. Very satisfying.
ReplyDelete'Easy Does It' knocks it out of the park! A good omen for what's coming in 2016!
Chavli
I am hoping right along with you. Happy New Year. The Aloe ferox white version against the opuntia in the background and the graceful dasylirion(?) on the side - sublime.
ReplyDeleteYou are starting the new year off with some amazing photos, the aloes all look perfect! Glad you're getting a nice amount of rain to bring everything on. All the best!
ReplyDelete