Haven't Felt Like Blogging

Peat's Gone.  I cannot express how sad I/we are.  To type it makes it real which I guess is why I hadn't blogged about it.  He has been missing since Sunday.  We have walked and walked and called and called and nothing. I am hoping that he is off with the other neighborhood kitties having a good time and just has not decided to come back yet.  We have put up signs and tried to stay positive but it is getting hard to attempt to stay positive and keep up a brave face.  I am hoping he turns up soon or we get a call that someone has found him/finds him soon. I posted a few pics in case someone reading this sees him.

Sunday Favorites

The Queen Victoria Agave is always a favorite.

The Abutilon seem to be happy doing their upside down flower thing they do so well.   These have always intrigued me.

The Hamelia are not only a favorite of mine, but of the hummingbirds as well.  There are two that hover around the Firebush, and no, I still have not captured a good picture of them.  But I have not given up.  

The Calandrinia spectabilis is, and will always be a favorite of mine.  Almost every one we have is in bloom.  I think the blooms are such a pretty color and such a nice contrast to the plant itself.  

And last but not least for the day is the Hypericum, the St. Johns wort.  These are always surprising me with their changing foliage and flowers.  I have to admit these are my favorite shrub. 

What a beautiful day.  Just a few shots of things that stood out to me today.

Happy Sunday!!

Beep Beep!

Had a little visitor to the nursery- it was so bizarre- I saw him at the back and ran and got my camera and he had moved up to the front.  He was hanging out in the front and then out to the parking lot and then he was gone.  I got a few shots of him.  I was just glad Peat was asleep inside......

If You Can Stand It, Even More Blooms!!!

All of these opened up today.  This is what I saw when I walked into the nursery today.  If only the blooms lasted longer than one day!  Absolutely stunning.  Breathtaking.  There are more blooms behind these but this was definitely a sight. All are the same cactus, the Trichocereus c. hybrid,  just different colors of blooms.  

Hope you enjoy!

The Cactus are Blooming The Cactus are Blooming!!

 It was worth the wait- it opened and HOW BEAUTIFUL!!!!!

This is the Trichocereus c. hybrid.  It is just amazing.  The bloom is so large.  This was the first of many to come.  There is one with about 10 blooms on it- I can't wait to see if they all open at the same time- what an incredible sight that would be.

 The Opuntia 'Santa Rita' opened as well.  Another beautiful bloom.  I love the yellow with the purple color of the cactus.  Nice combination.

And the Barrels have begun to bloom as well.  We have a few others getting ready to open up that I will post but I was just too excited not to share!

Little of This and a Little of That

What an incredible day today!!!  I could take a few weeks of this weather.  I guess I was feeling a little purple today in my photos- no real plan but seem to have a purple theme going on.  The Delospermum Ice Plant I think is a great accent for pots, planters and cactus beds.  I have seen it planted a few different ways and I have yet to be disappointed.  It is a great little punch of color.  Several of the California customers say it feels like home to see the Ice Plant as it is literally everywhere in CA.   I love the vibrant green and purple combination.

The Agastache Tutti Frutti is another one that is becoming a customer favorite.  I don't know if it is the pretty color of the flowers or the fragrance but it is not lacking in either category.

The Texas Star Hibiscus is an old time favorite.  I have had several questions about this one as I guess many have not seen it and think it is something quite the opposite.... ha ha
I hadn't thought about it until the first person asked, but I guess it does resemble another plant, but it is simply a Texas Star Hibiscus that blooms an incredible bright red flower and is quite striking.

Last but not least I will end the post with my side kick Peat.  He followed me around today weaving in and out of the plants yet sticking right by me as I walked the aisles.  He is one of the most unique cats I have ever known, had or encountered.  I think he thinks he is a dog at times, as he literally follows me around and comes when I call.  He's a little stinker and we love him.
Here he ended our "photo walk" by collapsing next to the Agave celsii, where he proceeded to attempt to take a little bite- which I am happy to report he did not. He quickly discovered this was not to his liking, bounced inside, ate and took his spot behind the desk where it took him all of 5 minutes to fall asleep.
What a life!

Chilly Morning!!!!

It is chilly out there today!!!  I felt it roll in yesterday, it was as if someone turned on the A/C, it just rolled in nice and cool and was rather refreshing.  This morning it was still chilly and it feels fantastic.  We were rumored to get some rain, though it went right around us as sadly is often the case.  We got a bunch of new items in the nursery this weekend that I am going to feature on today's post.  

The first photo is Yucca baccata and Agave a. medio-picta. They are both really unusual looking to me.  The Agave in particular I think is really extraordinary- I have not seen anything like that.  I was really excited to see that one come off the truck.

This is the Trichocereus c. hybrid.  

I can't wait to see what this bloom is going to look like. 

Speaking of blooms I can't wait to see open.... I have these on my watch.  This particular cactus has two blooms, the one in the photo above and this one below.  This is the Cleistocactus strausii.

They are both different colors- can't wait to see how they turn out.

This cactus looks like it is covered in a web of sorts, it is called the Peruvian Old Man Cactus.  It has big long thorns but not tons of them, just a few spread out but they don't look like anything you want to mess with.  I don't have a lot of experience with cactus but am learning a lot.

These I think look far better in person.  I could not get a good shot of them but I do like the way they gradually get larger.  I tried all different angles, but was not able to get what I think is a really good shot of them.  They are called Trichocereus terscheckii.

And last but not least is the Barrel Cactus- they are getting ready to bloom- this is a bloom I have seen before and am anticipating seeing again.