California Gardeners' Succulents

ima ima IMA! oh the lush fullness drives me crazy! .... I can't wait to fill everything up - I'm trying to remember to enjoy the process along the way. I do have succulents on the sunnier side, albeit tiny ones right now.... Now I'm working on the slope = the back is 100% shaded, (not heavily shaded) and front partially shaded...... if anyone has any ideas for the shady area I would love to hear ??!!!

I'm going out today to put in my various sticks, twigs and bulbs that are stacked by the back door - I'll try to take a picture.

WOW! WOW! WOW! Everyone is so inspired today! Imapigeon, those succulent gardens are glorious, and Kell, I think I will dream of this living art for weeks now!

SW, one of the many good things with succulents, is they don't need much soil at all. Shallow pots are enough for them! I usually buy regular potting soil and ammend with perlite or vermiculite, it's cheaper than buying special cactus mix. Then I add Osmocote and they love it!

Senecio mandraliscae is a wonderful plant, I have been taking cuttings of mine as I want to spread it all over a raised planter I have.

LOL Sue, you saw my entry. Yes, Flora Grubbs! I have been twice now. It is a very cool and beautiful nursery. This is where I was off to the other day when you couldn't reach me! They have loads of agave, not really ones for us though. Lots of small succulents too though nothing we haven't seen. A bit pricey. But a really fun nursery. Many, many huge palms all over! Sadly, a bit far but definitely worth a trip.

Here is a combo pot I saw at a show last year.

LOL, I didn't know that was Flora Grubbs, I had just been to her site and your picture reminded me of something she would have there! So now I definitely need to go some time.

Just now saw your C&S post.


This message was edited Feb 27, 2009 10:55 AM

I just checked on all my semps, they are all looking good. I got them last fall and planted them in 4" pots and set them on the side of my house in settle in. Now I know for sure what I want to do with them, a bowl like that!

Beautiful Kell!

Those are so neat!

Still got some work to do before I plant that fountain, but someone asked what books did I buy? Well, I bought, "The Jewel Box" and "Shocking Beauty" both by Thomas Hobbs, and "Creating Gardens that Honor Plants, Place & Spirit", by Scott Ogden & Lauren Springer Ogden.
Will try to get photos today, but it may not be til tomorrow since the Physical Therapist cancelled yesterday and is due in at any time now.
WIB,
SW

I wish it were mine so I could take credit for it and get to see it everyday! Thanks Redtootsiepop, SunnyG and robcorreia.

SW, I bet that fountain will be incredible. Oh how I want one myself!

Today, after looking at all these pictures, I looked out the window at the so blue sky calling to me, so I jumped off the computer and out the door to a great nursery for succulents. I had 3 hours, 1 to get there, 1 to be there and 1 to get back. My husband would be home at 4 and we had to be out the door by 4:30 to go into San Francisco for dinner. I got to the nursery and was in such a tizz. Hot to trot. They had just gotten a load of succulents in and I went nuts. I was so out of control. I swear I literally feel so high. Where I am going to put these? I have no clue I need a vertical succulent planter desperately!

Sue, I mainly went on the prowl for all red semps - all my pics have them - - see them? They have a neon flashing KELL, YOU NEED ME! I never ever see all red ones. Do you have all red ones? Have you seen any around here for sale?

Sadly, many things had the neon flashing signs today. Guess how much this load cost me! I need to get a job. Tom would never believe I left so much there that I wanted so much.

Look at this frilly one. I had to get it. I think it wasn't tagged so I am not sure which it is.

Wow, great score!! What nursery was that? Maybe you shouldn't tell me. I'm too broke to be tempted.

I know that many of the semps do seasonal color changes. I have never seen them in any nursery or I would have some by now. Check Squaw Mountain for semps that are listed as being dominantly red. http://www.squawmountaingardens.com/tabs2.cfm?CID=4&tab=%27a

Or Edelweiss Perennials, you can click on their images and they often show the different seasonal changes http://www.edelweissperennials.com/plantgroup.asp?page=1&Index=&plant=Sempervivum

One more pic before I retire. I think this one is Kalanchoe uniflora, if not let me know please. It has been blooming for over a month and no end in sight. Tons of buds!

HMB, Sue. There has to be red ones somewhere here because the SF show last year and this living picture both have them. We must look harder!!!

Sue, any minute now my husband is going to take my car keys. I am so out of control. Yesterday I spent a fortune at the Target nursery on annuals!

Here is one I wanted but didn't get. It was very big and so heavy in an 8 inch pot.

Kell, I know the perfect spot for all your lovely new succulents----MY HOUSE!!

Seriously, what nursery did you hit? That's a spectacular collection! And I hope someone can ID that kalanchoe---I want one!!

At least you have a place for them, Janet. I bought some 2 inch brown ones the day before that I am going to do a mini combo with before I go to work with my new ones. Still too much rain to make combo pots for them outside. I have such a problem with rot in winter, even if I do not water. Do you have trouble in winter too with rot? Do you have echeverias planted outside that do well year round?

Half Moon Bay Nursery. Do you ever go there? It was so full of life and color. As soon as I walked in thru the back greenhouse I could smell the damp ground and my endorphins were released. I was high as a kite. Then when I walked into the succulent room, my heart was beating faster esp as I saw they had a full load and I immediately went from table to table in a panic of ecstasy having trouble on focusing. I so have a problem. Today I was planning on staying home to do my wifely duties but,then my husband invited me out to his office for lunch. And I immediately thought of all the nurseries out San Ramon way I could go to after lunch. LOL. I am hopeless. But I am also so broke.

That kalanchoe has been a complete delight. Sure has boosted my spirits in the rainy gloom.

I LOVE that nursery. Last time my 2 gardening buds and I went on an all-day nursery crawl that was the last place we hit. We all went berserk (I knew they would love it; I'd been once before). And that was in JANUARY when they were way down on stock....LOL!

Yes, I also have some "rot" trouble in the winter on some of my plants, between the rain and the cold. The plants I have under the shade sail to protect them from summer burning in the front courtyard get really spindly in the winter because there's not enough light. But if I take the shade sail down, it's too cold for them. And I can't schlepp them around every couple of months. So usually I just let them get spindly, and when it starts to get brighter out there, I cut them back and try to start new plants from the stems I took off. Before too long the stems left in the pots grow new "tops", and everything's very happy again by November when it gets frosty again....LOL! Such is the gardener's life!!

I bought a bunch of semps last year because they were supposed to be cold-hardier than my other succulents, and they have not handled our weather well at all. They've mostly just turned into little piles of brown stuff. I don't know if they'll come back or not. I also had a lot of trouble with mealybugs on them in the summer, so I don't think I'll try them again. Very disappointing, not to mention expensive!

Hmmmm....I see a trip to HMB in my future----and I could stop at Lumbermen's in Santa Cruz on my way home....oh, and mustn't forget Sierra Azul. I think I'll have to go alone so I have more space in the car!!

Fantastic pics and thread everyone - keep it growing.

HOT TO TROT KELL !!! ha ha, what a fantastic shopping spree.

I know how you feel, I'd rather buy plants than clothes or shoes any day!

Kell, your husband might not believe you still needed to buy more. But I sure do, lol!

When you find out what that Kalanchoe uniflora is or even if you don't, I want one too. Been thinking about your need to make a fountain. How about stacking pots? Start with the biggest shallowest one and work your way up. Or check Craigs list. People often want to get rid of them, especially if they don't work or have slight damage. You might want to check with landscapers or pottery places that might sell you a factory second. I'd even spread the word with my friends.
I have some photos. Most were taken so you could read the label.
This photo is of the one that needs to stay moist and is very unhappy will be happy in the green house. I'll have to go look for it's name.
WIB,
SW

These are the rest of them, all grouped together. They won't stay like this, but I didn't want the pup to eat them.
WIB,
SW

Some close up with labels.

Another one.

I really like the blue tint on this one.

These are much bigger than my living stones.

Don't have a clue what this one is. Besides strange looking. LOL!

Don't know what this one is either, but I like the purple tinge to it.

I really like this one. Think I'd like to get a couple more to plant on the top tier.

Look at this! This is the same plant as in the previous Photo. The flowers are a bonus!

This is the unknown cactus/suc. with the purple tinge as seen from above.

Ooops, my bad. That was the blue tinted one. This is the purple tinted one from above.

Nope, I was right the first time. This is a top view of the purple one, the blue one and the Living Rock. (from left to right.)
I'm dingy now, so it's time to quit.
WIB,
SW

If it weren't for winter Janet, my garden would look so great and I wouldn't have to keep buying more plants. LOL Did you try that Bayer Tree and Shrub systemic on the mealies? It gets rid of them on my clivia.

Exactly Redtootsiepop! That is why I go around barefoot and naked most days. LOL Today I got so busted. I drove to my husband's office for we were going out to lunch with old friends before they had their taxes done. We were all in the parking lot and our friends passed my car seeing all the succulents I had left hidden in the back of my station wagon. Loud exclamations of approval brought my husband running. BUSTED!! He looked at them all in such disgust but said nothing other than oh good more to lineup on tables in the back yard. OUCH! I actually had 1 weeks worth of succulents back there so it was wall to wall solid with them. I am dreading it if he remembers them!

Robcorreia, he so thinks I had too many plants 10 years ago. He tells me the day I die he is getting one of those huge dumpsters and filling it before I am in my grave.

Sadly SW I have no room for a fountain. NONE! I even have the perfect place for one in my courtyard but as it is, you can hardly walk thru it without tripping over a plant. You have the making now of a great combo pot. The same grower supplies HD here! It must be a huge operation to supply so many store as across the state. I think Target too has the same ones. You will have to post a pic when you get your pots all done!

The same nursery that had the living pic also had this car planter. It was planted in the trunk, on the seats, the roof and under the hood. There were succulents on the roof! LOL

How about something that hangs?
WIB,
SW

Kell, you should show the picture of the SucSel to your DH and tell him there's still plenty of room for plants if he leaves his car sitting in the driveway for more than 24 hours.....LOL!

I did try systemic. I REALLY hate using any kind of chemicals, so I may have let it go too late. Thanks for mentioning using on the clivia. My friend was at the dump a couple of years ago with her DH to make a deposit, and picked up about 25 plants someone was in the process of tossing (talk about tap-dancing for the spouse over plants...."hide behind the car till that woman leaves!!", etc., etc....) She shared some with me, and I suspect the reason they were being dumped was #$()_ critters. I've managed to eradicate most of them, but I'll get some of that systemic on them this week to try to get a head-start before the weather warms up. At the price they want for the clivia, I told her she'd just saved about $200 worth of plants. They are getting established in a nice shady little strip in her garden.

Kell, that is the best looking Edsel I have ever seen. I'm gonna go look for one for my yard!!

I wonder if it would work for old riding lawn mowers? Probably not.
DH loved the photo of the car, but won't let me touch his '65 Mustang. LOL! I must have posted my progress photo on the wrong thread, ooops.
I planted my fountain/planter today. DH is determined to find a succulent called Medusa plant. He saw one but someone at the store beat him to it. I found some strings of pearls in larger container, and horses tails too. After I paid for them I found some little ones. I was wondering how hard it is to start them or should I try to separate them from each other and plant the big pot? I was hoping for those two to cascade down from tier to tier. If anyone knows please let me know how it worked for you, please? Thanks y'all.
WIB,
SW

My post on the 25th is Medusa. Euphorbia flanaganii http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/58082/ Here is a photo of the "young" plant 4 years ago.
I have found string of pearls to be a bit fragile, but they do start pretty easily.

Thanks PotEmuUp! Now I know what he was talking about. He doesn't describe things very well, and his colors are way off. Gorgeous. I'll encourage him to keep looking for one. Tee Hee!
Where do you find those great looking pots? Probably at or near Half Moon Bay. There is a place I want to check out down in San Diego Co. Maybe I can find something cool there.
Thanks for the hyperlink.
How do you start the string of pearls? I know they are fragile which is why I am hesitant to try to separate the ones in the bigger pot. Figured some judicious trimming might be better for both, and if I screw up, I'll still have the parent plant.
WIB,
SW

LOL Janet, my car is already the dirtmobile. You could plant in the rear it has so much dirt in it. But my DH has a new Infinity and it is so clean inside, he won't even let me borrow it if I go within 5 miles of a nursery. LOL. So true! I so need a new car but he just can't bring himself to spend the money on something I am going to trash so fast. My first week I had my Volvo station wagon, I put in a big tree with a long stake and ripped the fabric on the interior roof HUGELY! LOL. I was so afraid he would notice! I was going to say it came like that. LOL Luckily, almost since the first time I drove him anywhere years ago, he has refused to ever be a passenger in my car!

Clivia and mealies go together. I can never figure how they get so far down between the leaves and can still breath. I rarely use chemicals either but I have a large collection of variegated clivia mostly from China and from Joe Solomone's in Watsonville that would drive me nuts without Bayer tree and Shrub. I would have trashed them long ago without it. Bayer Tree and Shrub lasts up to 1 year with just one soil application. Your friend sure got a deal!

George, go for it! I bet yours would be much more interesting! Are you into succulents too?

Oh SW, I just love your spirit and advocacy in the fact that you so want me to have my succulent garden and will not take no for an answer. That is so great. Only way to do a vertical hanging is to hang it from heaven. LOL I can't wait to see how your fountain succulent garden looks when it is grown in a bit. The string of pearls will look so great hanging down from it. I would give you advice if I had a clue.

Here is an aloe I saw at the nursery that I so want. I just love the form. I was meant to live on a huge estate. I do not know how I got so cheated. LOL