California Gardeners' Succulents

I remember how facscinated I was with this table with the oyster chairs and pearls. LOL

Well I am off to bed. See you tomorrow, Sue!

I loved that table too!

We take a lot alike! Have you checked our latest PF entries?

Are those actual life-size chairs shaped like scallop shells, or is this some kind of miniature?

SW your succulents are beautiful specimens! You should be able to break some unobtrusive ends off the graptopetalum so you don't spoil its lovely shape, and start them in your fountain. Just let them sit for a couple of days and "heal over", or (what my succulent mentor taught me to do 35 years ago) seal the stem with a hot iron, and then you can plant them right away as long as you don't water for a couple of weeks. Of course, with the current weather that may not work out...LOL!

Nice! I have been to Quail Gardens in Solana Beach. The succulent garden is pretty impressive, I'll get some of the pictures I took that day and post.

Another one of my succulent pots with Echeveria in bloom:

And my little Euphorbia miili collection.

I was hoping to visit Quail Botanical Gardens, and I'm sorry that the opportunity didn't present itself. I don't live that far away, and once I can get Mom settled, I'm going! Didn't get a chance to watch much tv last weekend, and when I tried ES insisted we watch the new version of "Through a Scanner Darkly". I was asleep within minutes! LOL!
Thanks for the nice comments, I really have to get rid of those darn weeds.
I'm in a lot of pain today, but will be better after I see my chiropractor for my tune up. Then I'm going to curl up in bed and keep warm and read, "Shocking Beauty"! It came yesterday in the mail. The other gardening books haven't arrived yet. Soon, I hope.
Cold and gloomy day so far. You all helped brighten it up. Are those real plants in the photos? How did they do the Octopus' eyes? I can see why you liked the table and Oyster shell w/pearl chairs too. Oh, and lets not forget that gorgeous seahorse. Absolutely amazingly beautiful!
Thanks for sharing, everyone!
WIB,
Jules

They were life sized, Janet! I snuck into the exhibit to look close! LOL. Sue I love how you got the seahorse looking down at the table. LOL. I bet the exhibits this coming show are not so wonderful with how broke everyone is. I know nurseries are really taking a hit. Sue, have you heard if Michelle is doing one this year? I have not seen her around. Hers was great last year.

I love your pot, Roberta. These are just so much fun!

Jules, I so hope you feel better soon. I hate it when my body aches. Last night I fell asleep with 3 heating pads on various parts of my body. I even kicked my cat off her heating pad so I could steal it. I was out in the rain yesterday planting bulbs that should be blooming now. LOL. My knees are going, even kneeling on a planting cushion they ached. I was going to go back to bed too and watch a movie while I listened to the rain but looking out the sky is blue and I think the sun may be coming out. It so poured all night long. Just poured.

Yes, real plants. A big grower of succulents in this area gives all the exhibitors succulents for their exhibit. Last year I think every exhibit has succulents. I was in a hot frenzy by the end of looking wanting succulents. I spent a fortune at the guy's booth only to find out how much cheaper his same plants were at nurseries. How smart was he to pass them out?

Was it SW looking for a Medusa's head plant? Is this one? It was at the show too.

Did anyone sit on the seashell chairs??? Those are so neat-looking! But if they're not comfortable, fahgedabahdit. Decided yesterday on Day 1 of my retirement that one of my new goals is to stay INSIDE my "comfort zone", both mentally and physically. I'm too old and cranky for any more #$() "stretch objectives"...LOL!!

Speaking of comfort, I recently got one of these little kneelers from Lee Valley, and it's the ONLY thing I've ever found actually works. I've tried 4 or 5 kinds of kneepads, one of those little folding bench things, etc., etc., etc. I always either destroy my back leaning over, or destroy my knees kneeling. I was kneeling on this on concrete weeding 2 weeks ago, and it was really comfortable. If only I'd had this when I was laying tile all last summer!!!

http://www.leevalley.com/garden/page.aspx?c=2&p=61621&cat=2,44766,53926

Oh my, yesterday was day 1 of the start of best days of your life? LOL. Congratulations. You will love being the master of your days. I have been retired for probably 2 years and just love it though I have so much time to get into such trouble now. And I do so much less home work than I ever did. I just do not have time. LOL! Of course my husband is still working and he actually expects me do housewife duties. Even to cook now, I hate it! Do you have any plans to occupy your days?

I was looking at your tile job, just beautiful. You really have done wonders with your backyard. It is just so lovely! You now can sit out there every morning and sip your coffee or tea at your leisure while you admire the paradise you created.

I must order that pad then! I really was uncomfortable. Thanks!

Kell, no Michelle is not doing the show this year. She let her DG subscription lapse too for some reason but I get notices of her Picasa web album additions and I watch her blog so it's fun to see what she's up to: http://deviantdeziner.blogspot.com/

Kell, my landscapers did wonders with my back yard---I did all my wonders writing the checks....LOL! But I'm glad it got done. It's nice when what's in my head actually works out in reality. Thanks for the compliments on the tile. There's lots more left, but until I off the computer and out into the studio to get them made......

You might Google the knee pad and see if it's available anywhere else, since Lee Valley's shipping is always pricey. I love them to death, but I always wait to order till I have a bunch of stuff I need. I always get a lot of tools for DH and DS there for b'days and Christmas. And if I'm already placing an order for someone ELSE---well, you get the drift.

I miss Michelle's postings on the Garden Design forum, Sue; thanks for reminding me to check her blog & see what's going on in her world.

Kell,
You really stole your cats' heating pad? Boy, that is cold! It's okay, the cat has a fur coat! LOL. I'm always kicking the cat off of my heating pad. I'd sure like to find a full length one. It was my DH, who is enamored of the Medusa's Head. Tee Hee! Said it looked like a bunch of snakes. I'll show him the photos later on when he gets home.
I usually sit on a little rolling cart, when working on concrete, weeding the flower beds. I have used the knee pads for laying tile, but I like what I saw on the hyperlink too. Sure would keep my knees dry! I've seen a different brand that has handles on the outside that help you stand up, has anyone tried those? They looked kind of flimsy. Right now I'm sticking to my sitting, rolling tool chest, and my cheap knee pad. I do have a puppy who likes to steal my tools and chew them up.
Congrats on being the master of your own time, ima! Hopefully, you'll be able to find the time and money to do all of those things you've been putting off.
Still can't figure out how they made the octopuses' eyes red. Did they paint them? Amazing!
WIB,
SW

I have one of the ones with the handles, SW; the idea is you can turn it upside down for a stool (not very stable). Lee Valley sells them too---may be a different brand from what I bought, however. They're nice for helping you get up, but they're not comfortable to kneel on (padding doesn't conform, and it's almost as hard as the surface I'm trying to pad) and they left marks on my tile when I tried to use them for tiling. I ended up using a folded towel under it, then gave up on that and just used my kneepads and the folded towel. But then the kneepads shift, and I end up just on the towel, and it's not enough padding....

After all that, I decided to bite the bullet and try this new kind.

Kell, DH said, that yup that was the kind, only the one he saw was much smaller.
ima, I was wondering. Now I know. Stick to what I'm doing for now. Why do our knees have to be so bony?
Oh well.
WIB,
SW

SW, if you go to Quail...admission is free on the first Tuesday of each month.....

OK, as promised, photos of my trip to Quail Botanical gardens.

Gosh, makes me want to go there again!

More:

OK, I definitely must go again, lol!

Shoot, I wanna go! We are heading to So. Cal this month for a long weekend but not that far south, more around Ridgecrest and into the Mojave and Death Valley area. And DH is not usually too keen on stopping at anywhere that has something to do with plants.

Sue, I always wanted to go hiking in Death Valley! It's on my wishlist of places to go soon...Please take a lot of pictures, will ya?

Drooling here!
WIB,
SW

Oh Sue, I got excited when I first saw that you were coming to SoCal....then my smile faded. One of these times, you guys up north have to come down here and visit us Southern folks. We have lots of lovely places to take you too.
Have a fun trip.

Donna

Or we need to meet in the middle someplace!
WIB,
SW

Sue--you'll have to let us know how the wildflowers are in Death Valley. I was there with my sister at the beginning of Feb when they had all the rain that will lead to this year's wildflowers. The weather wasn't exactly what I was expecting from Death Valley, but the hiking was very nice when the rain wasn't coming down too hard. If anyone's interested, I told the story of our adventures in my blog (accompanied by pictures of course!) http://liz-c.blogspot.com/

Well, I keep trying to get DH to take me to the Huntington as it's been years since I visited but this is a back country jeep trip. I do hope for blooms in the desert though so I can take pictures of those.
Maybe I'll just have to pack up my Mom for a trip down, she'll love going to any nursery and botanical garden.

They're saying late March to mid April is when they're expecting the biggest show--it's not going to be as good as the display a couple years ago but they do think there'll be a "moderate" display of flowers. http://www.dvnha.org/morning_report/WildflowerUpdate.pdf

You just have such fun Sue going on your little trips. Your husband is actually pretty good about your plant addiction. Much better than mine.

I am dying to go South! I need to get a new car first before I dare. The trouble is I would need to stay 2 weeks to get everything in I want to see. I think I will push for a new car so I can go soon. It is not that far away. I do not know why I balk at the thought of driving. Here I go 3 hours away with out a thought.

I am just in love with this Graptopetalum pachyphyllum. It is almost translucent with just a light dusting of farinaceus frost. I hope I do not kill it too fast.

That's good, we're heading down March 20th and home on the 23rd. Reading that link, I am really looking forward to it!

That is a nice one Kell! And I learned a new word!

Ecrane, I really enjoyed going through your blog. I think you were very lucky to see rain in the desert!
I am planning on going to Anza Borrego pretty soon. Here is another link where you can check wildflower status for our desert areas:
http://www.desertusa.com/wildflo/ca.html

And here my string of pearls in bloom...really nice clover scent!

Gosh, those are gorgeous in bloom. Still haven't separated mine. Have a lot on my plate, but will soon.
Wildflowers!
Need to start a thread on the ones growing wild here at the farm. Let everyone who wants to jump in. I got to go get photos before they go crunchy on me. Was really hoping for the March Miracle Rain. Oh well.
WIB,
SW

Did you ever notice what happens when them Baby Toes get cold?

Nancy Sinatra almost got it right!
These Boots are made for PLANTING!

Are you going to sing for us, George? LOL

That would be way toooooo scary!!!
How about I let you pet my cat, instead?

Love the boots and the kitty! ^_^
WIB,
SW

Wow, I love those colored baby toes! I noticed that any succulent that gets full sun will color up so nicely!

I don't know what it is - my one and only succulent.

oops-trying again