Succulent Circus

Annabelle--you inspired me with your email! It's raining today so I couldn't take a lot of pictures outside, but I took a few, brought a couple inside to pore over their labels (and in some cases figure out what ones sans label were), and found some pictures from earlier this summer. The succulent I talked about with a caudex which is trying to grow new leaves is an Aeonium but it's out in the middle of the wet yard. So here it goes:

Gasteria

Echeveria [left] Subsessillis, [middle] 'Doris Taylor', [back] 'Perle von Numberg'

Echeveria 'Pink Frills'
(see the little pools and droplets of water from this mornings' rain? Awww!)

Sedum 'Burrito'
This is the ultimate "wah-wah"--that's right, you know you want to do it!
Pinch it and go "Wah-Wah"!

Aloe 'Mosaic' and some form of hens'n chicks style succulent that I think you gave me. This picture is from July and the aloe is bigger now, but hasn't outgrown the pot.Also from July--the faux stone plant did not survive--I have the worst luck with these; they always rot on me. But anyway, in the back is an Adromischus, the label calls it a "Cameo Plant" but I've seen it called "Plover's Eggs" online, either way it's pretty cool. Also two Anacampseros telephiastrum 'variegata' from South Africa

Fall Wildflower Sale

Himself and I shelled out our $50 at the sale last spring to become members of the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. It gets us in free for a year (to there and other botanic gardens around the US), AND we get to come to the Member's Only day at the Wildflower Sale. Himself got a half day off--which was great 'cause I hate to drive into Civilization by myself (the traffic! the construction! the new tolls!). And for being a good sport, he got to go to a nearby winery afterward. But anyway, here's the haul:

• Lace Hedgehog Cactus (Echinocereus reichenbachii) --I also have a couple other varieties of this in pots--this one is like a little two-headed mushroom--so cute
• Blackfoot Daisy (Melampodium leucanthum) I love these--planted some in the spring and they are tough little buggers, and so cheerful! They are in the Aster family.
• White Leadwort (Plumbago scandens)--I have some blue plumbago in a dry shade bed out back--this will join it along with ajuga, turks caps and a few hostas--and will probably be much better suited too. I'm actually pretty happy about the height as it will help graduate in size nicely between the above.
• Scarlet Penstemon (Penstemon triflorus)--This is going in the front Sage Bed that I'm expanding--it's mostly reds and hot pinks with some whites, blues, and a dash of yellow. Will increase the appeal for both hummingbirds and bees which already frequent it.
• Heath Aster (Symphyotricum ericoides)--This is another aster with white flowers against ferny grayish foliage. It's a host for the Pearl Crescent butterfly. The pic is one I took of a Pearl Crescent on the Prairie Fleabane I bought at the last sale.
  
• Tulipan del Monte or Heartleaf Hibiscus (Hibiscus martianus)--Like I need another hibiscus!!! But it's my latest passion...anyhoo this variety is supposed to be able to survive in the ground here if properly mulched.
• Pitcher Sage or Blue Sage (Salvia azurea var. grandiflora)
  
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• Zexmenia or Texas Creeping Ox-eye (Wedelia texana)--YES, it's another Aster! With gold to pumpkin-orange flowers. Really precious--but tough--grows everywhere around here. Larval Host for the Bordered Patch shown left.
• Spice Lily (Manfreda maculosa) --I'd gotten one of these last year but it was reeeeeallly small and is in a pot. On Members day they still had a nice selection, and I got a nice big one I intend to put in the yard. I can't wait for one of these to flower as they are supposed to be very fragrant--hence the name. Also the bigger they are the more noticeable the spots are--so far mine are very light.
• Fall Aster -- Ahhhh, reminds me of Up North, but apparently they grow well here too. It's also a needed cool color that I use to cool reds or oranges.
• Purple Milkweed Vine (Matelea biflora) -- larval host for monarch butterflies. Lookit the purple-brown flowers--aren't they the Coolness??
• Mealy Blue Sage (Salvia farinacea) -- I have some of this somewhere--it's an excellent foil for all the red sages I have, and I love the silver foliage.
  
• Guajillo (Acacia berlandieri)-- Like I need another tall-growing shrup (this could be anywhere up to 15 feet!). Actually there IS space along the street-side of the back yard but the soil will need major improvement for better drainage, and there's trees to cut down back there, BUT this at least like arid conditions, so I wouldn't have to water it much once established (it's in the mimosa family--and I have a mimosa borealis). However, when I read that the "white-to-cream-colored flowers (yellowing with age) grow in ball-like clusters and are quite fragrant" as well as "a source of heavy light-colored honey rated by many as the best in the state," I was enchanted and placed it in my cart before the spell could wear off. It's also a host for the Long-tailed Skipper butterfly, which I saw in the Center's gardens but did not get a decent shot of... Meantime, it can go in a pot.

• Finally I have a Mystery Plant==it came home sans tag and for the life of me I can't remember what it is! I have sent a picture to "Ask Mr. Smarty Plants"--the online answer-service run by the Wildflower Center to see if they can ID it for me--I need to know where to plant it!!!
• Update: It's a Cardinal Feather (Acalypha radians)

Autumn Dreaming:Bulbs

It has so freakin' hot and humid for sooooo long and the weather keeps forecasting a break and then pushing it back. Ugh. It never got crazy hot this year in the 100's like other years, but you try 90's with 70 percent humidity for a while and you'll be wishing for a nice dry heat. Oh, well, the latest forecast is for lower humidity by Thursday and a beginning to dip into the upper 60's at night.

So, in wild anticipation of all the garden bed expansion I've been putting off for this vaunted cool front, I ordered bulbs from McClure & Zimmerman today. Not nearly so many as I'd have ordered Up North, but things that will naturalize well here, and that I cannot find in these parts:

Wild Tulips For Deep South (No cold period required; 6 each of):

• Tulipa sylvestris: "Sweet scented and multiflowered Yellow with a hint of green on outer petals which curl curiously. Pendant in bud, flowers upright." (Hmm, I ordered the collection then when I went to see these individually, they said they were no longer available--wonder if they've sold out everything BUT what's in the collections, or if they'll be sending me a replacement?)
  
• Tulipa bakeri "Lilac Wonder": "Rosy-lavender, large circular lemon-yellow base, anthers yellow." (pictured right)
• Tulipa clusiana var. chrysantha: "Deep yellow, reverse outer petals are crimson with or without a yellow edge."
• Tulipa clusiana:"This selection of the species is cream inside, outside cream with a broad red band from top to bottom, deep purple center."
• Tulipa saxatilis: "Rosy-lilac with a yellow base. This wild Cretian species needs poor soil, moderate winter and hot summer." (Wow--apparently we've got the same conditions as Crete!)

Fall-blooming Crocus (These will be the first fall-bloomers I'll have planted here, and I'll be interested to see when and how long they'll bloom):

• Crocus laevigatus fontenayi: "A fine little Greek species. Blooming in December to February, it may need a sheltered location. Purple-feathered, buff-colored buds open flat to reveal a starry, rose-lilac center. Scented like freesia." (right)
  
• Crocus pulchellus: "Lilac flowers with a deep yellow throat and white anthers rise without leaves around the end of September. The honey-scented blooms have a satiny texture. From the Balkan peninsula."

I'll round these out by buying more at the Big Box Stores--daffodils, muscari, hyacinths, spring-blooming croci, etc. I've had really good luck with having those come back each season.