Here is a look at some of the flowers I have had so far this year (this is only a fraction of all the flowers, but I felt these were the best photos).
Adenium obesum, Avonia alstonii, Euphorbia millii (some Thai hybrid):
Echinocereus ‘Pinky’ (2 photos, so you can see the humble plant this beautiful flower came from), and Echinocereus viridiflorus v. viridiflorus:
Echinocereus reichenbachii (2 photos – possibly my favorite cactus flower in my collection), and Echinocereus caespitosus (cold hardy here outside in the winter):
Sulcorebutia arenacea, Sulcorebutia rauschii, and Rebutia buiningiana:
Rebutia pygmaea v. colorea, Parodia occulta, and Gymnocalycium friedrichii (This is one of my oldest plants – I have had it since about 1999):
Ferocactus rectispinus (2 photos – one of my all-time favorite plants – those ARE 8″ spines – this will be its first bloom for me), and Piaranthus punctatus (foul-smelling but fascinating little flowers):
Lobivia longispina (2 photos – thanks for this plant, Mark!), and Mammillaria schumannii v. globosa (this plant is trying to go monstrose or something – in the last 2 years, it has decided that it needs 3 or so growing points per body, rather than one):
Thanks for looking at my plants! Please comment! There will be an update as soon as the F. rectispinus flower opens.
I just spent a week in southern California. Rich and I drove there in the middle of the night after I got off work at about 10:30 pm Saturday, Aug. 7. We arrived in SoCal at about 7:00am. We ate some breakfast at Carl’s Jr, then headed to Rich’s brother’s house, which is where we were staying. Despite all the negative things Rich has to say about SoCal, I like it there, and I was looking forward to hanging out by the pool with some tasty beverages, and also looking forward to seeing my friends. I wish I had had a lot more time to see various friends (Sorry, Kiri, Rosemarie, Jürgen, Marko), but it was a quick, short trip. Maybe this winter, I will be able to see everyone. I certainly WANT to.
There were beautiful (but destructive, I’ve been told) Japanese scarab beetles flying around everywhere, and I got some great photos of the cutest, fattest little Anna’s hummingbird I have ever seen!
The first day there, we really didn’t do much but sleep, and eat. The second day, we actually got to go to Amigo’s (our favorite restaurant in Pasadena), where we hadn’t been in a few years. Unfortunately, the meal can only be described as ‘meh’. We were a little disappointed.
The whole reason Rich went to SoCal with me was to redo a website for a friend (and former employer) – Foes Racing, Inc. He spent most of his time there either meeting with people about the website or working on the website. I got to see my friends – I went to Robyn and Barb’s houses, and took Aluna out for lunch. I wish I had been there longer, because I would have liked to see Aluna for longer, or take her to the beach. I met Robyn’s doggie Pixel, and her kitty Mushroom. Below: Aluna, Me and Barb, some sushi, and Pixel.
We did get together with family a few times, including once for Chris’s birthday – can’t believe he’s 17 now!!
Rich and I got to go to Sergio’s Tacos (in Montebello) once. We ate lunch there (they have by FAR the best carne asada tacos and burritos I have ever had), and then bought 12 burritos to bring home with us. MMMM!
We also brought along several bags of crushed aluminum cans to recycle for money. I took them to Albertson’s, and got $78 for them. Not as good as last time I did this, but we didn’t have as much room in the car.
It was a great trip. We stayed in Mesquite, NV (which is halfway between LA and Moab) on the way home, and actually got home August 16th. It’s always nice to come home, but I really like traveling, too. I already miss Barb, Robyn and Janet again.