Hints ..of Spring

[Silas_Sancona]

More color ..and a pre-flowering peek at stuff at the old house

Randoms...



White flowers always stand out a bit better when the sun is out, lol







Blackfoot Daisy



Penstemon ( Pic. #1 ) ...Aaand  Caesalpinia  ** ...Now Erythrostemon... ** palmeri (Pic. #2)  getting closer to showtime..






Random stuff in the entryway side-bed perking up after a haircut.. Mex. Hats ( Ratibida columnifera ) ( Pics #2 and 3 ) standing much taller this year after cutting them back ( were laying over closer to the ground last year after i planted them ).. 2nd one just got it's haircut, so it is still  a little ragged atm. Some of the Mealy Blue Sage ( Salvia farinacea, wild strain ) planted here had scale issues going into the winter.. Gone now.








Potted Tigridia  now out front, under each of the 3 columns of the front porch. Threw pieces of Bougainvillea and Mulberry twigs in the pots to ...hopefully.. deter the overly-enthusiastic Curved-billed Thrashers.. A native bird notorious for digging up plants ( inc palm seedlings ..easily i might add ) while digging around for bugs. Other two pots of these are just starting to emerge. Pleated leaves look very Palm-seedling like i might add..






....And now,   a look at how the cacti in the old yard are doing atm..  VERY happy with how good things are looking, despite the weedy stuff,  egged- on by whomever Opendoor had spraying the yard last year while the house was vacant.  No worries about that since part of the front yard will be rearranged anyway once the city approves the home owner's small business plan for the house. Yes, they're dragging their feet, giving the homeowner a tough time about zoning issues.

Echinocereus.. trig. or coccineus,  ...yes, i still can't decide which it is..  ..and the shy-flowering specimen (pic. #2 ). Not looking so shy this year.







Opuntias...

Beavertails.. The big clump anyway.. Other clumps are getting there too..



...azurea and macrocentra..





X Grand Mesa Peach ...A Waterwise Botanicals introduction..




Stenocereus ..stellatus, ...i think.  Beefy as heck now..







Can't wait for this surprise.. For those of you who have checked  in ( Personally not a fan of the terms "following" / "followers".. even if it doesn't seem all that rude of a term to some )  when i've posted about the cacti i planted there each year, you might recall how the "Lady Fingers " ( Echinocereus pentalophus ) i'd planted were very reluctant about flowering.. 

Helping my neighbor clear out some of the weedy stuff earlier, i noticed  it is gearing up to put on a show this year, for real this time, lol. 

An absolutely stunning cactus when flowering, so it finally deciding to is a big deal.  Forgot to check the other specimen planted on the opposite of the yard though.






The Little Leaf Cordia over there.. G. coulteri, not pictured in this shot,   to the right, is looking good too ( seen in the background in the Stenocereus shots ) Cordia needs a light trim, which will be done when relocated, but overall form is what i was hoping for when i started shaping it in the first place..




 Back at the house, noticed flower buds starting to push through the epidermis ( technical term used for the "skin" of cacti ) on my special Echinocereus X roetteri..   Good stuff..



Caesalpinia, *** also now lumped in with Erythrostemon ** gilliesii  starting to look like more than a tiny twig.

Edited March 15 by Silas_Sancona
edit

[Meangreen94z]

Texas

[Silas_Sancona]

On 3/13/2023 at 12:02 PM, Rivera said:

Peduncles forming on the dudleyas, some bearing water droplets from a light morning shower.

Since i see you're a big Dudleya fan..  A couple D. brittonii seen at a plant sale earlier today in Tucson.  May be holdovers from last year's sale at the same place, but can't be certain.  As much as i'd try these... ( grew a couple sps. back in San Jose years ago ) but imagine it is wayy to hot here. Would probably melt, even in shade here in the valley.






Interestingly enough, though there are scattered populations of it up to about Pine / Payson, up in the mountains east of here, Graptopetalum  appears to completely replace Dudleya  from roughly Tucson, south into Mexico. Have to look out for the local sp. while sleuthing around favorite hangouts in S. AZ come summer.

[Tom in Tucson]

Many years ago on New Years day I took a hike on a trail going up on the north side of Camelback Mtn. I was surprised to find many rosettes of Dudleya arizonica. I don't know if they have been removed by hikers since then. For many years they were considered a variety of the common southern California species: Dudleya pulverulenta. But because they're so much smaller than that giant of the genus, they now are considered distinct. If you go down to the Cholla Bay region west of Rocky Point Sonora, they're also quite common, but they're not the bright white form found in AZ, at least the ones I found. Some species of Dudleya species have both glaucous and naked leaves, and sometimes they're found growing in the same area.

So Nathan, if you can locate that species it should do well if shaded thru the summer. Graptopetalum rusbyi is quite common in the shaded canyons from Lake Pleasant to the canyons north of Tortilla Flats. I've grown that species for years in AZ and CA.

Hi 75˚, Lo 43˚

[Silas_Sancona]

6 minutes ago, Tom in Tucson said:

Many years ago on New Years day I took a hike on a trail going up on the north side of Camelback Mtn. I was surprised to find many rosettes of Dudleya arizonica. I don't know if they have been removed by hikers since then. For many years they were considered a variety of the common southern California species: Dudleya pulverulenta. But because they're so much smaller than that giant of the genus, they now are considered distinct. If you go down to the Cholla Bay region west of Rocky Point Sonora, they're also quite common, but they're not the bright white form found in AZ, at least the ones I found. Some species of Dudleya species have both glaucous and naked leaves, and sometimes they're found growing in the same area.

So Nathan, if you can locate that species it should do well if shaded thru the summer. Graptopetalum rusbyi is quite common in the shaded canyons from Lake Pleasant to the canyons north of Tortilla Flats. I've grown that species for years in AZ and CA.

Hi 75˚, Lo 43˚

Thanks Tom ..Good to know..  I remember encountering numerous populations of D. cymosa  near where i last lived in San Jose where i'd hike / plant sleuth often, ...and out east in rocky areas of Henry Coe. St. Park which exhibited both the " plain green / naked " look, and plants which had much more silvery blue farina on the leaves within feet of one another. Same with Sedum spathulifolium. i'd see everywhere out there.  Had both growing on a large lava rock for years..

[Rivera]

13 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Since i see you're a big Dudleya fan..  A couple D. brittonii seen at a plant sale earlier today in Tucson.  May be holdovers from last year's sale at the same place, but can't be certain.  As much as i'd try these... ( grew a couple sps. back in San Jose years ago ) but imagine it is wayy to hot here. Would probably melt, even in shade here in the valley.






Interestingly enough, though there are scattered populations of it up to about Pine / Payson, up in the mountains east of here, Graptopetalum  appears to completely replace Dudleya  from roughly Tucson, south into Mexico. Have to look out for the local sp. while sleuthing around favorite hangouts in S. AZ come summer.

Do dudleya saxosa or d. saxosa ssp. collomiae exist in cultivation in AZ? I've never seen it in person.

The variability of glaucous vs naked leaves is a curious quality. Down the coast from me, there's a healthy colony of mostly naked dudleya in the shade of hesperocyparis macrocarpa in sort of a cypress leaf and dune sand mulch. Not sure if they're less glaucous because they're in mostly shade or because of genetic expression. 

Some dudleya are variable enough that I can't really identify them positively, and I'm told they may hybridize where populations overlap (like farinosa and caespitosa?). 

I've been looking for a copy of Paul H Thomson's Dudleya and Hasseanthus Handbook for a few years, but no luck yet.

[Silas_Sancona]

50 minutes ago, Rivera said:

Do dudleya saxosa or d. saxosa ssp. collomiae exist in cultivation in AZ? I've never seen it in person.

The variability of glaucous vs naked leaves is a curious quality. Down the coast from me, there's a healthy colony of mostly naked dudleya in the shade of hesperocyparis macrocarpa in sort of a cypress leaf and dune sand mulch. Not sure if they're less glaucous because they're in mostly shade or because of genetic expression. 

Some dudleya are variable enough that I can't really identify them positively, and I'm told they may hybridize where populations overlap (like farinosa and caespitosa?). 

I've been looking for a copy of Paul H Thomson's Dudleya and Hasseanthus Handbook for a few years, but no luck yet.

That's an interesting question.. I too can't recall seeing saxosa, or any other sp infact ( aside from the britonii mentioned )  offered at plant sales, even during Cacti /Succulent society sales, here at least.  Might be a different story there in CA., especially at some of the bigger sales in SoCal.  I wouldn't be surprised if someone is growing them, though maybe just in their personal collection as a pose to sell.  I'll have to ask around.. 

Agree, can see properly ID'ing species as being more of a challenge in areas where several species grow / they can easily cross.. I'm sure DNA sequencing of plants along the coast could offer up some interesting results.  Even among cymosa populations i'd see fairly often, you'll have plants with flatter, more spatulate leaves, and others where the leaves are much narrower and more finger-like / longer ..and yet, from the looks of it's distribution, they are the same species, even if plants in the Diablo range are listed as a separate sub sp. ( D. cymosa ssp. paniculata )..

On the other hand, it is completely possible the narrower-leaved plants i'd encounter, esp. around Los Gatos / Almaden / Santa Teresa / Morgan Hill were Santa Clara Dudleya, D. abramsii setchelii,  rather than a variant of cymosa.. If they cross, no doubt  i'd seen variants between as well.

[amh]

The drought continues, but the plants are trying to recover. The meadow would usually be a dense carpet of blue with pink, scarlet, purple, and yellow poking through, but the flowers are sparse and trying to survive.

[Rivera]

First flowers on erysimum. Not a native here like erysimum capitatum, but some of our most common native butterflies are very attracted to this plant's blooms, namely the lady and admiral species. Early flower bract forming on salvia spathacea, visible against the fence in the background.

Morella californica, awakened by warming temperatures and substantial rainfall, exits its dormancy with the formation of new shoots. This is a favored lepidoptera host plant in our garden.

Finally, flowers open along a cascade of fragaria chiloensis behind a potted agave vilmoriniana.

[Silas_Sancona]

Handroanthus impetiginosus  starting to flower both down in Tucson, and at a local nursery..  Specimen in Tucson ( pics 2 & 3 ) is from seed originally collected from a population of the species growing in Sonora, closest to the U.S. border.  Nursery stock specimens, much taller, are likely sourced from CA, most of which were likely descended from other populations of the species ..possibly in S. America.

Tucson specimen withstands both the occasional snowfall / sub 29F lows they see there every so often, and our heat.  While they may be.. i can't recall if flowers on other Pink Trumpet Trees i've observed through the years were fragrant. Flowers on the Tucson specimen are very fragrant up close..  Scent is similar to Daffodils, ...or various Berberis  sp.  except the scent on the Trumpet Tree is richer  ...Like rich sweet Chocolate, with notes of Clove, Vanilla, and Jasmine, ...wrapped in Baby Powder.

There's a clump of Ipomoea carnea below the Tucson specimen making it look like that tree is suckering from the base.








Freesia peaking..




..While the Penstemon ...palmeri ( pics 1 &2 ) and parryi ( pic. 3 ) get their show going.. Flowers on this palmeri are a touch smaller / dark maroon " streaks on the flowers themselves a bit fainter than other palmeri specimens i've seen, so the ones i have may be offspring off a plant that crossed w/ something else in the same garden.  Fragrant ..a defining,  Penstemon palmeri  trait, regardless.. Scent is Rose-like ..with hints of Clove and Vanilla.. To my nose anyway..







Cacti at the old house really lighting up now.  Stuck a few Beavertail pads in a couple beds out front here as well while planting some other stuff yesterday. While many cacti can be intimidating to some, many Opuntia and Cylindropuntia sp. esp,   Beavertails, ( O. basilaris ), are much more "friendly".. While you still want to use tongs when cutting off pads to tidy up a clump, or for starting more, i can handle them w/ out getting too many Glochids ..the tiny, fiberglass-like spines many Opuntia produce,... in my hands.









Caliche Globemallow and Brittlebush over there just about at peak bloom.



" Fire Barrel " i left there getting Fat..




What better way to ring in Astronomical Spring then getting another tree planted out back.. Tipuana tipu  was the winner in this case. Would've been awesome to plant a Royal Poinciana, but not gonna see too many of these around here until more nurseries start growing / selling them..

Looks deeper than it actually is..







Inspiration for growing Delonix regia here is just around the corner..

[Tom in Tucson]

Delonix regia is easily grown from seed, if you crack the seed coat. I use some bonsai pruning pliers. All I do is place the center of the seed in the tongs, and squeeze until the coat cracks (it makes a noticeable pop). The seed will sprout a root from the narrow end. I use a moistened paper coffee filter in a sealed plastic bag. I do this with most legume seeds. Most Delonix species sprout within 2 weeks (usually faster). One thing about this genus that's different than other legumes I've tried, is that the seed swells as it absorbs the water, and you have to keep adding more until they sprout. If you can't locate any seed, I'll gladly send you some. I've got plenty, and they last for years.

Hi 79˚, Lo 56˚

Edited Tuesday at 02:34 AM by Tom in Tucson

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, Tom in Tucson said:

Delonix regia is easily grown from seed, if you crack the seed coat. I use some bonsai pruning pliers. All I do is place the center of the seed in the tongs, and squeeze until the coat cracks (it makes a noticeable pop). The seed will sprout a root from the narrow end. I use a moistened paper coffee filter in a sealed plastic bag. I do this with most legume seeds. Most Delonix species sprout within 2 weeks (usually faster). One thing about this genus that's different than other legumes I've tried, is that the seed swells as it absorbs the water, and you have to keep adding more until they sprout. If you can't locate any seed, I'll gladly send you some. I've got plenty, and they last for years.

Hi 79˚, Lo 56˚

Appreciate the offer but still have a bunch myself ..for now at least, lol.  ..and about a dozen seedlings in tubes going into their 2nd year as well..  Need to start what remaining D. decaryi and pumila seed i have stashed in a box somewhere. Seedlings, 1 of each ...well, saplings now.. i started a few years ago have done fine outside all year in shifting shade. May need to find a home for the D. decaryi seedling this year.  Agree, germination is simple if seeds are scraped / nicked w/ a knife before sowing.