Anticipation (And A Few Plants)
My mom and I have made it a sort of tradition to go to Arizona in the spring. It’s a great trip, we get to see lots of great stuff, and I love spending time with my mom. This year, we have to go a bit earlier than usual, as my job situation is different this year, and I have to be here for the high tourist season. It will still be great, and I can’t wait! It’s a time to see new birds, eat good food (which Moab can’t really offer, unless it comes from one’s own kitchen), and this year it’s a chance to be MUCH warmer earlier. 
You can see photos and info from previous trips here: 2009 / 2008 / 2006
Obviously, there will be photos from this year’s trip, too.
There hasn’t been a lot going on around here plant-wise (or bird-wise, for that matter…). I guess I can share some plant pictures I have taken in the last week or two. I am sure you are all just DYING to see them!
Here’s my nutso-the-clown Euphorbia obesa (supposed to be ball-shaped – but this one had to assert its individuality). It blooms year round (that’s what that messy stuff you see on the top is). This is one of my oldest plants. I got it in January of 2001:
My Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera buckleyi) is currently blooming. It is one of my most neglected plants, and still it gives me flowers several times a year.
This is my Gonolobus cyclophylla (now called Matalea something-or-other, but I am sticking with Gonolobus). I am very proud of it. It pretty much came back from the dead this fall, and has put out these lovely leaves. It’s very small, by the way…it’s in a two and three-quarter inch pot.
Below is one of my three Fockea edulis plants. This one has a lovely round shape, and is growing nicely. I got it in December 2005. I have another one which I got in 2001, but it’s not quite as pretty as I had no idea what I was doing when I got that one, and it suffered at my inexperienced hands. The third one I have I got last spring (2009), and it is doing well, but much smaller and more spindly-looking.
Aloe ‘Pepe’ is the name of this little hybrid. It is another tiny one. The whole plant is only about two inches across. As you can see, it has a pup. I am glad it is happy enough to offset!
…and last, there is Bowiea volubilis. It is just starting to put out its growth for the year. It does this every year at this time. I feel very lucky that this one is doing well. I have no idea what to do for it, to keep it happy. It seems to like my passive neglect, though, so until someone tells me concretely what to do for it, I will stick with that care regimen. I got this one in December 2005, too.
Thanks for listening to my plant stories and ramblings!
Great pictures as always! It’ll be interesting to see what does bloom around Phoenix and Tucson at the end of February. Can’t wait to find out.
Kate,
You’re going to grow the heck out of those caudiciforms this summer, right, now that you’ve got the right experience (shade the caudex, sun the leaves). And that F. edulis – all it wants to do is climb on a fence railing.
Hey, when are you going to AZ? We’re going to be there for Spring Training and Cactusing.
And I’m with you an the Gonolobus moniker – ever since converting to Echinofossulocactusism, I see things in a different light.
Give me a shot, drop me a line, have your people Bluetooth with mine….
Hugs,
jh (where even winter here, 4 hours away from Vancouver, is showing an El Nino side – no snow pack, nightime temps above freezing)
Wish I were going with you….
All your plants look great, Katie! Congrats on keeping your odd-shaped Euphorbia alive! I killed mine when it was a lowly squat globe.
Enjoy your “early” trip w/your mom! Looking forward to your pix when back!
katie, I never saw a plant that looks anything like your Fokea edulis. What an unusual looking plant. Good luck with it. I wonder what color the blooms are and when it blooms?