Walking Stick

Walking Stick Insect

 I found this walking stick insect in my workshop this morning.  It's small, with a body that's only 3/4 of an inch long.  I think it hitched a ride on my sleeve, so I released back outside.

Walking Stick

Bee in the Bloom!

 This trumpet vine has been growing and now blooming outside our kitchen window.  I’ve been watching bees go in and out the blooms.

Bee in a Trumpet Vine Bloom

Bee in a Trumpet Vine Bloom

Plant Sale in Santa Barbara!

 If your in the Santa Barbara area, mark your calendar Saturday October 26th for a Plant Sale at Diane Dunhill's!

September Cactus Blooms!

 This is one of my favorite cactus and I have had it for a long time, at least 15 years and possibly many more.  It bloomed again a few days ago.  I think this is the third time it has bloomed this year and it is every bit electrifying in person.

Rebutia Cactus

The Flying Saucer Cactus bloomed earlier in September, It normally blooms in May and early June.  

Flying Saucer Cactus

This gives you an idea of the size of this flying cactus bloom.

The next day it was 105° and the bloom didn't like the heat!  I didn't  like the heat either!

A Tale of Two Caterpillars

 So I saw the tell tale signs of fritillary caterpillars on my passion flower vine.  There were lots of little holes in the leaves, so they were just getting started.  Once they get going, they can defoliate the plant quickly!  I began looking for the culprits.  I found a bunch of eggs that I removed, but only one small caterpillar.  I also found a white/beige caterpillar that I didn’t recognize and it was very wiggly.  Instead of the usual squish method, I thought I’d feed them to my Venus flytrap!  I dropped the Gulf Fritillary caterpillar into a trap and it closed instantly.  The fly trap did its job and started digesting the caterpillar.  A few days later, the trap opened and you can see the remains.

The remains of a Gulf Fritillary cater pillar in a Venus Flytrap

As I mentioned above, the unidentified white/beige caterpillar was very wiggly so I took care to drop it into the center of a trap.  It closed very quickly and I could see the silhouette of the caterpillar moving in the trap.  I came back an hour later intending to take a picture of the trap with the silhouette of the caterpillar.  But instead, I found this round hole.  The caterpillar had eaten its way out of the trap and escaped!

A closed Venus Flytrap with a hole where an unidentified caterpillar escaped!

Tuberous Begonias - Paul Carlisle & Chapman Estate

 Our begonia branch (Rudolf Ziesenhenne, Santa Barbara, CA) recently visited Paul Carlisle's shade-house and the Chapman Estate shade-house to see tuberous begonias.  It was a tuberous double feature! 

 If your familiar with my blog, you have seen the tuberous begonias grown by Paul Carlisle.  They are incredible!  I would confidently say that Paul Carlisle is the best tuberous begonia grower in the United States!  It's always a treat to visit his shade-house when the tuberous are in full bloom!  Here are pictures taken in Paul's shade-house.

Tuberous Begonias, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonias, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonias, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonias, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonias, Grown by Paul Carlisle

Tuberous Begonia, Grown by Paul Carlisle

The Chapman Estate
Paul takes care of the tuberous begonias at the Chapman Estate in Pismo Beach CA.  The Chapman Estate was bequeathed to the City of Pismo Beach in 2013. Clifford Chapman directed that the estate be open to the public, designated non-profit organizations, and private events.  You can learn more at their website Chapman Estate Foundation. 

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

The Chapman Estate

Brown Pelicans

Brown Pelicans