Blooming Surprises!

 I was walking around the garden and was surprised to see some of these blooms.  

Plumeria

This plumeria has been growing several small branches and lots of leaves since August and now all of a sudden it has some blooms in early November!  I like the pale pink color and it has a slight fragrance.

Epiphyllum

This white epiphyllum is growing right next to where I park my car.  I like the long thin petals on this bloom.

Feather Cactus, AKA Mammillaria plumosa

The small blooms can be easy to miss on this Feather Cactus, AKA Mammillaria Plumosa.  The spines on this look and feel like fine feathers.

Passion Flower

The Passion Vine continues to produce a bunch of blooms and as you know, it's one of my favorites.

Happy Halloween!

I hope everyone has a safe, fun and happy Halloween!

Silhouette of spider caught in a Venus Fly Trap

 

Sarracenia Hybrid Update!

    I bought this Sarracenia hybrid of (x ‘Leah Wilkerson’) x (‘Wilkerson’s Red Rocket’) three months ago and at that time it had a couple of pitchers that were about 2 inches tall.  Since then it has been growing new pitchers and they are getting wider and taller, but still under three inches.  It will be going dormant in a couple of months and then next year I expect it to get much taller.  

     The pitcher on the right has been eating well!  With the back lighting, you can see the level of dead and digested bugs in the pitcher.  These are mostly ants!  If you look at the pitcher on the left you can see a hole in the pitcher.  A bug fell into the pitcher but could not climb out, but was able to eat a hole and escape!  

     I find these plants fascinating!

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!