This is going to get big!

There is a large Agave Salmiana, AKA Green Giant. It's growing just below the house and it's going to bloom! The plant is about 12 to 14 feet in diameter and the bloom stalk will grow to over 20 feet tall when it actually blooms.

Agave Salmiana

Agave Salmiana

Agave Salmiana

Color in the Garden

Today I went for a little walk around the garden and took the following pictures.

Begonia Mr Hunt

I'm very fortunate to have this begonia named after me.  It's B. Mr Hunt hybridized by Brad Thompson.

B. Mr Hunt

Blue Ginger

Blue Ginger

Stained Glass Terrarium with Begonia Microsperma

Here is a Stained Glass Terrarium that I made and inside of it I have Begonia Microsperma.  It started sending out little blooms about a week ago.  I like how this terrarium has a viewing pane in the lid so that you see the plant from above.

Stained Glass Terrarium, B. Microsperma

Stained Glass Terrarium, B. Microsperma

Stained Glass Terrarium, B. Microsperma

Stained Glass Terrarium, B. Microsperma

White-Crowned Sparrow

A small flock of White-Crowned Sparrows were at the bird feeders this morning.  Just as I took this picture of one at the birdbath, they all flew away.

White-crown Sparrow

Cactus and Succulent additons

One of my favorite cactus and succulent nurseries, Desert Images in Oakview California is going out of business.  Today we went over there to make our final purchases.  Here are the cactus and succulents that I am adding to my collection.

Passion Fruit

I finally have a ripe passion fruit on one of my vines.  It was green for awhile and then all of a sudden it turned yellow.

Passion Fruit

Passion Fruit

It came off the vine with these blooms.

Passion Flower

I cut it open and tasted the inside. The red seeds are colorful but not very flavorful.  They have just the slightest sweet taste.

Passion Fruit

Gulf Fritillary laying an egg

Here is a photograph that I took of a Gulf Fritillary laying an egg on the leaf of a passion vine.  If you look closely you can see the egg coming out of the butterfly.

Gulf Fritillary

Gulf Fritillary Egg on the leaf of a Passion Vine

Close-up of a Gulf Fritillary Egg on the leaf of a Passion Vine

Gulf fritillary