Turtle Yoga!

 First I was impressed how this turtle got it's self up on the rock to get a little sun.

Then 15 minutes later when I walked past it again, the turtle was stretching it's back legs out!  However it couldn't get its front legs up for the superman pose!   

Aloes and Red Hot Pokers (Kniphofia)!

 The Aloes and Red Hot Pokers are blooming in Alice Keck Park Memorial Garden, in Santa Barbara.  I like their vibrant colors.

Aloe

Aloe

Aloe

Yellow Aloe

Yellow Aloe

Yellow Aloe

Aloe

Aloe 

Aloe growing on the base of this palm tree

Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)

Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)

Red Hot Poker (Kniphofia)

Blue Ginger Blooms

 The Blue Ginger has had a lot of blooms, this year.  Blue ginger (Dichorisandra thyrsiflora) gets its name from its resemblance to ginger plants. It isn’t a true ginger, it's in fact a member of the spiderwort family (Commelinaceae) and not the ginger family (Zingiberaceae). It's a native to southeastern Brazil and does well in Santa Barbara in a protected area.

Blue Ginger

Blue Ginger

Blue Ginger

Blue Ginger

Blue Ginger

Mike Likes to Grow Them BIG!

 Here are two rhizomatous begonias that Mike is growing.  They are begonia Cachuma and Immense, and they are looking spectacular!

Mike Flaherty growing B. Cachuma

Mike Flaherty growing B. Immense

American Begonia Society Convention in Atlanta Georgia

 

A few of my favorites in the display

American Begonia Society - Atlanta Show

 Here are some pictures of the begonia show at the American Begonia Society convention in Atlanta Georgia.

Best In Show

b. ningmingensis var bella grown by Johanna Zinn

b. ningmingensis var bella grown by Johanna Zinn

B. My Special Angel grown by Johnnie Hadley

B. Fabulous Tom grown by Mariana DiVita

B. Eric Seal grown by Mariana DiVita

B. Crackln Rosie grown by Butch McDole

 B. Ginny grown by Mariana Divita

 B. Mariana's Monster grown by Johnnie Hadley

B. Cierge Magique grown by Steve's Leaves - Best New Introduction

Begonia Collection grown by Mariana Divita

B. Old Blue grown by Mariana DiVita

B. longiciliata grown by David Mellard

B. Unknown rhizomatous grown by Mariana DiVita

B. Janet Brown grown by Mariana Divita

B. La Cresta grown by Mariana DeVita

B. metallica grown by Mariana DiVita

B. Jovian grown by Sabrina Hagerman

B. bullatifolia grown by Johanna Zin

B. lyniceorum grown by Johanna Zinn

B scapigera grown by Sabrina Hagerman

B. sp. Aff Mendumia grown by Wallace Wells

B. U-690 grown by Wallace Wells

B. melanobullata by David Mellard

B. Orange Glow by Steve's Leaves

B. Helen Teupel grown by Steve's Leaves

B. Mariana's Monster grown by Mariana DiVita

From left to right, B. Benitosobomi grown by Mariana DiVita, Picture of B. Tamdaoensis by Stephen Maciejewski, B. Oteka grown by Mariana DiVita, B. Bowerae var nigramarga grown by Don Miller and B. Fairy grown by Mariana DiVita