Tag Archives: Aloe x ‘Pink Blush’

Plants Repotted Part 1…

Some of the plants on the front porch on 7-1-25.

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. I don’t have a garden this year, so I can give the plants on the front porch more attention. There are three litters of kittens on the back porch (GEEZ!!!), so all the potted plants are on the front porch. Well, I first put the Alocasia pots along the south side of the house, then moved them in front of the shrubs in front of the house (on July 4). Cactus and succulents aren’t exactly the most needy plants, but at some point, they do need to have larger pots and fresh soil. On the front porch, none of the plants get what we call full sun (6 or more hours of direct sun). The front porch faces west, is covered, and there are two good-sized maple trees providing afternoon sun. All the plants somehow get direct sun at certain times of the day and seem to do amazingly well.

While the plants on the front porch consist mainly of cactus and succulents, there are also other plants… Amorphophallus konjac, Sauromatum venosum, Tradescantia, Callisia fragrans, Ledebouria, Billbergia nutans… You get the picture.

The work table that has been on the back porch since 2019 was moved to the front porch. It’s what I use for repotting. I built this table, as well as the tables I have the plants on, while I was living in Mississippi. The top and shelf of the work table is made of old cypress boards that were once part of the old covered patio behind the mansion. Well, it was a big house… The plant tables are made of boards that were stacked in the old patio that were once part of a fence that surrounded the back yard. I made tables that surrounded the inside of the two large sunrooms in Mississippi. I took a few apart and brought them with me when I moved back here in 2013. They have come in handy…

I repotted a few plants last year (and every year), but I lit in with a purpose on May 30… I wrote that while laughing… I don’t repot everyday, obviously, and some days I just look at the plants with a “?” on my face. Then I realized that some of the plants have the same expression. It like they are saying, “Well, is it my turn yet?” “What about me?”

Every plant gets a before photo, its roots, the new pot is measured, then an after photo is taken. That may seem a bit excessive, but I do that for the plants pages and the journal. Well, I guess the blog is a journal…

So, lets get started before I change my mind or get distracted…

May 30…

Cereus repandus f. monstruosus ‘Rojo’ in a new 6 1/2″ tall x 6 1/4″ wide pot on 5-30-25, #1048-2.

At first, I hadn’t thought of taking before photos and photos of their roots, so the Cereus repandus f. monstruosus ‘Rojo’ and the others repotted on May 30 just have an after photo…

I found a larger 6 1/2″ tall x 6 1/4″ diameter pot that seemed suitable. I had bought a few bags of Dr. Earth Cactus and Succulent Mix last year, so I used what was left on May 30.

Espostoa melanostele subsp. nana (Peruvian Old Lady) on 5-30-25, #1048-8.

I removed the old potting mix and added new to the Espostoa melanostele subsp. nana (Peruvian Old Lady), but I used the same pot it has been in since 2021. She doesn’t have much of a root system, so she didn’t’t need a larger pot. Of course, I had straighten her up a bit (AGAIN) since she is a leaner… Well, she easily leans because she doesn’t have many roots to hold her up. To say she has been in the same pot since 2021 is an understatement, though. She has been in and out and back in multiple times. It isn’t uncommon for there to be rocks in her pot to help with that.

I had to be careful not to mess up her new hairdo… A friend came over one day and thought she was pretty neat. Of course, he had to touch her. He gave her a little squeeze and found out the hard way she has sharp spines under the soft hair. 🙂

Stenocereus pruinosus (Gray Ghost, Etc.) on 5-30-25, #1048-15.

The Stenocereus pruinosus (Gray Ghost, Organ Pipe, Etc.) now has a larger 6″ tall x 6 1/4″ wide pot. It seems to like its new pot and I hope it likes Dr. Earth’s potting mix… This is a well mannered friend.

June 2…

Still, no before photos so I snuck in a few from last October…

Aloe humilis (Hedgehog Aloe) at 5 1/2″ tall x 6 3/4″ wide on 10-14-24, #1022-1.

The Aloe humilis (Hedgehog Aloe, ETC.) was still in its 4 1/2″ diameter x 5″ tall pot I brought it home in 2024. It also had a few dead leaves that needed removed.

Aloe humilis (Hedgehog Aloe) on 6-2-25, #1050-1.

WHOA! When I removed the plant from the old pot, I saw it had a very good root system and could definitely use a larger pot.

Aloe humilis (Hedgehog Aloe) in its new 6″ tall x 6 1/2″ diameter pot on 6-2-25, #1050-2.

I gave it a 6″ tall x 6 1/2″ diameter pot… I ran out of Dr. Earth Cactus Mix, so I just used Miracle Grow Potting Mix with a little extra perlite and chicken grit. I always go to the driveway and put enough rocks in the pot to cover the bottom for drainage.

Gasteria ‘Little Warty’ at 6″ tall x 9″ wide on 10-14-24, #1022-12.

The Gasteria ‘Little Warty’ had been in the same pot since it was repotted in 2021 and was feeling a little cramped up.

Gasteria ‘Little Warty’ in a larger 5″ tall x 6 1/2″ wide pot on 6-2-25, #1050-3.

I decided to give the Gasteria ‘Little Warty’ a makeover and put it in a larger 5″ tall x 6 1/2″ wide pot. It had several dead leaves I needed to remove to tidy it up a bit. As you can see, it has several good-sized offsets.

Haworthiopsis limifolia (Fairy Washboard, Etc.) after it was repotted on 6-2-25, #1050-4.

I put the Haworthiopsis limifolia (Fairy Washboard, File-Leaf Haworthia, ETC.) in this larger pot last year so it was still fine. For some reason I decided it needed new potting mix again.

June 4…

Aloe juvenna (Tiger Tooth Aloe) on 6-4-25, #1052-1.

The Aloe juvenna (Tiger Tooth Aloe) has had its ups and downs the last several years. Judging by its root system, it seemed better suited for a little smaller and shallower pot. To much unused soil under the roots may have been causing problems for this one…

Aloe x ‘Amethyst’ on 10-14-24, #1022-2.

As you can see in the above photo of the Aloe x ‘Amethyst’ taken last October, it definitely needed a new pot…

Aloe x ‘Amethyst’ roots on 6-4-25, #1052-2.

It has a very nice root system.

Aloe x ‘Amethyst’ in a larger 5″ tall x 6 1/2″ diameter pot on 6-4-25, #1052-3.

Looking much better after removing some dead leaves and putting it in a larger 5″ tall x 6 1/2″ diameter pot.

Aloe x ‘Amethyst’ leaves on 6-4-25, #1052-4.

I really like this Aloe and its interesting leaves… Umm, I don’t have a page for this one yet…

Aloe x ‘Pink Blush’ at 4 1/2″ tall x 6 1/2″ wide on 10-14-24, #1022-4.

I brought this Aloe x ‘Pink Blush’ home last spring and it has been doing very well.

Aloe x ‘Pink Blush’ in a larger 4 1/2″ tall x 6″ diameter pot on 6-4-25, #1052-5.

I decided to put it in a larger 4 1/4″ tall x 6″ diameter pot to give it a little more room…

x Gasteraloe ‘Flow’ before repotting on 6-4 25, #1052-6.

I brought this x Gasteraloe ‘Flow’ home in 2022 after I lost the one I had since 2016 to a mealy bug infestation. The plant had been in the same pot since I brought it home and it needed a makeover… This is when I started taking “before” photos…

x Gasteraloe ‘Flow’ root system on 6-4 25, #1052-7.

I took it out of the pot to have a look at its roots. There was a nice root system and many offsets. I trimmed off the dead leaves and removed some of the old potting mix. It doesn’t hurt to trim off some of the old roots as they grow new ones during the growing period.

x Gasteraloe ‘Flow’ in a larger 4 1/2″ tall x 5 1/2″ wide pot on 6-4 25, #1052-.

I decided to put the plant in a larger 4 1/2″ tall x 5 1/2″ wide pot.

I think I will stop with this post and start working on part 2 or it will get very long…

Until next time, be safe, stay positive, stay thankful, and GET DIRTY!

 

New Plants Update

Aegopodium podagraria (Snow In The Mountain/Goutweed) on 7-5-24, #1000-1.

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. I thought I would write a post about the new plants I brought home in 2024. Some of the new plants complained because I didn’t write a new post when I brought them home, so this is an apology to them. A few are grouping together and are still snubbing me. GEEZ!

Some plants listed are replacements and already have a page (highlighted in green) but most are new and have no page YET. In alphabetical order…

<<<<#1>>>>

I remembered my grandma Miller having plants along the back of their house that were green and white variegated. I didn’t know what they were called and couldn’t find any locally. I saw a house on Main Street that had A LOT next to their house but I didn’t want to stop and ask for a start…

Finally, I found a few at Wagler’s Greenhouse on May 25. Well, of course, I had to grab one. I really knew nothing about their behavior, or even their name, until I drug a photo onto iNaturalist… I think drug is an appropriate word for drag and drop. Anyway, Aegopodium podagraria is the scientific name for this plant that, according to information online, will soon become “plants” as it is a spreader. The common name is Goutweed while the variegated form is usually called Snow-In-The-Mountain… Umm, a different species is called Snow On The Mountain so we don’t want to get confused. Time will tell if I actually want it in the north bed but I can’t hesitate if I choose to relocate it. I read it can be hard to get rid of…

<<<<#2>>>>

Aloe x ‘Amethyst’ on 7-5-24, #1000-2.

I really like Aloe, so when I find a new one of interest I have to bring it home. This Aloe x ‘Amethyst’ caught my eye at Lowe’s on May 9 so I brought it home. Its leaves are definitely unique with all the lumps and strangely toothed margins.

<<<<#3>>>>

Aloe x ‘Pink Blush’ on 7-5-24, #1000-3.

Then on May 10, I ran across this Aloe x ‘Pink Blush’. I had one before, in 2014, that I guessed was ‘Pink Blush’ although it was unlabeled. This time it had a label. Well, I brought it home…

<<<<#4>>>>

Aloe humilis (Hedgehog Aloe) on 7-5-24, #1000-4.

Then there was this really spiny Aloe at Walmart on May 6 I put in my cart (not alone). This one was unlabeled and I had a heck of a time deciding what it was. I put photos on a couple of Facebook Groups and it seemed, at first, one of the suggestions for Aloe x spinosissima could have been correct. But, when I looked up information online, I hoped it wasn’t. Then, while adding captions to the photos I remembered putting the photo on the SucculentGuide Forum. I checked the post I made and several members posted suggestions that didn’t match this plant. One, however, suggested Aloe humilis (Hedgehog Cactus). I happily changed the caption because I like it much better. I’m certainly hoping it is an Aloe humilis…

<<<<#5>>>>

Amaranthus cruentus ‘Red Spike’ (Red Amaranthus) on 7-5-24, #1000-5.

I spotted several Amaranthus cruentus ‘Red Spike’ (Red Amaranthus) at Wagler’s Greenhouse on June 11. At first, I just looked at them as I passed by but then turned around and picked one up. Hmmm… I haven’t grown any Amaranthus since 2012. It has grown A LOT!

Amaranthus cruentus ‘Red Spike’ (Red Amaranthus) on 7-5-24, #1000-6.

Now it has a bud…

<<<<#6>>>>

Coleus ? on 7-5-24, #1000-7.

I haven’t grown any Coleus (Coleus) for several years because I couldn’t find any suitable. I found this one at Wagler’s on May 20 that looked similar to one of the Kong Series so I brought it home. It has done quite well but the flowers need to be removed… I have grown some nice Coleus, and this one is proving itself quite well.

<<<<#7>>>>

Euphorbia ferox (Pincushion Euphorbia/Thorn Noors) on 6-5-24, #1000-8.

You know I couldn’t pass this thorny guy up when I found it at Walmart on May 6. Euphorbia ferox is called Pincushion Euphorbia on many websites, but iNaturalist says its common name is Thorn Noors. Hmmm… I’m not sure what that means but the thorn part is quite evident. If you look closely, you can see small leaves. Yep, it is a Euphorbia… It isn’t fond of being touched…

<<<<#8>>>>

Thelocactus setispinus (Miniature Barrel Cactus) on 7-5-24, #1000-9.

This Thelocactus setispinus (Miniature Barrel Cactus) was the featured photo in the last post. It has had many buds, but it has been somewhat difficult to see them open. I watched every day and all I would see was buds about to open, then the next day they would be wilting like they had already opened. The few times I did see them, they would be fully open for several days. What the heck is that? Now there are three at once… I hope it doesn’t bloom itself to death.

*NOTE: Originally, I thought this cactus was Ferocactus hamatacanthus (Turk’s Head), but thanks to an anonymous reader, I changed the name. So, in alphabetical order, now it should be on the bottom…

<<<<#9>>>>

Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ on 7-5-24, #1000-10.

This Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ is from Muddy Creek Greenhouse that I brought home on May 10. It has very dark green leaves and now it has flowers. NICE!!! Muddy Creek usually sells out early, so I was fortunate this one was still there.

Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ on 7-5-24, #1000-11.

How’s that for a happy leaf? I put this plant between the steps on the north side of the house and an Achillea millefolium… The Achillea was taller, so the Geranium had to grow even taller to strut its stuff.

<<<<#10>>>>

Geranium pratense ‘Johnson’s Blue’ on 7-5-24, #1000-12.

I have wanted a Geranium pratense ‘Johnson’s Blue’ for many years and Wagler’s has several to choose from. I didn’t bring one home until May 28 because I didn’t know where I would put it. Finally, I brought one home anyway… On the third trip… It set in its original pot for so long that it started objecting about its roots getting cramped up. SO, I put it in the northeast corner bed next to the steps. Ummm, between the Amaranthus ‘Red Spike’ and Echinacea purpurea I put there previously…

Hmmm… I moved an Echinacea purpurea to this spot because it came up right next to the Phlomis ‘Edward Bowles’ in the southeast corner bed. Edward objected so I moved the Echinacea. When my sister was here plant shopping, when I first saw the Geranium ‘Johnson’t Blue’, I had a plan to give her the Echinacea so I could go back and get the Geranium. Well, it didn’t work… She wants this and that, but for some reason, she doesn’t want a Purple Coneflower…

Geranium pratense ‘Johnson’t Blue’ on 5-28-24, #994-3.

The above photo was taken of its flower when I brought it home on 5-28-24… NICE!

<<<<#11 & 12>>>>

Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’ on 7-5-24, #1000-13.

OK, so Wagler’s had quite a few Heuchera but I was somewhat confused. There were plants with variegated leaves and some with plain green leaves all in the same flats. Some of each had the same label that said Heuchera sanguinea ‘Coral Forest’. I brought home one of each on May 25. A few days later, I went back and there were other flats farther down the greenhouse that were the same but with other labels… Some said Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ and others said Heuchera sanguinea ‘Firefly’. Hmmm…

Heuchera americana ‘Dale’s Strain’ on 7-5-24, #1000-14.

I did some research and found out that H. ‘Coral Forest’ has variegated leaves, H. ‘Firefly’ has green leaves, and the leaves of H. ‘Dales Strain’ start out green then they develop olive-green markings… At first, I thought I must have an H. ‘Coral Forest’ and an H. ‘Firefly’. The next thing I knew, ‘Firefly’ became ‘Dale’s Strain’. GEEZ!!!

Now, I have to back up a little. In the spring of 2023, I moved the Hosta and Heuchera from the shade bed to the bed along the north side of the house (the north bed). I had lost several and wanted them replaced. So, on May 6 I went to the Green Street Market (a garden center) in Clinton since they always have a good selection of Hosta.

<<<<#13>>>>

Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ on 7-5-24, #1000-15.

At Green Street, I found a Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ to replace the one that the deer destroyed in 2021. Only one leaf came up in 2022 then it fizzled out… The new one likes its new spot except for one thing. The Viola sororia are rather pushy…

<<<<#14>>>>

Hosta ‘Guacamole’ on 7-5-24, #1000-16.

The Hosta ‘Guacamole’ also didn’t return in 2024 so I was happy I found a good selection at Green Street. What would a Hosta collection be without this one? As you can see it is looking great and getting ready to flower.

<<<<#15>>>>

Hosta ‘Patriot’ on 7-5-24, #1000-18.

The Hosta ‘Patriot’ is a new one I decided to bring home from Green Street. It is doing well and it has already produced flowers. No page yet…

<<<<#16>>>>

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ on 7-5-24, #1000-17.

Then on May 10, I found a Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ to replace the one that didn’t return in the shade bed in 2023. I had it since 2009… It is OK but seems a little bewildered by so much company… Ummm… Its color is a bit off, too.

<<<<#17>>>>

Kumara plicatilis (Fan Aloe) on 7-5-24, #1000-19.

For #17 is the Kumaria plicatilis (Fan Aloe) from Walmart on May 20. The label said it was Aloe plicatilis, but it was given a new name in 2013. Ummm… The genus name, Kumaria, was conserved and there are only two species in the genus. The other was renamed in 2014. I thought it was a neat plant but after reading about it I found out it can get quite large and tree-like. Hmmm… Perhaps the tag is totally wrong and it is the other species, Kumara haemanthifolia which is a low-growing species. Well, I guess time will tell…

<<<<#18>>>>

Orostachys malacophylla var. iwarenge (Chinese Dunce Cap) on 7-5-24, #1000-20.

Probably the weirdest plant I brought home this year is the Orostachys malacophylla var. iwarenge (Chinese Dunce Cap) I found at Wagler’s on May 28. It is native to Northern China Mongolia, and Japan and it is cold hardy in USDA Zones 5-10. Hmmm… It is a member of the plant family Crassulaceae and its growing habit is similar to Hens and Chicks. It is named for its “spires of silvery lavender cone-shaped rosettes.” As you can probably guess, it spreads from the runners. So far, it seems happy here, but time will tell. According to what I read about its “needs”, it should be repotted into a more suitable potting mixture…

<<<<#19>>>>

Parodia concinna (Sun Cup) on 7-5-24, #1000-21.

I found this Parodia concinna (Sun Cup) at Lowe’s on May 9. I brought this one home because it had several buds. The label said it was a Notocactus elegans, but there was no such accepted name in the Notocactus genus… Notocactus species were mostly moved to the Parodia genus some time back. I put photos on a couple of Facebook groups and the Cactiguide Forum. Several names were suggested which I checked out but none clicked. Finally, someone suggested Parodia ottonis which is a synonym of Parodia concinna. BINGO! It is a short, squatty fellow with a concaved apex which sets it apart from most members of the genus Parodia… There were a few other possibilities, but I am sticking with Parodia concinna.

Parodia concinna (Sun Cup) ? on 5-12-24, #990-2.

How’s that for a flower? It bloomed several times, once with two flowers at once. The above photo was taken on May 12…

<<<<#20>>>>

Pelargonium denticulatum (Tooth-Leaved Pelargonium) on 7-7-24, #1001-1.

Hmmm… I needed photos for the Pelargoniums, but when I was taking photos on July 5 they weren’t looking so hot. Well, I think they were hot and needed water. They looked much better after a good drink. Then on the 7th, they were in too much sun when I was working on the post, so I decided to take a nap. It was sprinkling when I woke up but I stood back under the roof and zoomed in a bit to get a couple of shots.

I found the above mislabeled plant at Wagler’s on May 28. The label said “Mosquito Plant” and said the name was Pelargonium citronellum. I could have easily called it that but the photo on the tag wasn’t the same as the plant I brought home. I had already figured out the above plant was Pelargonium denticulatum (Tooth-Leaved or Toothy Pelargonium) but I became stumped. I had a previous Pelargonium denticulatum in 2014 that looked completely different with more frilly leaves. Then I found a website belonging to a Pelargonium specialist from Greece. It is an awesome site and the Pelargonium denticulatum on her site had leaves like the one in the above photo. Well, she has a Facebook page, so I messaged her. I sent her photos of this plant and the one below. She, like me, said they were P. denticulatum and P. quercifolium like I thought. One thing led to another and I wound up sending photos of the Geraniums in the flower bed and the two native species…

OH, when I sent her a photo of the P. denticulatum from 2014, she replied that it looked like a cultivar called ‘Filicifolium’… Well… The caption under the photo and on its page says Pelargonium denticulatum ‘Filicifolium’… Before she had messaged me back, I had already looked it up online and had a good laugh. The cultivar has more frilly leaves. I wrote the page about it in 2014 which was transferred to this site in 2017. Ummm… That’s all I have to say about it…

If you want to learn more about Pelargoniums, go to Pelargonium Species World. If you have bought a Pelargonium, the name on the tag is likely incorrect like both of mine this year. Click HERE to go to the photo gallery and scroll all the way down for a chart with leaves. There you can click on a links to the various species that match the leaf shapes.

Pelargonium denticulatum (Tooth-Leaved Pelargonium) on 6-29-24, #999-4.

The above photo of the flowers of P. denticulatum was taken on June 29. Oh yeah, it has a caption…

<<<<#21>>>>

Pelargonium quercifolium (Oak-Leaved Geranium) on 7-7-24, #1001-2.

I brought this Pelargonium quercifolium (Oak-Leaved Geranium) home from Walmart on May 20. It had a dangly tag that said… Well, I’ll just show you a photo…

Hmmm…

The back of the tag says “Selection of Pelargonium Crispum or Quercefolia”… Well, it isn’t a P. crispum and P. quercifolium is spelled wrong. 🙂 As far as either one being a mosquito shocker… There are still mosquitos on the back porch. I didn’t buy them to repel mosquitos although they both smell very good.

Pelargonium quercifolium (Oak-Leaved Geranium) on 6-21-24, #997-2.

As the caption says, the above photo was taken on June 21.

<<<<#22>>>>

Peperomia graveolens (Ruby Peperomia/Ruby Glow) on 7-5-24, #1000-22.

When I went to Mast’s Greenhouse last year, I spotted a couple of Peperomia graveolens (Ruby Peperomia/Ruby Glow) in one of Mr. Mast’s daughter’s private collection. She reluctantly gave me a cutting which didn’t work out so well. This year, there were a few available for sale so, of course, I brought one home. It is doing fine so far but it seems to be a slow grower. Of course, it needs a better potting mixture since it is in commercial potting soil…

<<<<#23>>>>

Ptilotus exaltatus ‘Joey’ (Pink Mulla Mulla) on 7-5-24, #1000-23.

The strange flowers of this plant caught my eye when I was at Wagler’s on May 25. There was no label or tag so I used the drag-and-drop feature on iNaturalist. To my surprise, it came up with the name Ptilotus exaltatus (Pink Mulla Mulla). Then I checked online and came up with a cultivar called ‘Joey’. The species is an annual native to Australia… It has done OK, but I don’t think it likes as much rain as we have gotten lately.

<<<<#24>>>>

Selenicereus anthonyanus (Fish Bone Cactus/ Zig Zag Cactus) on 7-5-24, #1000-24.

On my fifth and final trip (so far) to Wagler’s on June 12, I found this Selenicereus anthonyanus (Fish Bone Cactus, Zig Zag Cactus). I asked Mrs. Wagler what it was, and she gave it to me. Well, I asked what it was not because I wanted it, but how could I refuse? According to the Wikipedia article, it was first discovered in 1946 and first flowered in captivity in 1950. It is a rarely collected and most plants in cultivation descend from the first collection. It is an epiphyte growing in trees whose stems are ascending or climbing, branching in clusters at intervals along the stem. The flowers in the photos are quite interesting, but it flowers at night and only for one night… Other common names include Rickrack Cactus and St. Anthony’s Rickrack. Hmmm…

I am finally finished with this post and I promise I will get another one ready soon. Probably about the garden.

Until next time, be safe, stay positive, be thankful, and GET DIRTY!

New Plants for 2024 (So Far)…

New Hosta on 5-6-24.

Hello everyone! I hope this post finds you well. We had more rain during the night… Last Monday I went to the Green Street Market in Clinton (Missouri) to get a few garden seed. Well, it didn’t stop there… I browsed their plants and my feet took me to there selection of Hosta. Last year I moved the Hosta and Heuchera to the bed along the north side of the house because of the mole issue in the former shade bed. I had lost several so I needed to replace them. Well, maybe I didn’t need to but I just wanted to. Green Street always has great plants and their Hosta are always great.

Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ on 5-6-24, #987-10.

I was glad I ran across this Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ to bring home to replace the one I lost in 2022. The deer ate it to a point it never recovered in 2021 and onle one sprout came up in 2022 and then it just fizzled out. I brought it home in 2017 and it was always a big hit. Hosta ‘Dancing Queen’ is so bright cheerful you can see it from quite a distance. This hosta was introduced by Kent Terpening and Alttara Scheer in 2005.

Hosta ‘Guacamole’ on 5-6-24, #987-11.

I just had to bring home another Hosta ‘Guacamole’ to replace the one that didn’t return in 2023. I brought home the first one in 2014 and we never had any problems until the moles started messing with its roots in 2018. GEEZ! We had our issues after that and I even moved part of it to another location in the shade bed, then back again… It came back great then barely any sprouts came up in 2022. It didn’t return in 2023. Hosta ‘Guacamole’ is a multiple-award winner introduced by Bob Solberg in 1994. I am so glad to have another one!

Hosta ‘Patriot’ on 5-6-24, #987-13.

I decided to bring this Hosta ‘Patriot’ home to see what it would be like. I don’t know much about it yet, so we shall see what it does. I went to the Hoata Helper website to check it out, but unfortunately, the site wasn’t cooperating… Hmmm… Anyway, I will give it a shot.

From Green Street Market, I needed to go to Walmart for a few things and somehow wound up in the garden center…

New Cactus and Aloe on 5-6-24.

I have brought home quite a few cactus and succulents from Walmart over the years and have had mixed results. I still have a few of them, but you know how plants are. Some do well and others don’t. The ridiculous thing is the labeling not being accurate or just saying “succulent” or “cactus”. DUH! Then I have to figure out what species. I keep telling myself not to bring home plants without a proper label, but when I find one I really like that rule doesn’t seem to apply… The rack of smaller pots of cactus and succulents looked fairly pitiful but there was a rack of bigger plants that looked pretty good. So good most of them had a shocking price of $24.95!  Well, that price was out of the question! I looked around and found 3 plants I hadn’t grown before that were reasonable enough…

Aloe humilis (Hedgehog Aloe) on 5-6-24, #987-1.

Hmmm… The tag on this pot says it is an Aloe. GEEZ! Here we go AGAIN! I took photos and put them on the Facebook group called Succulent Infatuation like I have before with great results. This time it wasn’t so favorable but one suggestion was Aloe x spinosissima (Spider Aloe). Then later on, someone on the SucculentGuide Forum suggested Aloe humilis (Hedgehog Aloe). I decided that was much more favorable, so I am sticking with it…

Aloe humilis (Hedgehog Aloe) on 5-6-24, #987-2.

The plant seemed in great shape and who could resist a thorny Aloe?

Euphorbia ferox (Thorn Noors/Pincushion Euphorbia) on 5-6-24, #987-3.

Then there was this interesting plant that was correctly labeled Euphorbia ferox. Well, I like Euphorbia and they always do well so I put it in my cart.

Euphorbia ferox (Thorn Noors/Pincushion Euphorbia) on 5-6-24, #987-4.

The common names include Thorn Noors (iNaturalist) and Pincushion Euphorbia (Llifle) which seems to be the most common of common names… I like its thorns and small leaves that have just started growing. Ummm… Its stems seem to have a waxy sheen that I’m not sure was added or if it’s a normal thing. If it was added, why only this pot? I guess I’ll have to see what happens to its glow… Maybe it will fade like a car eventually does after a good wax job…

Thelocactus setispinus (Miniature Barrel Cactus) at 3 1/2″ tall x 3 1/2″ wide after I brought it home on 5-6-24, #987-12.

Then there was this gem of a cactus I had to put in the cart. Ummm… It did have a label that says Hamatocactus hamatacanthus. As it turned out, that name is a synonym of Ferocactus hamatacanthus with the common name Turk’s Head. Then an anonymous blog reader suggested Thelocactus setispinus (Miniature Barrel Cactus). After a little research, I think they were correct. I changed the name…

Thelocactus setispinus (Miniature Barrel Cactus) on 9-6-24, #987-13.

This cactus seems to be in good shape besides a few scars and missing spines. It is good-sized at 3 1/2″ tall x 3 1/2″ wide (without the thorns) and has several buds…

Thelocactus setispinus (Miniature Barrel Cactus) on 5-6-24, #987-14.

The largest bud has looked like this for several days. The anticipation for it to fully open is exhausting! Its fully open flower could be a clue to what the species name really is (unless it’s a hybrid)…

Then on May 9, I had to go to Sedalia so I stopped by Lowe’s. I debated stopping and passed the first entrance and drove in the second… My higher self said it would be OK. GEEZ!

I walked through the garden center and then inside because I had to go to the restroom. Then I walked back to the inside garden center to check out the cactus and succulents. Well, it was very disappointing and they were mostly in a pitiful state. Then I went to the outside garden center and walked around quite a bit. Their plants were great and I found a few perennials I thought about bringing home, but then put them down. I left with only two plants…

Aloe x ‘Amethyst’ on 5-9-24, #988-1.

I found this Aloe x ‘Amethyst’ one of the racks inside I decided to rescue. It looked pretty good although somewhat pale from being in low light. We’ll see how this one does… At least it had a correct label to go with it…

Parodia sp. on 5-9-24, #988-5.

I found this one with four buds, one almost open, that I decided to grab. The label said Notocactus elegans which, of course, was not correct. I’ve gone through that before with Notocactus… The genus is a synonym of Parodia and there is no such species name as Notocactus or Parodia elegans. So, it gets labeled Parodia sp…

Parodia sp. on 5-9-24, #988-6.

This one is interesting because it is one of those cacti that is, umm, concave at its apex. Kind of like someone sat on it. While it is only 1 1/8″ (ish) tall, it is 3 1/8″ wide.

Parodia sp. on 5-12-24, #990-2.

The flower didn’t fully open until 5-12-24…

I lost my two Parodia lenninghausii to mealy bugs after I had them for several years. Information online said it would take 10 years for them to flower, and maybe not even then. It makes me wonder how old this cactus is, or any of them in my collection for that matter.

Then, on May 10 I went to the three local greenhouses…

Aloe x ‘Pink Blush’ on 5-10-24, #989-1.

I went to Wagler’s first because I needed to check out their tomato plants. They sold out of ‘Celebrity’. They had a lot of tomato plants but I just brought home 4 ‘Pineapple’ and this Aloe x ‘Pink Blush’. I brought one home in 2014 that I murdered, so I’ll give another one a shot.

Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’ on 5-10-24, #989-3.

I was very happy to find a replacement for the Hosta ‘Krossa Regal’. I bought my first one in 2009 while I was in Mississippi and brought here in 2013. It always did very well until the deer kept eating all three clumps in 2021. Only one came up in 2022 and didn’t do well. When I moved the Hosta to the new bed in 2023, there was only one very small plant that I put in a pot. It didn’t do well and didn’t return this spring. I am very glad to have a new one. What would a Hosta bed be like without ‘Krossa Regal’?

Then I went to Mast’s Greenhouse on the other side of town…

Peperomia graveolens (Ruby Peperomia/Ruby Glow) on 5-10-24, #989-4.

Last year Mr. Mast’s daughter gave me a cutting of her Peperomia graveolens (Ruby Peperomia/Ruby Glow) but didn’t have any luck with it. She had three good-sized plants, but she was saving them to take cuttings of. Luckily, she had better luck and Mast’s had several available for sale. I’m not sure how many kids Mr. Mast has, but this daughter is maybe 14… She had her own private collection…

I also bought four ‘Celebrity’ and four ‘Red Duce’ tomato plants while I was there…

Well, I had to go to Muddy Creek Greenhouse since it was right down the road. This is one greenhouse you have to go to early because they seem to sell out sooner than the others. Well, Wagler’s buys more plants throughout the season so they never run out until the end. Muddy Creek only had a few plants left, but…

Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ on 5-10-24, #989-2.

I found this Geranium pratense ‘Boom Chocolatta’ I decided to bring home. I really like its dark leaves and I will put it next to the steps on the north side of the house.

I haven’t found anything to put on the east side of the steps yet, and didn’t plant any Colocasia (yet). I may bring home more plants at some point, but maybe not… Last year’s drought has made me rethink how many beds to try to maintain. So far this year we have had enough rain to last about all summer! GEEZ! The garden isn’t even tilled yet. 🙂

Well, that’s it for this post. Until next time, be safe, stay positive, always be thankful, and GET DIRTY!