Succulents and River Rock

In my last post, I mentioned the frustration brought on by the neighbors cats choosing our yard as their litter box.  The next day, Bob and I took the day off to celebrate my birthday and our 15th anniversary.  For my birthday, he took me to breakfast and then to three of my favorite plant nurseries.  Shockingly enough, I bought very little!  I found a new collection of Zipper Plants to add to my one lonely Euphorbia anoplia.

I've read where some people have said these are ugly, but I disagree...they're darling little things.  My mother brought me the one when she came in this summer, but Bob saw this and thought all the sizes were really cool. 

He also encouraged me to pick up a cute little Zebra Plant as well.  I've been wanting one of these for the house or my office, but just never found "the one"...this one is quite nice and will be staying home.

We stopped by my office to pick up the arrangement of plants he ordered for me, but that someone forgot to tell me were there...grrr.  Since the succulent kick started, he's stopped sending me roses or anything else that's been cut and is just going to die.  Not that I don't like roses or other blooming flowers, but that's an awful lot of money to spend for something that's going to die...maybe next year I'll suggest a rose bush!
These are pretty, the Rubber Tree will look nice in a larger pot with one I already have...the coloring is different though.  Other than the Crotan, these rest I'm not sure what they are, but that's okay...they're pretty without names too!

So, what did we do in the afternoon with the house to ourselves?  ...lay River Rock of course!  We took out all the mulch, and replaced it with River Rock.  The girls got home from school and pitched in as well and I have to say, I had a great time working side by side with my hubby! 

You can't really tell, but my Rosecreek Abelia's are crazy...they grow out of the middle and look a bit weird.  They've got one more chance this coming spring to get it together or they're coming out and getting replaced!  I put them in last year with a certain look in mind, and they're not cooperating!  The pig planter got a haircut as well!  I keep Bolivian Jew in it, and it grows like a chia pet...the whole planter was covered, so it was time for a trim.  I lost my big lavender this summer, so two little Goodwin Creek Lavenders are getting started in it's place. 



Again, the Rosecreek Abilia's are a little wild, but New Orleans Jasmine is still nice and big and should be blooming again soon! 

This bed had Lantana that had just gone crazy and wasn't getting enough sun to bloom.  Opted for just the rocks for the winter.

No planting in this one yet other that the Esperanza's that were already there other than I added my orange Esperanza to the middle of them.  I'm not sure why I didn't get a picture of that, but they're there.  There wasn't any sense in putting the succulents and other things in the ground when winter is around the corner, so for now the pots will just sit there.

The newest succulent to the collection...a Kalancho 'Desert Surprise'.  I found these Friday night when I went to HEB to pick up some groceries.  I couldn't decide on which one I wanted, so I got both.  The one above has lighter markings than the one below.  I think the one below will eventually make it to my mother's house, but one never knows!

Have a great week! 

Mandy