Spring, Spring, Spring

I know, I know...it's no where near spring, but it sure felt like it today!  I've also had the children's book, A Home for A Bunny, on my mind for several days and if you've read it, things are repeated in threes.  It's been a while since we've read it considering the youngest is now 10, but it's still a favorite.  Haven't read it to your children yet?  It's never to late to pick up a copy at the library, sorry, but I don't have the author off the top of my head.

Back to the matter at hand, it was so nice today and it gave me and Amy the perfect excuse to drive over to Shades of Green.  Hello, succulents!!  Their succulent house was loaded and I had a wagon loaded in record time.  I lost quite a bit when it got into the 20's (unheard of) and popped a breaker trying to run two heaters on the same plug.  Stupid yes, will I make that mistake again, NO WAY!!  They had several things that I had lost and several things that I just needed.  Yes, needed.  They're all pictured below, minus an pink egdged Aenioum that I had already tucked into a hanging basket and a lovely Goldfish Plant hanging basket.

Closeups...

This looks like an octopus, but I'm thinking it might be something called Medusa's Head...it's really cool regardless!

My previous 'Bear Paws" didn't make it after the girls toppled it, how could I pass this one up!!

Our little "Ric-Rack' Cactus is trying, but we couldn't pass up this one.  We both brought one home.

This is one of my favorites, her leaves are trimmed in purple...what's not to love! 

Have a great week!
Mandy



Tea Rooms and Succulents

We tried a new little deli today...it was a totally chickie tea room type deli/bakery; very girly girl!  If you're in San Antonio, it's called Sugar Baker's and is the cutest place I've been in ages! The food was delicious and the desserts looked out of this world yummy, but we were very self controlled and said "no thanks". I can't wait to take my best friend there...I love it when I find the cool spots first; it doesn't happen often! So, afterwards my coworker says, "Let's swing by Rack Room.  I want to look at their sandles."  I'm always up for a shoe adventure, so we took detour.  On the detour, some succulents in front of Whole Foods caught my eye and it was my turn to ask if we could make one more stop.  They had the neatest looking thing and I had never seen it before, so I started gathering them while she walked down to the next store.

Portulaca molonkiniensis 'Maraca'

This is a Portulaca molonkiniensis 'Maraca'.  It grows 12" - 18", enjoys full sun to part shade and produces the most beautiful yellow blooms.  I found out that last part after a quick Google search.  It's going to be the first one that goes in the giant pot...I think!

The plants I've been "succulent sitting" for my mother have had a rough time of it.  We had almost 2 weeks of rain, rain and more rain so they weren't too thrilled.  One of them that we liked the most didn't make it.  Wouldn't you know they had that one too!  In the picture below, it's the first of the three.  Not sure what it's called, but it really reminded me of the old "rabbit ear" anteneas.  The second is some type of Gasteria, that I thought was really nice and fat. The ones we have are much skinnier. The third is yet another Cotyledon Tomentosa ' Bear Paw'.  I know I didn't need that one, but none of ours have the brown tips that look like nails so I thought we needed it too. These are my mothers, mine are scattered about the colllection so as not to draw undue attention from my husband's noticing eye!

The sales clerk was working with them while I was there and is a fellow "succulent addict".  I think I might have helped create two more monsters in the check out line as well.  The guy in front of me thought they were very cool and then the cashier had questions as well.  Would you believe both men's question was, "How do they do with not so much water?".  They were happy to hear they thrive on neglect! So I did my part in spreading the word today...and I didn't buy any shoes.  That alone counts for something!

I don't think I've posted the 'Propeller Plant' yet, here he is...

Crassula 'Propeller Plant'

Looking forward to another relaxing weekend and hopefully will enjoy it minus the headache that's been my constant companion for two days now!  Fixing to break out the heavy duty migraine killers since the usual Advil hasn't touched it...I just love the mold in the air!!

Enjoy yours!
Mandy

Friday Finds

I thought I'd stroll through Schultz Nursery today while on my lunch break, and wouldn't you know it...I found some more succulents! One of them is another Bear Paw.  I know that I already have two, but they are small, and this one is so full already...how could I pass him up! The other three, I'm not sure what they are, but they were really cute and so, why not!

One of my favorites plants is the Portulaca 'Moss Rose'.  I love all the different colors and the texture of the blooms.  Only problem...the deer insist on yanking them out of the pots and tossing them to the ground.  After years of threatening to camp out and catch them in the act, I've finally resigned to the keeping them in the back yard. My Balloon Flower is blooming!  She doesn't make it through the hot summer months, but every Spring she pops back through with adorable blooms.  They start off like very tiny balls and gradually blow up until they burst open! 

Enjoy your weekend!

More on the New Additions

I found another Cotyledon Tomentosa 'Bear Paw' to add to my collection, he's the short one.  I repotted them so they could share a pot, and so they're a little dirty.  I originally stumbled on this little guy in Walmart in a little succulent dish garden.  This is probably my favorite one!

My other favorite...Baby Toes! I lost one of them over the winter, but replaced it over the weekend.  These are especially cute.  The more sun they get, the more translucent their "toes" are!

Echeveria 'Green Goddess'.  I'm excited to see her bloom!