Lithops Releaf-a-rama 2015!

If it's spring, it must be time for a Lithops Party. Lithops don't get very excited about anything, and they sure don't party much. But once, in spring (for most), they get crazy and re-leaf. Here are two of mine doing just that....

Lithops Releaf-a-rama 2015, MR

I live in a town that's famous for its Spring Break parties during March, so I guess I can consider my Lithops' behavior appropriate for the season.

Weekend Walkabout: Fresh Dahlia, First Sunflowers, New Lithops!

The dahlias have regenerated and are blooming again; there are still mites, but they are now part of the system, not bullies:

And my first sunflowers are blooming! This year, I planted florist varieties, not edible varieties. They are growing at exactly the same rate, and achieving the same size, as the Russian Mammoths. Seems plants are quite intelligent and know that on a sand dune, they have an optimum size to achieve....

And more than half of my Lithops are regenerating. Here are two representatives:

Tomorrow I will be out and about, learning about the medicinal properties of our native plants. I will post about it for certain, perhaps on Monday. Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy your gardens.

Lithops Can Move Fast

Lithops are not known for their impatience and impetuous behavior. They like to take it slow.

Slow's the way to go, if you're a Lithops.

 However, once in a while, I'll see a Lithops do something in a surprisingly speedy manner. Take this little guy on the left:

Speedy, and...not so much.

 He and his neighbor have been taking their sweet time re-leafing. It's been rather a dull party, actually. But yesterday, with the passage of a cold front (which may or may not have had anything to do with it), Lithops One decided to absorb its old leaves. In 2 hours flat! I kid you not, that's as long as it took. Lithops Two is not having any of it, though. It's keeping to the old, slow ways.... But who knows? Maybe speed-releafing will catch on! Of course, this leads to a dilemma for me. One can now be watered, the other, not. Hmmm, what I am going to do with these guys??

A Quick and Chaotic Weekend Update

It's been a great Mothers' Day Weekend here, with lots of funny family stuff going on. So just a quick, chaotic weekend update for the Lithops and other Odd Plants:

The Lithops Releaf-a-rama is over 90% complete now, and it's been amazing to witness the regeneration of these normally quiet, inobtrusive plants.  I'll have a separate post on the effect of light in the regeneration of different species; I was surprised there was so much variation. Some new Lithops are leggy, some are squat, all with the same amount of light. That's the sound bite.

The Catasetum I bought at the orchid show is still alive. That's good! I'm following the instructions given to the letter. I hope it lives long and prospers....

And what's better than one blooming Babytoes? Two blooming Babytoes! You just gotta love these guys.
Now I have to rest after the Big Brunch with the Big Bunch. Hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Weekend News For Lithops

For many of us, this is a holiday weekend, with lots of socializing and time with the family. And what would a spring festival be without regenerating Lithops?

Regenerating...or not.

My mulching is finished. I'll be starting some African daisies, Berzelias, and Cotyledon orbiculatas this weekend. What are you all planting/germinating/propagating in your indoor and outdoor gardens?

For those of you who celebrate Easter/Pasqua/Paques/etc.. have a very blessed holiday!

Collage by Judy Hutson, Texas,USA

And for those who do not, have a wonderful weekend, and yes, you get bunny love, too!

by Helen Campbell, WA, USA

 And because there's no such thing as too much bunny love....

"The Bunns" by MR, 2011