Flowering aloes on the UC Davis campus (end of February 2015)

I finally found time to check on the aloes on the UC Davis campus. I hadn’t been back since my last post on December 26 but fortunately it looks like my timing was just right.

This outing also gave me an opportunity to test-drive a fun lens I just bought for my camera: a 6.5 mm fisheye that offers an amazing angle of view. The first set of photos were taken with this lens before I switched back to my regular wide-angle zoom (17-40 mm). As expected, the fisheye is a bit gimmicky and doesn’t lend itself to too many situations. However, it’s just about perfect when you want to convey an exaggerated feeling of space. The vignetting from the lens hood actually helps by introducing an element of artifice that telegraphs in no uncertain terms that this is not a “normal” perspective.

Enough about lenses. Let’s look at the aloes, starting at the Botanical Conservatory on Kleiber Hall Drive:

150301_UCD_002

LEFT: Aloe microstigma  RIGHT: Aloe striata

150301_UCD_003

LEFT: Aloe microstigma  RIGHT: Aloe striata

150301_UCD_004

Aloe microstigma

150301_UCD_006

Aloe × spinosissima

150301_UCD_008

Agave parryi

Now walking over to Storer Hall:

150301_UCD_009

Aloe × spinosissima

150301_UCD_011

Aloe × spinosissima

And from there to the alley between Haring Hall and the Sciences Lab Building:

150301_UCD_017

Palo verde (Parkinsonia florida)

And finally to the planting bed next to the Sciences Lab Building:

150301_UCD_021

Aloe × spinosissima

150301_UCD_024

Bed outside Sciences Laboratory Building

150301_UCD_025

Aloe microstigma

This is where I switched lenses. Now we’re retracing our steps starting at the Sciences Lab Building.

150301_UCD_035

Aloe microstigma

150301_UCD_030

Aloe ferox and Aloe marlothii

150301_UCD_031

Aloe marlothii

150301_UCD_032

Aloe peglerae

150301_UCD_033

Tower of jewels (Echium wildpretii); it will start to elongate soon and bloom in May

150301_UCD_037

Aloe × spinosissima

150301_UCD_028 150301_UCD_040

Aloe hereroensis, one of my all-time favorite aloe species

Plantings between the Sciences Lab Building and Haring Hall:

150301_UCD_039

Aloe hereroensis

150301_UCD_054

Aloe hereroensis

150301_UCD_051

Aloe ‘Who Knows What It Is’

150301_UCD_053

Aloe africana

150301_UCD_043

LEFT: Aloe africana   RIGHT: Aloe ferox

150301_UCD_044

Aloe ferox

150301_UCD_059

CENTER: Aloe marlothii

150301_UCD_042

Aloe marlothii

150301_UCD_045

Gasteria acinacifolia

150301_UCD_047

Beautiful juxtaposition of purple-flowering Babiana nana from South African and Aloe humilis

150301_UCD_050

Aloe humilis

Storer Hall:

150301_UCD_069

Aloe × spinosissima

150301_UCD_068

Aloe humilis and Aloe comosa

150301_UCD_067

Encephalartos horridus and Aloe comosa

Botanical Conservatory:

150301_UCD_073

Aloe littoralis. This is the “fallen giant” I wrote about in this post.

150301_UCD_075

The rotting stem can’t be saved, but I’m hoping the rosette on the right will re-root.

150301_UCD_071

Possible hybrid between Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescens (according to Ernesto Sandoval, director of the Botanical Conservatory)

150301_UCD_072

Possible hybrid between Aloe ferox and Aloe arborescens

Here’s a handy UC Davis campus map if you decide to visit. Come on Saturday or Sunday when parking is free!

Comments

  1. Lovely aloes! Can't say I'm a fan of the fish eye. It kind of makes my eyes throb and want to jump out of my head. Or maybe I'm just jealous since I can't buy fancy lenses for my point and shoot.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know what you mean about the fish eye photos. They do play weird tricks on your brain. I promise I'll go easy with this new lens :-)

      Delete
  2. So lucky to have UC Davis near you and Ble to witness this spectacle every winter!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I do appreciate being so close to such beauty. Next weekend I'll check up on the UC Davis acacia grove. Many acacias should be in full bloom.

      Delete
  3. Cool. Heroensis is a lovely one, and the comosa is also attractive. Was that Gasteria out in full sun?!?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have three small Aloe hereroensis now and can't wait for them to flower. Still looking for an Aloe comosa.

      I saw several of these gasterias and they get full sun at least half a day. I think gasterias are OK with full sun even though many people grow them because they tolerate shade so well.

      Delete

Post a Comment