Succulents and More™

The Central Valley has been shrouded by a 400-mile blanket of radiation fog for going on two weeks now, resulting in dreary gray days with temperatures stuck in the 40s. As the website IFL Science explains, radiation fog is a “type of fog that’s most common when things get chilly in the fall and winter. It develops on clear, calm nights when the ground cools rapidly, chilling the air just above it. Once that air reaches saturation, moisture condenses into millions of tiny droplets, creating a thick mist that hangs in the air.” The current forecast suggests that conditions won’t change much this week either. I’m not happy about it, and neither are the winter-growing plants in my garden, above all the aloes. Without sun, they just sit around sulking instead of pushing out flowers. But there’s nothing I or anybody else can do. Grumbling about it helps me feel better, at least a little, but ultimately, I need to be patient until the sun returns. Even though it seems like it never will. T...

In my previous post about the new Patina series planters by Veradek, made of a metal-plastic composite that rusts much like Corten weathering steel, I gave you a sneak peek at my latest agave addition, ‘Sierra Azul’: Agave ‘Sierra Azul’ in a Kona planter from Veradek’s Patina series This agave has been a mystery. There is virtually no information about it online. What is it? Where did it come from? Where can I get one? In posts on Instagram and Facebook, I asked if anybody knew more about ‘Sierra Azul’. The answers didn’t disappoint. From what I gathered, it’s a cross created by well-known plant explorer and hybridizer Kelly Griffin, currently Succulent Plant Development Manager at Altman Plants , the country’s largest grower of succulents. The parents are Agave cerulata , a very drought-tolerant species native to Baja California, and Agave kristenii , a species in the gypsum agave complex ( Agave gypsophila/pablocarrilloi ). Below are pictures of the two parents — vivid proof that h...

Corten, or weathering steel, is a strong, durable corrosion-resistant steel alloy that, when exposed to the weather, develops a stable, rust-like layer that protects the underlying metal from further corrosion. This unique patina eliminates the need for painting and maintenance, making it a popular choice for all kinds of outdoor uses — check out this park in Scottsdale, Arizona! Corten is also used for planters. Here are few in my garden. My most recent Corten projects include this rectangular planter for my silver torch cactus and edging for a new cactus bed in the backyard. I’d gladly have more Corten planters, but they’re not exactly cheap. That’s why I was excited to discover that the Canadian company Veradek has a new line of planters called the Patina Series . They look very much like Corten, but they’re actually made from a patented plastic-steel composite that rusts just like weathering steel. They’re lighter than Corten and cheaper, and they come partially rusted. So far,...

A couple of months ago, I showed you the plant labels I’m currently using ( see here ). Seeing how I have a few thousand of these labels and they work great, I will continue to use them, especially for potted plants. But I’ve started to trial larger tags — stakes, really — for in-ground use: For me, these stakes have several benefits: They are very sturdy so they shouldn’t disintegrate as quickly as the thinner (and smaller) labels I’ve been using. They are larger so there’s room for more information, if needed. Plus, I’m hoping they’re too large for squirrels to haul away. Since they’re black, they don’t stand out like white labels do. You can’t really use a pencil to write on these stakes. The ones I bought on Amazon ( here ) come with a white marker pen, but the tip isn’t fine enough. I bought these marker pens instead. They’re filled with oil-based paint that doesn’t wash off and have what’s billed as an “extra fine” tip. The pens I’m using Here are my first attempts: I submerged...

‟A book about Texas gardens? I live in California / Arizona / Oregon / Washington / etc. How is that relevant for me and why should I care?” I'm sure that's what some of you may be thinking. And I get it. We tend to focus on places and things we're familiar with. But most of the time, the challenges we face, as well as the joys and triumphs we experience, are not unique to where we live. I was reminded of that in vivid terms when I read Pam Penick's new book, Gardens of Texas: Visions of Resilience from the Lone Star State . In this review, I will explain why it resonates with me so strongly. Pam Penick, photographed by Kenny Braun Texas is enormous: encompassing 268,000 square miles, it's the second largest U.S. state by area (Alaska is #1).  It's part of the southern Great Plains , but it spans ten ecoregions and USDA hardiness zones  6b to 10b. Yearly rainfall totals range from 60 inches in southeastern Texas to 10 inches in El Paso. Challenges include everyt...