iann wrote:As I sit looking at this perfect icon of the desert, I'm watching our second flash flood of the week. The contrast couldn't be greater. Or perhaps flash flooding is itself an icon of the desert?

So, its finally raining in sunny, ole England? Hope it makes you yard nice and green.
Chris

WOW, you are seriously trying to make your CP's happy. TFS.
Chris

Neat idea. Wish I could send some of the sun that is here today-its blazing.
Chris

Great habitat pics and can't wait to see the rest of them. Glad you saved the Escobarias from being sheep food, sometimes we need to do such things.
Chris

I always look forward to these blooming.

Chris

Bill,
I killed my first plant too. This one had some time getting established, almost shrank up and didn't grow for a year, but with the wet spring we had this year, is really going for it now. I have to think it might require more water than I usually give.
Chris

Thanks for the kind words. This morning even had more blooms. Without showing any repeats from yesterday, here are a few more. A pink Tricho. seedling http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1511_007_9.jpg Came to me as Echinopsis 'L.A.' http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1511_002_21.jpg A yell...

For larger gooey Tricho fruits I have left them soak in water for at least three days without any sprouting, although this may not be good for some genera(Hylocereus?). I find that if the goo starts to break down and kind of ferment, that it will just turn to chaff when dried on papertowels and can ...

The first two pics look like Romneya coulteri(matilija poppy). Is the last one a rose?
Chris

It always amazes me how these guys synchronize their blooms within a day or two of each other. T. 'Pink Glory' http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1511_006_12.jpg http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1511_007_7.jpg One of many seedlings off 'Apricot Glow', must have been a selfed flower, as t...

Great pics. TFS
Chris

Happy to see your first cholla bloom Bill. I'm sure there'll be lots more in the future. Glad to see your O. grandiflora looks like mine(except mine has obviously had a tougher life).
Chris

Although because of the large flower size, I think Echeveria harmsii is one of the parents of my plant, I think this plant is a hybrid. If you've seen the true E. harmsii, it is quite distinct from this, as(E. harmsii) is more shrubby and doesn't grow in much of a rosette form.
Chris

Sure grows and looks like O. tomentosa. The book I just looked in says can have 0-4 spines, gray and larger on older parts of plant.
Chris

Opuntia phaeacantha 'coral' http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1511_010_4.jpg An Cylindropuntia imbricata thing. http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1511_014_3.jpg Opuntia grandiflora, probably now just a Tx. form of compressa/humifusa. http://www.cactiguide.com/forum/userpix/1511_017_3.jpg...