As a kid, sneaking with my best friend into the unoccupied bedroom of her older sister and marveling at her sophisticated possessions, I still vividly remember finding the Rolling Stones’ album “Aftermath.” The older sister immediately rose several degrees cooler in my estimation. In my naivete, though, I assumed that you were meant to play the album only after you did your math homework. What a strange universe I inhabited, where the Rolling Stones cared about your report card. I’ve had a fondness for that word ever since.
And my usage here is not quite correct, since it refers to “the consequences or aftereffects of a significant unpleasant event,” and the show and sale were anything but unpleasant. I was at the show early on Friday before setup was complete, and this entry didn’t have a tag yet. Reminds me a lot of my (now deceased) Agave guadalajarana.
There’s been a lot of posts on the show on Facebook, where I saw more of this same Stenocactus tricuspidatus.
I didn’t get the name on this astrophytum, just liked the pale silver against the matte red glaze.
There’s a distinctive look to the pottery sold at the succulent shows.
I finally broke down and bought a very small pot, not exactly in this style.
Isn’t this as appealing as a box of cupcakes?
This ceramicist’s pots were very distinctive, reminding me of vertical basalt outcroppings. *I got his card and promptly lost it. Potted at one time carried his line of pots.
Unlike the specimens at the show, most of my potted succulents are generally biding their time and making size until they’re planted in the garden. They don’t stay specimens for long, unlike these beauties which will spend their lives in pots. I tend to think of landscape first, not collecting. But something about this monochromatic confection called out to me. Gymnocalycium ragonesei. I usually try to resist, because I really don’t need a collecting habit and a zillion small pots to look after. But then “need” has nothing to do with it, right?
Aeonium tabuliforme in a very cool, multi-faceted pot.
Echeveria agavoides ‘Ebony.’ This time there were quite a few for sale too. It’s very slow to offset, hence the rarity and high price. I was told that these dark edges were obtained at the expense of the overall plant, which was showing fading from the sun. Looked fine to me.
So what did I bring home? Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ from Altman Plants is supposedly going to be unleashed at big box stores everywhere this year. I couldn’t wait. This was the only one I saw at the show.
Here’s the little pot I brought home, with Echinocereus rigidissimus var. rubrispinus
My first opuntia, O. microdasys. The cashier tried to warn me against bringing it home. “You know about the glochids, right? I’m from Tucson and can handle anything spiky, but those glochids are the worst.” It was intended for the front gravel garden, but I don’t think I can risk harming the corgi. So it stays in a pot or becomes trade bait.
The Gymnocalycium ragonesei I couldn’t resist on the left. I’m trying very hard to remember their names without looking at the tags.
All three together for their group portrait. That’s Mr. Opuntia waving in the back on the left right. A variegated Agave parryi var. truncata came home too but has already been planted in the front garden.
Might as well pull back from the kitchen doorway to include the lamp Marty just rigged. It’s a Smoot-Holman, known as the “Gas Station Lamp.” Based locally, out of Inglewood, Calif., the Smoot-Holman Company started in 1922 and sold to Sunbeam in 1972, dates which probably approximate the heyday of local manufacturing. I’ve gotten a little summertime crazy with lights under the pergola. But I’ll be needing them to take care of all these little pots when the days shorten.
*I found his business card today. This pot reminded me of his work, but I don’t think it’s necessarily his.
Check out Jonathan Cross’ work at jonathancrossstudio.com
Great to see more photos from the Inter-City Show! I agree, the pottery at S&C shows is always top notch (and priced accordingly). Who was the potter who made the wavy and spiky pots you showed? They remind me of Diana Moulds’ work.
The agave in the first photo is indeed Agave guadalajarana. I have one that looks just like it (well, not quite as nice). It’s the clone sometimes sold as ‘Leon’.
I’ve had several Opuntia microdasys over the years and they are nasty indeed. This species has more glochids than any other, and they seem to leap at you if you get close. Very pretty, but definitely to be enjoyed at a distance. I eventually got rid of mine after brushing against one with my shirt–I had to throw the shirt away because the glochids wouldn’t wash out entirely.
….sory meant Mike Cone’s pottery.
Great photos, great buys. I’d hoped to get to the show this year but it didn’t happen, more’s the pity. Next year! I did notice that Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’ in the Huntington’s 2014 ISI catalog.
I love the Gymnocalycium with its two white flowers. Those Opuntias are so enticing-looking, I just think they’re so cute. But I won’t buy one because of the glochid thing.
The plant pot pairings you’ve shown are truly wonderful! Great haul, especially that handsome Aeonium ‘Mardi Gras’!
@Gerhard, I didn’t grab cards for that pottery so am not sure which if any is Mike Cone’s. I’ve had “Leon’ for sometime, and to my eyes the leaves don’t have the soft sheen of the species. This show specimen really had that sheen. Maybe it’s a more mature ‘Leon’? I’ve seen this opuntia in gardens and that orange glow is gorgeous, but I don’t think it’ll be in mine.
@Kris, I was told that the Huntington had first dibs on ‘Mardi Gras’ before it was given a wider release. This coming year it should be everywhere!
@Alison, that little gymno was such a contrast amidst all the fluorescent orange and pink blooms.
@Peter, I bet you’ll be seeing that ‘Mardi Gras’ very soon too in your own DG-ette.
Love your photos as always, and some of these specimens were irresistible! The most surprising thing though: that this was your first Opuntia! 🙂
Alan, I know, my first! Locally I see gardens filled to the margins with opuntias…and weeds flourishing in the middle. Just scares me off them.
Wow…thank you for the extended coverage! Excellent pot and plant paring all around but especially on the Opuntia microdasys. Congrats on not just buying a run of the mill Opuntia but rather one with serious pain possibilities.
Great photos–thought about going Friday, but the traffic must have been dreadful. The brave reap the rewards. Or is it the pioneers take the arrows?
My opuntia is placed the slope so as to be unreachable. Got it right.
The Smoot-Holman is fabulous! There were once all sorts of small manufacturing shops in So Cal, back before fast food took over.
@Loree, I think the opuntia will find a home with Hoov!
@Gail, I hit a nice window of light traffic so it wasn’t bad at all. And who knew the foothill temps could be tolerable in August?
wow! a great selection of planters
and as usually fantastic pictures
Each of those is a work of art. I’m a little ashamed to admit I got rid of an O. microdasys after one too many encounters with the glochids, which I read could even become airborne and be inhaled. Yikes!