I treated myself yesterday to San Gabriel Valley’s Cactus & Succulent Society‘s show and sale at the Los Angeles Arboretum.
I bought no plants this time, just circled the show tables over and over, sometimes because the show plant was that engrossing and other times just to get a shot after the crowd parted.
At the sales tables I did a quick phone search on Aloe castilloniae, which seemed to be everywhere for sale, the species and some hybrids. There’s not a lot of info available on it.
(Here’s an entry with a good photo I didn’t catch on my phone: Aloe castilloniae)
This Aloe melanacantha with a flower bud was the first show plant to stop me in my tracks.
I always find the boophanes so expressive. I really need to repot mine to elevate the bulb.
Urginea maritima, the gigantic Sea Squill in a tiny pot. Who knew?
I didn’t always snap the names of the cacti. In the past I’ve been known to rush by these tables but am starting to find them so absorbing visually.
It can bring quite the endorphin release to stand before a beautifully grown cactus such as this.
I had to check the name on this wild thing: Astrophytum capricorne var. niveum
From the melocactus table
I’m on firmer ground with the agaves. Agave ‘Snow Glow’
Agave xylonacantha ‘Frost Bite’
And so ends the plant show and sale season of 2015. Thanks to all who’ve shared their beautiful obsessions.
Oh, that last one. Ohhhh.
Thanks very much for bringing these to us. I’m also smitten with the cactus in the pic just before the wild curly Astrophytum capricorne var. niveum. The search for the perfect pot must be a significant part of the beautiful obsession…
Beautiful specimens. I love the Boophane but I’ve heard they’re hard to keep alive – yes? no? I really need to get to one of the larger CSS shows – the one at the local botanic garden just doesn’t measure up. I noted that just about every plant was in a magnificent pot – were any pots for sale at the show?
An achievement to get such good photos at a show. It’s Not Easy.
Those cactus are cool. You got some great closeups. I have a handful that I need to repot into something more interesting than black plastic, but I’m a little scared of handling them.
This looks like a truly great show. If only it had been a little closer. I have a an Aloe melanacantha, and I love it more and more as time goes by. Unfortunately, it hasn’t flowered yet.
I’ve also been looking for an Aloe castilloniae. No luck yet. So many cool aloes that are all but unavailable.
@Nell, I like that one too, another astrophytum whose full name I didn’t get. Very blonde on blonde effect in that simple pot.
@Kris, if I can grow boophane, anyone can. I did lift mine higher in its pot.
@Hoov, it takes sharp elbows, doesn’t it? I try not to be a pest with the camera and just about everyone was trying to get photos.
@Alison, thick leather gloves are the answer!
@Gerhard, I wish I’d known you were after that aloe!