Friday, August 27, 2010

"Baby Toes"

Fenestria rhophalophylla

"Fenester" means window. The tips of these "toes" are light windows; a solar collection system for photosynthesis. And the blooms are just delightful too!




Saturday, August 21, 2010

Friday, August 20, 2010

Today's visitor

This is either a Rufous or an Allen's...not sure, they are hard to tell apart. since it is early for Rufous I'm thinking he's probably a young Allen's.....Enjoy!

Sunday, August 15, 2010

"The Love Plant"

Cute name for this South African native. Darling little blooms. Anacampseros rufescens.
And a Notocactus sp. also....

Saturday, August 14, 2010

"Orange Icing"

Blooming today. A Wressey Cocke hybrid registered in 1988. 



"Orange Icing"

Friday, August 13, 2010

Back yard resident


This young male Anna's hummingbird has staked a claim to my yard! I was able to get a couple of nice photos of him this evening.
To make this "epiphyllum" related, here he is sitting on an epiphyllum branch!
Tonight's blossoms....

Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Miltonia

Well not an Epiphyllum and not even a cactus! This one is an orchid.

After many years of killing Miltonias I finally hit upon a successful method...PLENTY OF WATER! I watered this plant faithfully every day; the pseudobulb is plump and the flowers just lovely! Did not even fertilize it this year.

So no more listening to the books and giving them a dry rest period!!

I just repotted this plant up from a smaller pot about three months or so ago.









Kinda have that Batman theme going on here don't we?

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Hummingbirds at dusk

Difficult to capture, at one point there were five hummers perched simultaneously. Earlier in the evening, everyone was chased off by the one who staked a claim on this feeder. When it gets darker, they seem to forget their differences, and are emboldened in their determination to top off their tank with some sugary energy for the night.




The Green Man watches all!

Tuesday, August 3, 2010

"Lilliput"

Here's an offseason bloom from the Pentico collection; it was featured at the ESA meeting tonight and I was lucky enough to get to take it home for a photo session!


Lilliput
small bloom about 3" across

Sunday, August 1, 2010

The Pentico collection

Recently I began to do some volunteer work for the ESA Pentico collection of Epiphyllums at the Los Angeles County Arboretum. There are thousands of epiphyllum hybrids there and lots of species too....I started going on the weekend to help with watering and pruning, etc. It takes me about four hours to water everything!
Here's a few photos taken today. There was one lone bloom in the place; a small-flowered variety named "Lollipop". Really cute and the smaller blooming varieties are nice to get a surprise in the off-season. 







Busy Bees


Awoke this morning to see flowers mostly closed, but several bees still buzzing among the sleepy petals.


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