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| When I came across this butterfly graveyard it took me a while to understand just what was happening at this particular location, however in the cholla above, I soon located a rather happy and fat praying mantis that had acquired a rather prime fishing location from which to catch visiting butterflies. |
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| Cylindropuntia bigelovii, Teddy bear cholla |
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| Mexican Fire Barrel Cactus, Ferocactus pilosus |
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| We were told by native Californians that this was a terrible time of year to visit San Diego because of the "June Gloom". A time of the year when skies can be overcast and temperatures are cooler. Coming from Austin where it was 107 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, the idea that it might not be as sunny and hot as some people where looking forward to did not bother me one bit. The above "gloomy" picture was taken at an "awful" 71 degrees. |
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| Jacaranda mimosifolia is the purple tree you see all over San Diego this time of year (June). Purple-haze-jacaranda-fever-hits-San-Diego |
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| The Jacaranda (Purple) and the Bougainvillea (Pink) seen here in the Spanish Village (within Balboa park) are both supposedly hardy to about 19 degrees Fahrenheit. The Bougainvillea often comes back from the roots at even colder temperatures. Maybe with global warming we'll start seeing these in Austin! |
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| "LOOK OUT!" There is a green monster behind you! I can testify I have been grabbed by a few of these in the past. Interesting how the trunk of the cactus just looks like a normal tree (after about 80 years). |
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| Ferocactus pilosus aka Ferocactus stainesii at my feet and aloe (ferox?) behind as to the others I have lost track of the names but I like the candelabra shape. |
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| Crassula coccinea 'campfire' hardy to about 20 degrees Fahrenheit. I may end up trying this in my garden just too much color to ignore when it may survive with a timely placed blanket a few days a year. |
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| Many of the aloes were blooming along with Dyckias (right) and Agaves (center). |
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| A 120 acres of incredible gardens on rolling hills in San Marino, California. A must see Meca for gardeners around the world. |
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| The Huntington Desert Garden |
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| This is a group of Mexican Fire Barrel cactus (Ferocactus pilosus). I took special note of this cactus when I learned that this cactus was rated cold hardy to about 17 degrees Fahrenheit, that makes it possible to grow in Austin, Texas with a towel covering maybe one or two nights a year (I added this to my plant list). |
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| The Huntington Gardens was my first exposure to Hechtia's and Dyckia's seen blooming above. Some of which were giant plants the size of a VW Beetle. I quickly learned which ones were the most cold hardy and looked forward to adding them to my cactus garden in Austin (which was beginning to come together in my mind at this point) |
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| Here is another cold hardy columnar cactus, Oreocereus celsianus (Old Man of the Andes). Most growers have this rated to about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Its a very slow grower but thankfully many older and taller Oreocereus are available from reputable nurseries and even can be found occasionally in big box stores. |
