What's Blooming?

 The Aloe are in full bloom!  This is a closeup of Aloe ferox.

Aloe ferox.  Also known as the bitter aloe.  This Aloe has distinctive red spines and wonderful, branching flower spikes.  The sap of this plant is sometimes used as a laxative and to treat arthritis.  This particular plant is blooming for the first time and is about 5 years old.  It's main source of water has been natural precipitation with an occasional watering during the hot San Diego summers.

 Mexican Sage is a favorite for both the bees and the hummingbirds.

 Aloe speciosa in full bloom.  Aloe put out a lot of nectar when they bloom, attracting bees for days!

 Cattleya loddigesii

Slc Katherine Clarkson X Blc Suncoast Sunspots

Alligator Jaws

Aloe ferox, Alligator Jaws. With those huge red thorns, you can see why they call this Aloe, Alligator Jaws. They get huge, rising up on wrinkled trunks to tower over the surrounding savannah. I've got one growing among the poppies, neither of which receive any water. Hopefully, they'll make it through the hot summers here. I can't help but think, however, that those bright red thorns are far more beautiful than any alligator's teeth...