The last windstorm that came through was kind enough to let us keep our power but it tore the side seam off my pride flag. The new flag has arrived and is back flying on the Summer House!

One of my many botanical loves is spines. I'm also madly in love with succulents. And look what followed me home today!
This poky Madagascar native is a Phachypodium lamerei.

In the wild they grow into small trees, but they can be kept indoors where they grow into much smaller trees! 🌴

We were so lucky not to have major damage from Tuesday's bomb cyclone. That's rare since I live on south Whidbey Island. We're great at attracting wind and we love our trees!

We only lost internet, and that's back up now. I hope all of you in Washington who are without power get it back up soon ❤️

Started on the cover for my more delicate succulents—mostly baby agaves, puya, and new ice plants. These are the ones that want to stay a little warmer (they’re zone 8 plants), and like many of the succulents, they want a dry winter!

My Joshua tree arrived today, and given the time of year, it had to go straight under plastic. Yucca brevifolia is hardy here, but this Mohave dessert species is a hard no on our winter rains. Luckily, my soil is sandy, I added more sand and rocks, and it will love our long summer droughts!

Unlike our Newfound (a water rescue breed), our Golden Retriever, Teddy doesn’t like water—not one bit! When he realized I wasn’t going to build an ark while we were out feeding the chickens, he hunkered down under his shelter!

Has anyone had their P. nigra bamboo go to seed? My Henon hasn’t flowered…yet, but my black flowered this summer. I lost about a quarter to half of the plant. Any chance that was it or does a flowering bamboo continue flowering in subsequent years? I don’t want to loose this monster of a plant! 🌱