Succulents and More™

I’ve been in San Diego all week, first visiting a few gardens, then attending the 2025 Biennial Convention of the Cactus and Succulent Society of America (CSSA) – four jam-packed days of garden tours and talks from world-renowned experts. It’s been a tiring week, but in a good way. I’ll have more posts in the weeks to come, but here’s a quick teaser of what I’ve seen so far. Ken Blackford’s garden Ken Blackford’s garden Ken Blackford’s garden Dan and Susan Mahr’s garden Dan and Susan Mahr’s garden Rick Bjorklund and Kevin Hosmer’s garden Rick Bjorklund and Kevin Hosmer’s garden Rick Bjorklund and Kevin Hosmer’s garden Julian Duval’s garden Julian Duval’s garden Jim Bishop’s garden Jim Bishop’s garden Jim Bishop’s garden Jodi Visosky’s garden Jodi Visosky’s garden Jodi Visosky’s garden Brian Shepherd’s garden I’ve met some really interesting people, and I’ve also done a little bit of plant shopping. OK, more than a little, but in my defense, some of the plants I’m bringing home are for...

I spent some time with my friend Kyle  yesterday. He had told me that his garden was in full bloom. Needless to say I brought my camera, hoping to capture a bit of the magic. Kyle’s garden is one of my favorite places to visit ( check my previous posts here ) and there’s always something in flower, but right now the garden is firing on all cylinders. Let’s start in front of the house: Pops of yellows, reds... ...and purples Agave ‘Kissho Kan’, Artemisia californica ‘Canyon Gray’, and Chrysocephalum apiculatum Aloe rubroviolacea surrounded by masses of yellow and red iceplants ( Lampranthus ) Aloe rubroviolacea Purple iceplant draping over a rock – in so many gardens it wouldn't even have a rock to drop over Salvia ‘Marine Blue’ (right) is starting to flower Cotula lineariloba... ...can become a nuisance, but Kyle is keeping it in check Volunteer poppy next to Hechtia texensis Heading towards the backyard: The bed of Kyle’s 1946 Ford pickup makes a convenient makeshift nursery Cl...