Lithops, Succulents, Hellebores, Ornamental Kale, and Crabapple

There are a few new plants to share this week. Have you heard of lithops? I have heard of them for a while now but I didn’t want to buy them before because once I buy one, I might fall in love with them and want more. Now, I’m ready to take on lithops!

In my usual style, I bought the mixed pack of lithops. Lithops are succulents in the ice plant family. They can be really adorable to look at and there are some that look like butts or other vulgar things I can’t even say here. These lithops are about an inch wide and tall. The flower is supposed to come in right between the crack!!! 🤣😁 When I first saw them I was disgusted and intrigued at the same time. The curiosity got the better of me and so now I have some to show you.

LITHOPS

These little green ones are adorable but vulgar at the same time. I love the colors though. You water them when they are dry like succulents. No overwatering especially when they are in pots.

The pack came with all of these. Some are more perfect than others. The dried up one I’m not sure about but I don’t want to throw it out just yet. I am always optimistic about raising poor, unhealthy plants. I had them for about 4 weeks or so, I’m hoping they will grow roots and start flowering this year.

ECHEVERIA SUCCULENTS

These are so ADORABLE in colors and petite sizes. The red one is “Moon Stone”. The green is “Lime” and the peach one is “Onslow”. They are very small, about 2 inches wide.

AEONIUMS

This red aeonium is “MEDUSA” and it is a nice deep burgundy-red color. This one is less than 3 inches wide and it was kind of expensive but it is a rare one. Hopefully it will root and grow pups in a few years. I have the yellow and green “Sunburst” aeonium that you can see in the picture below for comparison how big the aeoniums can get.

My aeonium “Kiwi” below is getting ready to shoot out some flowers in the center. It has such nice colors. These produce pups aplenty! I hate to throw them out but sometimes there are just too many of them.

EPIPHYLLUM

Although this epiphyllum has not flowered yet, it is showing some great buds that will bloom in a couple of weeks. The flowers will be amazing. I mentioned that I have other epiphyllums that I’ve had for 4+ years and they are getting ready to flower for the first time this year. I am so excited because I have no idea what colors they will be! I bought them as part of a “mystery” mix.

HELLEBORES

Hellebores are lovely flowers but they tend to be droopy all the time. I mean they are always looking down. It’s very hard to take their pictures, you have to prop their faces up. These ones are easier but I have to get the camera almost to the ground to get these shots.

This purple hellebores is propped up by chicken wires. I had to put chicken wires around these years ago to prevent Hunter and Lord Waggles from trampling on the tiny hellebores. Actually, Waggles is a gentleman dog, he doesn’t trample on things. He walks around everything.

Hellebores multiplied everywhere. Amongst them are a bunch of the “Nora Barlow” columbine seedlings I mentioned on the last post.

ORNAMENTAL KALE

I have to show you my ornamental kale again. They are SO PRETTY! One photograph is not enough.

These kales were planted early spring of 2023. They have grown bigger and longer. They kind of spread on the ground. I love how they mingled with the nasturtiums and honeywort.

Each flower is about 8-9 inches wide. As you can see how big it is compared to my hand.

CRABAPPLE “PRAIRIE FIRE”

This crabapple tree finally had a great flowering. I planted it 2022 when it was a bareroot stick. I had no idea whether it was going to grow. Last year, it had one flower but I missed it. This year there are several and I’m really happy. The flower colors are very pretty.

A few weeks ago, the jerky neighbor I mentioned before were letting some visitors play football on their lawn and the ball kept landing on my yard. It broke the top of this tree. Last year, they broke a hydrangea in the dirt lot behind the tree too and I was never able to revive that tree. The next time they throw balls by my plants, I am going to war with them!

HONESTY PLANT / MONEY PLANT

What a weird name for this plant! I don’t like either names but it has pretty flowers. I grew this from seeds in the spring of 2023. It’s been in the ground all this time and just started blooming.

This picture of the bearded irises below are so perfect. They grew in perfect unity, nicely framing around each other.

My lovely “Red Baron” peach in full bloom now.

ROSE “CHICAGO PEACE”

IOCHROMA “ROYAL QUEEN”

On Thursday we had a stormy afternoon and I went out to check on the plants. The darkened sky and the iochroma flowers make a great picture.

I will end this post with this spectacular picture of the storm clouds and my super, duper colorful garden. The whole neighborhood is gloomy and dreary but inside my garden bubble is a beautiful, colorful paradise! I hope you are enjoying your weekend and paradise today. Check back for more mesmerizing flowers in a few days!