This is an interesting new (to me) Sedum I found called Chinese Hat. I believe it actually comes from Japan. It should be in flower very soon, so I'll keep an eye on it and take another shot when it does.
That is lovely! Cleome right? I have never grown these before and wonder if they are grown from seed or bulbs? What variety is this, and can you offer some growing tips please Mr Mechanic aka ''Dirt''
Red Spider Lily. Copypasta from the wiki: "The plant was first introduced into the United States in 1854, when Japanese ports were opened for US trade. Captain William Roberts, who enjoyed botany, brought back only three bulbs of the red spider lily. The bulbs were then planted by his niece who found that they do not bloom until after the first good rain in the fall season.[9] Plants have since become naturalized in North Carolina, Texas, Oklahoma, and many other southern states of the US.[9] Since the Japanese forms are sterile triploids, the introduced plants were also sterile and reproduce only by bulb division.[10] A Papilio xuthus butterfly on a flower Lycoris radiata is not frost-hardy in countries like England, and so can only be grown under glass or in a very sheltered position.[5] In warm-summer climates such as the U.S. east of the Rocky Mountains, where there is sufficient summer heat to harden off the bulbs, the plants are hardy to around −18 °C (0 °F).[citation needed] Bulbs can be stored in a dry environment between 7–13 °C (45–55 °F) and then planted in the spring in full sun in well-drained soil (e.g. sandy with some clay), 20 cm (8 in) deep, with 15–30 cm (6–12 in) between each bulb, and left undisturbed. Plants flower in late summer or early fall, with stems around 60–70 cm (24–28 in) tall. Leaves follow the flowers, remaining through the winter and disappearing in early summer.[11][12] The flowers fade over the course of a week from brilliant fluorescent red to a deep pink." Ours bloom in Spring and Fall. Temps play a part. They are all understory, in the leaf litter, on a hill so they do not get waterlogged. The bulbs are relatively shallow.
And since the temps are cooling and its moist here come some more red flowers. My wife has had these Bromeliads longer than she has had me. I broke a pot the other day. It had me sweating.
I know the Opuntias are edible, folk cook and eat the pads. They also have edible fruits (Prickly pears) of which we're waiting for some to ripen
Once we had a massive prickly pear out front. Horrible spot for mortal plant life. Now, since it wants to rain every day, I wonder if I should reinstitute a dinasaur succulent in that area. History says it would work but I am worried about offending the neighbors.
