So...here above is an Aloe in 'flower' with this dear little Bird sitting right on top of one of the amazing flower stalks.....the orange of these flowers is just stunning.....! There are many kinds of Aloe's and this is just one of them....and the thing is, the flowers are different on every one of them.
This is not an Aloe flower...it is a flower on "George", who I have posted about exstensivly in the past, like last year all through the Winter and Spring....but as you can see above, a dear Bee was enjoying a bit of a snack here....And this was just this spring....And below, a wonderful side view of a flower on "George", again, this spring....
The furry fuzz on the side is very important as it becomes the outside of the fruit...yes, the flower turns into a wonderful amazing fruit. But it goes through quite a metamorphesis before it is ready....I know some of you will remember seeing the fruits last year....well, soon again, there will be some more....just like this one, below.
I will show you this metamorphasis in another post, because it is pretty amazing how that flower can get to be this fruit....And what's even more amazing is how the flower gets to be a flower, in the first place...but, that is for another day....I promise.
Here are some Agave flowers....from a small agave....What I love is the variations of colors....These flowers are very popular with all the birds, but particularly the Hummingbirds and the Finches.....Here below is another view.....
This picture reminds us that the city is right out there...You can forget sometimes because you can get 'lost', (in a good way), in the garden itself....
But from this point of view that city is all 'out there'.
Here above is where you get 'lost' in the garden....or here below, too....
This is a small Opuntia....each of those little brown fuzzy dots contains hundreds of little sticker thingy's....trying to pick up one of the pads without wearing gloves is a couple of hours with a tweezers ....! I think this is a very beautiful plant....living sculpture right here in my garden.....
And above, a closer look at those little tufts of brown.....so evenly spaced....Natures Designs.....there is nothing like them.
These are the flower pods on a Dracena Drago....A beautiful plant that starts out with one 'head' and then keeps creating new heads every year or so....And here below, the flowers that were inside those little round pods....
Lush and gorgeous.....they look good enough to eat, don't they? I wonder if people might eat these in 'the wild'....I'll have to look that up....Okay Google, here I come....And, there will be
More To Come.....
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had this to say:
Do tell if they are edible or not...I'm always in search of new flowers I can add to my teas...I love jasmine, lavender, rose and other "floral" teas.
As always such gorgeous pictures on your website. You are so wonderful at finding the beauty in everything around you!!
I'm so glad Michele sent me today!- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 2:25:00 AM PDT
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Your garden is a real treasure trove! I heartliy agree with you when you say that the cacti are like sculptures and their flowers are certainly the best kind of art :)
I love the photo of George's flower and the little bee. I can see how easy it is to get lost in your garden!- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 2:49:00 AM PDT
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Hi naomi. There are so many species of aloes...yours look nice. Again you've got some lovely and interesting flowers in your garden.
The flower with the velvety from the sideview -- the fruit is a surprise! By the way, how long do you tend to your garden daily? Looks well-kept! Wish I'm there to enjoy the sight and fragrance!- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 2:55:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
what could that bird be?
your garden must be as big as the White House lawn XD
the bee over George. that photo has its character. a pro shot. you captured it?- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 5:24:00 AM PDT
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Naomi, I never cease to be amazed at the variety of cacti in your garden. The flowers are amazing. I love the orange "brushes" and the leaves of the agave, which look as if they are stitched with thread.
- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 7:09:00 AM PDT
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Gorgeous orchid (in post below) Naomi ! I always thought they needed to be coddled with some some shade and humidity, so that is something that it was able to thrive like that outside in such a sunny habitat !
My grandmother loved catcus ! she would have adored your garden --
Hope that you have a healthy, happy Friday !- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 9:05:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
I'm new here, but have enjoyed your photos. I'll be back when I'm not using my work computer.
Day- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 9:40:00 AM PDT
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Fantastic pictures of a fabulous garden.
Michele sent me.- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 9:43:00 AM PDT
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Your garden is a perfect place to learn about the birds and the bees. :-) :-)
Most people associate cacti with thorns, but your blog shows the softer side of cacti, the flowering side of these very interesting and unusual plants.
That one that you said we should wear an oven mitt or something before touching it, looks like it's harmless.
I'm sure many people have been pricked by that type of cactus.- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 10:47:00 AM PDT
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Your garden is definitely NOT hitonious!!!!
- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 10:47:00 AM PDT
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Stunning photos, Naomi! Love all those closes up! It's also great to see the city's background. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous and luxurious garden! Have a nice weekend!
- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 11:07:00 AM PDT
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Heartbreakingly beautiful
- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 11:49:00 AM PDT
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The bird on the flower is beautiful. The colors are amazing. Your garden is paradise.
- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 2:28:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
Lovely cacti you have Naomi and of course wonderful photos. I am also planting some cacti inside the new place since they dont really need alot of watering.
By the way, I tag you with a meme I just created- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 3:22:00 PM PDT
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Wow! I have never seen the aloe's flower! These are all so different than what we can grow way up here in Ontario, Canada! It is nice to visit some other types of gardens! I never thought of cacti as beautiful but they are in their own special way!
- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 5:51:00 PM PDT
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That furry fourth picture is sooooo cool!
My tomatoes are turning red and are tasty. Yay!- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 6:23:00 PM PDT
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I love your photos....and have viewed them often.....
Beautiful garden wonders...so different than my Canadian garden...very exotic
take care.- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 6:27:00 PM PDT
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fabulous, as always
- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 6:33:00 PM PDT
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had this to say:
I love your garden. You are so lucky to have one like this.
- Friday, July 13, 2007 at 10:06:00 PM PDT
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I love the pictures of the Dracena Drago, Naomi. I don't recall seeing any of those here before. My memory is quite leaky though so it'd not surprise me to hear different.
It's neat to see how LA is just down the hill from your garden. It's easy to forget how urban your abode truly is.
Michele sent me over. Hi!- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 12:02:00 AM PDT
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Naomi I swear you have special powers that makes birds and insects do your bidding. There used to be a substance called bitter aloes which was painted on nails to stop children biting them. I wonder if it comes from that plant?
We are going out to lunch today and your photos have decided that I am going to wear white trousers and a top the same delicate orange colour as your plant. Thank you!
We look out over a town and mostly it is quiet depending on the wind direction. Once I slept out on the balcony and could hear the tide although it must be almost a mile away.- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 1:38:00 AM PDT
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had this to say:
Another lovely trip in your garden - so beautiful! The pictures where lovely as always in all it's details and so well captured.
I loved the pic with the bee on the cactus!
Wishing you a lovely end to your week:-)- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 1:48:00 AM PDT
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You wanna know spooky? I was just watching your 'Heart Revisited' video and then the Dreyfuss piece when you came up on Michele....
So, anyway, Michele sent me to say - what a coincidence!! :-)
And now I'm here, there are lovely pictures of George who is blooming, it seems....as always. Fertile little devil, isn't he?
:-)
cq- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 9:42:00 AM PDT
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hi naomi! you’ve been given an award (and been tagged at the same time…) http://www.madmommajen.com/?p=299
hope all is good there. miss ya!
:),
jen- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 10:02:00 AM PDT
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They are so pretty! I know the birds and bees think your garden is a wonderful place to be. That's great that they do there in that big city!
I have been stuck with those prickly things and they sure do hurt!!- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 11:12:00 AM PDT
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Such a gorgeous garden...you are so fortunate to live among such beauty.
- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 3:36:00 PM PDT
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Oh dear, what less can I give than a real french hug due to another beautiful, flowering adventure
- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 5:27:00 PM PDT
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So beautiful!!!
M.- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 7:49:00 PM PDT
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I love how you go beyond "merely" stunning photography, Naomi, as you educate us on the ins and outs of your wonderful growing creations.
I always learn something when I drop by for a visit. Thanks for that!
Michele sent me this time, but I would have visited regardless.- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 8:18:00 PM PDT
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Gave you a schmooze award, dear Naomi ! Come and get it !
- Saturday, July 14, 2007 at 10:45:00 PM PDT
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It's me again - this time from Michele's. Our poor family are off for a few days to visit Cornish gardens and - as usual- it's raining cats and dogs. It's been quite a week-end on line; 2 e-mails from Michele and a nasty picture on 'meet and greet' which Michele quickly deleted. Then Crazy Queen said she had seen you on TV and I'm mad I missed it. Would love to hear about it.
How's this for a slogan: if you haven't time to greet - don't meet.
Must go and shower.- Sunday, July 15, 2007 at 1:08:00 AM PDT
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Oh I just looooooooooove those fuzzy little flowers! And the aloe's flowers are so sweet!
- Sunday, July 15, 2007 at 5:17:00 PM PDT
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The thing that continually surprises me is the sheer variety in cactus blooms... the shapes and colors, so otherwordly. Tho I wonder why we tend to think they're otherworldy?
~S- Monday, July 16, 2007 at 3:27:00 PM PDT
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You have so many wonderful looking succulents... You must be in the right place to grow them as where I am in Sydney, it is a little to humid for them, not to mention cold! We had -3 this morning!!!
Here from MIchele's this afternoon...- Monday, July 16, 2007 at 9:33:00 PM PDT
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you must have the last bee left in Los Angeles -- heh
- Friday, July 20, 2007 at 3:10:00 PM PDT
x4
