One of the great things about being a horticulturist specializing in succulents is that I’m part of a worldwide community of like-minded enthusiasts. Case in point is an email I received this week from Jeremy Proctor, who lives in the Yucatan peninsula of Mexico. He had visited South Africa and sent me a link to a Picasa page with his photos of the marvelous succulents he saw. Below are some of the highlights, with his comments and then mine in italics.
“A kokerboom tree (Aloe dichotoma) — the first of many I saw up-close on this trip.”
And it’s in bloom! People may not realize that there are succulent trees. This one grows well in Southern CA, too, if given excellent drainage.
“Aloes blooming in front of the Cape Agulhas lighthouse, near Africa’s southernmost tip. Even this most challenging environment is teeming with life, including many succulent plants.”
I like the way the color of the aloes repeats that of the lighthouse.
“It is hard to resist climbing down to see what’s growing in the nooks.”
Uh…you go ahead, Jeremy.
“Some great compositions in gardens of Pretoria.”
This looks like it came right out of a Southern CA garden. The large red succulent is Kalanchoe luciae. It’s surrounded by graptoverias (on the left) and echeverias.
“These plantable retaining walls were everywhere in Pretoria.”
This one has Crassula ‘Campfire’ and echeverias. It’s a clever and easy idea for a retaining wall/planter, and concrete blocks are inexpensive and readily available.
“I don’t know if everyone buried in this cemetery was a succulent lover, but it certainly seems that the succulents love everyone buried in this cemetery.”
Hm. Being buried beneath a blanket of ice plant…what a cool idea! (Forgive the pun.) This has got to be one of the most unusual uses for succulents I’ve yet seen.
See more of Jeremy’s photos of South African succulents. Thanks very much, Jeremy, for sharing!
All seems so alien until you get to the last photo, which could be in nearly anyone’s garden. After viewing the plants in their more usual settings, I want to dub this one “Bringing Succulents Home.”
The photos are breathtaking. Love the retaining wall!
Thanks – such a treat to read this post!
Beautiful images! Thanks Jeremy and Debra.
Thank you for sharing. So much more that we need to be available in our California garden.
Oh the fun I could have planting up a retaining wall system!
Love imag 1094: it looks a “green” replica of Epcot’s Spaceship Earth!
Lovely photos and interesting post, a window into another type of landscape.
Who’d have thought, a succulent cemetery! But very practical in that environment.
I have 2 Aloe dichotomas that I grew from seed imported from South Africa, they are now 4 years old. I can’t wait for my aloe arborescens to bloom, they are also now 4 years. I also recently planted some South African bulbs for the first time: belladonna, babaina, ixia etc.
Thanks for posting these photos, Debra. The succulents are a delight… yet another reason to win the lottery so a trip to South Africa can be added to the bucket list!
Thanks, all! Nicole, you don’t say where you’re located, but just about anything indigenous to South Africa grows well in southern and coastal CA because of the mild climate and no summer rainfall.
Jeremy adds: If anyone happens to want my contact information for more details on the pictures or on South Africa generally, please feel free to supply this e-mail address: proctorlogical@gmail.com.
Thank you for sharing a nice picture, I liked the picture of Pretoria
How wonderful to be able to see these in person. What a lucky guy but it is so cool of him to share. I love the succulent grave yard. What a cool idea! Imagine them in flower.
yes, that’s a succulent pelargonium.
These are some truly spectacular plants. Thank you for these amazing photos.