I unexpectedly had the day off yesterday, so I decided to dedicate myself to tidying up my outdoor plants. That's mostly my cactus and succulent collection, but I also rearranged some carnivores (including moving my VFT and a small
D. capensis outside, making a bit of room under my lights). It was great! I love spending a day out with my plants.
The best part of my day was putting together a display shelf for my cacti and succulents. Too many of them had been sitting the ground, too low to be appreciated and all cluttered. But now things are looking a lot nicer!
![I've always felt like that house back there looks like it's peering over the fence at me. My cactus and succulent collection displayed on a new outdoor shelf.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3788/13438984403_e066bbb929_c.jpg) |
The cinderblocks and 2x4 shelf was pretty inexpensive for how much of a difference it made in my backyard. |
Cacti and agaves really look nice with some backlighting. Here are a few highlights from my collection.
![A. parryi var. huachucensis on the left and A. tequilana 'Sunrise' have such radically different leaf shapes, they make a nice contrast to each other. Agave tequilana 'Sunrise', Agave parryi var. huachucensis, Cleistocactus tupizensis](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3780/13439236314_f913ef9532_c.jpg) |
Agave tequilana 'Sunrise' (along with – from left – Cleistocactus tupizensis, Agave parryi var. huachucensis, Opuntia subulata monstrose), and a mixed African succulent planting.. |
![I like the way Mammillaria blooms always seem to look like a little crown. Unidentified Mammillaria with magenta blossoms](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/13439238734_5cfd81e6a9_c.jpg) |
Unidentified Mammillaria – the first blooms since I've had it. |
![Tell me you don't want to party with this cactus. Stenocactus crispatus in bloom.](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5019/13438992353_55e91a31b3_c.jpg) |
Stenocactus crispatus, looking even more fabulous than usual. |
![Repottng that Agave 'Shira Ito no Ohi' was a nightmare, it stabbed me like crazy. An assortment of succulents in my collection.](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7459/13438866695_c6531f60b1_c.jpg) |
Clockwise from back left: Euphorbia trigona, Kalanchoe eriophylla, Agave americana, Agave 'Joe Hoak', Crassula 'Moonglow', mixed Haworthia/Gasteria planter, Agave schidigera 'Shira Ito no Ohi' |
I also tidied up the old display stand that my roommates made for me back in November. No more plants just abandoned on the ground!
![I like the general shape of this plant stand, but I wish it was a bit higher off the ground. I bet I can find a way to make that happen though. My old plant stand still full of plants.](https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2900/13438859805_650e7f4c0b_c.jpg) |
Much like my lights, I remember when this plant stand seemed to have a lot of extra space. |
In the background are my outdoor carnivores. Their digs aren't quite as fancy, but hopefully I'll be able to address that lack soon enough.
![I'm honestly not sure where I got all these ice chests. My outdoor carnivore collection.](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7099/13438982663_147165a119_c.jpg) |
My outdoor carnivore collection is a bit slim! |
These round trays are pretty inefficient in terms of water loss, but they'll have to do until I can purpose-build some more ideal trays. The green pots contain Sarracenia rhizomes I received as part of a trade a month or so ago. They haven't put out any new growth, but I'm willing to chalk that up to shipping stress. I've heard that Sarracenia can be a bit touchy after having been divided and shipped and then potted. Just gotta keep 'em wet. The other plants look pretty decent though.
![These plants are a lot more dark burgundy than lots of S. purpurea I've seen. I wish I knew more about its background. Sarracenia purpurea outdoors.](https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3766/13439230064_a268a68f22_c.jpg) |
S. purpurea, with new growth coloring up much more quickly in full sunlight. I took the occasion to give it a slightly bigger pot as well. |
![Before I got my lights I kept my D. capensis outside. I wonder if this one will grow nicely even when it's dry out. Drosera capensis outside.](https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5505/13438994683_9f3552afa4_c.jpg) |
The pioneering D. capensis. |
![I hope the rain we're going to be having soon rinses some of these old bugs off. I'm kind of tired of them. Dionaea muscipula (Venus flytrap) outside.](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7135/13438868755_3c582720ae_c.jpg) |
Hopefully my VFT will also color up nicely. I feel like it could also afford a repotting. |
Pretty fun use of a day off, I think.
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