Succulents: I mentioned I would write this a few posts ago.

I've been wanting to start a succulent garden for a while. First, I think they would do well here in Colorado. Second, they'd even be in a small enough decorative container that I could bring them indoors during the winter and they could actually, you know, last through the season.

When J and I went to the Denver Botanic Gardens, we picked up a super cute and kind of spiky little guy that I fell in love with as soon as I saw it for a few dollars on the shelf. My plan was to just have him but then a trip to Lowes turned that in to a gorgeous little ceramic garden. Here is the garden when I started it just a few weeks ago (you can click to enlarge all photos and I suggest it)...

They are colorful and glossy, and blushing and one is even a little "dusty" looking.

So allow me to introduce you! First we have Oscularia deltoides. Native to the southwestern cape, South Africa, deltoides is my Denver Botanic Gardens acquisition. Supposedly it grows like a weed and will produce almond-scented flowers in the spring. He really does have the coolest, spikiest, leaves:

Oscularia deltoides

Next I want to start by saying that there are a lot of different crassula out there (just check out that list on Wikipedia). Specifically, though, we are growing Crassula marginalis rubra "Variegata". That's a mouthful. This plant is TAKING OVER! It is growing like a weed. It may be my first transplant and I may actually try to do it in a hanging pot because this thing is out of control. It's known as Calico Kitten. The leaves blush rose-lilac in drought or cold. You can see a slight pink blush just on the edges of some of the leaves:

Crassula marginalis rubra "Variegata" Calico Kitten

The next plant has two pictures and it is Anacampseros rufescens.  Another plant from South Africa, this one is a gorgeous rosette shape with little hairs along the stem (which you can see in the second picture if you enlarge it). The first picture is of the bud and the second picture is of the rosette itself. The second picture was taken two weeks or so after the first, all that green on the rosette is new growth! And wait until you see how tall the bud has grown as well! I haven't done much more research but I think it is either closely related or almost synonymous with the Sedum you will see shortly:

Anacampsesros refescens

Anacampseros rufescens

Next up is Echeveria runyonii cv., "Topsy Turvy". This guy has gorgeous blooms but our little dude is not there yet. His leaves look covered in fine powder almost. Echeveria hail from Mexico, but Topsy Turvy is apparently a mutant form that originated in California. It really does have some splendid blooms if you have a chance to follow the link or Google it:

Echeveria "Topsy Turvy" / Echeveria runyonii cv.

My next and last little guy is Sedum adolphii or Golden Sedum. We wanted some glowing, warm color to contrast the Echeveria, Oscularia, and Crassula and compliment the deep purple of the Anacampseros. (Side note: I love the word Anacampseros, it sounds like it should be a dinosaur.) Our Golden Sedum fit the bill:

Sedum adolphii / Golden Sedum

Now for the pictures from today. This is just a few weeks later. Here is the profile shot, check out the Anacampseros!

And here is the shot you need to compare with the very first picture. See how the Crassula has taken over in its little sections? 

It's my happy little garden that I'm hoping to have last through the winter. :) Fingers crossed!

-TJ