Monday, March 18, 2024

Agaves, aloes, cactus and euphorbia at Lotusland

A friend recently visited Lotusland and shared a few photos on Facebook, that got me to thinking about the fact I hadn't finished coverage of my November '23 visit. Today's post is a plant-centric one looking at agaves, aloes, cactus and euphorbia around the garden. First up some magnificent Agave victoriae-reginae.

Aren't they just perfection?

I think these are Aloe dorotheae, then again it's kind of laughable that I would even attempt to ID an aloe, my knowledge of the genus is paper thin.

I do know an entire garden area devoted to them ends up looking rather other-worldly.







Agave bracteosa

There are a few Agave gypsophila at the bottom of the photo, and that tall cactus on the right is actually a euphorbia.

Euphorbia ammak 'Variegata' 

Euphorbia polygona (I believe)

On the other side of the driveway are the cactus. So many cactus.

Closer to the house (now offices).

I love the golden barrels.

I started to type "even better when they're under a Dracaena draco" (dragon tree) but then realized no, I like the ones against the house better. These two shapes aren't complementary to my eyes.

There is an entire section of the garden devoted to cactus, that's where these next five photos were taken.

Opuntia galapageia var. profusa

Cutest short opuntia tree!

Cutest tall opuntia tree (Opunita galapageia var. galapageia)

I didn't get the name of this one, but it's the cutest droopy opuntia tree.

Agave franzosinii

These could also be A. franzosinii, but I'm not sure.

Blooming Agave franzosinii.

The entrance to the blue garden.



I don't remember this small cactus garden from other visits. Perhaps it's new? 

Or maybe I've been in such a hurry to get to the bromeliads that I missed it (the bromeliads and ferns are my last remaining Lotusland '23 post).

The Agave attenuata lining the drive are usually one of the first things I see at Lotusland, but for this visit I entered the garden from a different pathway so I saw them as I was leaving.


And this big boy was outside the wall.

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All material © 2009-2024 by Loree L Bohl. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

19 comments:

  1. Fun. Thanks for sharing. I wish I was there right now. ;-)

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    1. Wouldn't it be fun to someday visit Lotusland as a Fling event?

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  2. I love how over the top it is. The golden barrels are perfect, I agree against the warm clay-colored house.

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    1. Over the top in the very best possible way!

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  3. I REALLY need to get back there...

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  4. I want to go there sooooo badly! Some day.
    Jim N. Tabor

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  5. A grand selection of plants!

    The landscape looks pretty alien to where I live.

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    1. I bet it does... I was lucky a few of the plants were in bloom, I can't imagine how fabulous it is when they all are.

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  6. Always good to see how Lotusland is doing. It looks like its doing pretty good!

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    1. I can't vouch for it at the moment, but all was good last November.

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  7. This is a spectacular garden. It's very cool to see plants growing to their full potential, such as Euphorbia ammak "forest": it gives a prehistoric sense.
    And then there's the most beautiful Agave, victoriae-reginae... so many perfect mature specimens all in one spot. Wow.
    Chavli

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    1. So many! And it's so fun to see the path lined with cactus on one side and euphorbia on the other. So similar, and yet from different parts of the world (convergent evolution).

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  8. Yes, the Aloe is dorotheae. It's really the only one I am sure of because it survive here and is red even in the part shade at this time of year.

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    1. I confess I only knew it's name because I used to have a couple! (also red)

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  9. Yes to a fling event there. So many beautiful, otherworldly looks.

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  10. What a wonderful post. This brings back so many great memories!

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  11. Jeanne DeBenedetti KeyesMarch 25, 2024

    Just magical, Loree. Like an underwater seascape. I love all the textures!

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