Gardening

I've said it before, if it needs care and watering, the plant does not belong in my garden.  I am not a gardener, but I do like succulents, and the challenge of trying to keep them alive over winter so I can enjoy them again in the summer.  Mostly, that challenge consists of me taking the plants inside, and then ignoring them for four or five months.  :-)  I like taking pictures better than mucking about in the dirt, so here goes:

The top view of an agave I've had for years.  Amazing it has survived.  Also, the cat's favorite chew toy when it's in the house (the plant that is; the cat is always in the house).  Even more amazing is that the leaves are rimmed in pin-sharp spikes, which doesn't detour the cat at all.

This guy is my favorite.  Have had him about five or six years.  A euphorbia, it is the oldest plant in my garden.  He manages to survive, year after year, even though I have no clue how to really take care of him.  He's got a bit of sunburn right now, so I'm sure he looks forward to coming inside soon.

The pot said this was an ice plant when I picked it up this spring.  I don't know.  Is it?  Anyone recognize this?  It's only about half an inch tall all over, and I planted it in my cool Rock With The Hole.

A mushroom in the yard outside my office window.  I love mushrooms.  Not to eat, but to snap pictures.

I cannot take credit for these healthy peppers.  The hubby planted these, expecting a few peppers.  When last I counted the plant had close to 200 peppers on it!  And they're very hot!  Anyone want some peppers?

Without checking my files, I'm pretty sure this is a euphorbia also  Just got it this year, and really like it, so I hope it survives the winter.  Sharp spikes poke out here and there but not in any particular order.

Another new plant to my garden this year is some kind of rose agave (I'm guessing).  I have the official name written somewhere.  But it's very pretty and the texture of the leaves is interesting.  It's hard and has a brushed texture, sort of what you might expect plant armor to be like.  Very cool.

Another agave (or maybe an aloe).  This guy's about two or three years old, and survives the winters well, despite the cat's attraction to sharp, pointy green things.

I first attempted to weave this vine up the side of my deck and along the sunshade that is above the bench.  It looked awesome.  Until my hubby mowed it off at the base, and thought he didn't have to tell me.  I couldn't figure why it was dying.  I tried again the next year.  He mowed over it again.  It's not even in an easy place for the mower to get to, it's tucked at the corner of our deck, behind a tree.  Anyway, I gave up trying to train this vine, but it insists on climbing through the deck floor now.  I like it.  And it bugs the hubby, like the phantom vine come back to haunt him.  Serves him right.  :-)