Photo Dump #1: Spring Blooms 2017 (New April Update!)

Starting this year, we're going start an eye-candy series. We're big on photography, as you may have noticed. And we have some weird shit. So an occasional photo-dump is a no-brainer. Right! For this spring....

Euphorbia susannae

Spring Surprise

In the wilds of Madagascar, photo by Christophe QUÉNEL, used with permission

It is now being vigorously alleged that spring has arrived. Whatever, it’s still very cold. So the heat mat needed to be switched on to speed up the germination of new coleus seeds—the go-to plant in these parts if you want to discombobulate the local woodchucks who appear not to know what to make of these gorgeously resilient things. 

The seeds were started in a small cell pack, just small enough to fit in the Precious Plant Unit where only the most special plants are housed, receiving 14 hours of gentle light from two 17-watt T5HO bulbs. The mat is underneath the small pots and was off for most of the winter. A couple of A. obesum seedlings had to be kicked out, having beautifully recovered from root pruning earlier on.

In this PPU, however, is the most precious in the not-so-impressive collection: a Pachypodium brevicaule seedling.