Aloe Time

I finally have managed to get all my aloes out onto the deck.  There are thirteen pots, maybe fourteen; I've lost count.  Many of the pots have multiple plants.  When I start a new plant I just cut off the top, peel away a few leaves and stick it in some potting soil.  The root I repot.  It always put at least three pups sometimes more.  I seem to be totally unable to toss anything resembling a plant that might grow.  I only discovered a few years ago that roots will grow when I left a cut off stem in the pot and it began putting out pups

 I blame my success on benign neglect.  They get sun and minimal amounts of water over the winter.  This also seems to encourage flowering which is strange and wonderful.  Only began happening a few years ago.

Yes, we are having hot weather, but really it's in the 80ºF. with lots of humidity.  I stay outside on the deck under my umbrella, with iced tea, and a fan.  Actually got a heat advisory warning from the local police saying to say hydrated etc and listing cooling places. 

Mostly I want to say, "Use the wits you were born with. Stay out of the direct sun, wear sun block, hat and sunglasses.

Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the noon day sun.    Noel Coward

As always, take care and thanks for stopping by..............*s* 

Another Frog

WOW!  An entire week plus, without posting.  I've been busily recycling clay....trying to get ahead so I can get some more done on the tiles for the stove surround.  I'm using terra cotta, but I want it to all be of the same consistency.  Much easier to do a project when I reduce as many variables as possible.

I was looking at more of the little tree frogs.  The more I looked the more I want to make them.  This little guy is purely experimental.  I need to work on the feet.  I love the little ball tips of the toes.  Also I have made my colors too light.  It doesn't show in the photo but my guy is mottled in shades of gray and gray-green.

When I start a project I like to look at the real thing and photos, and perhaps, do a few sketches.  Then I put everything away and work from my rather faulty memory.  I find I get a lot more personality and gesture if I don't continually reference the actual creature.  Next I'll put the photos away again and go for another round.

Just what I need.  More frogs!

  

I like this little guy splayed out in the spring sun.  He looks so content.

Meanwhile, what I think is an orchid cactus has put out a bloom.  Wish I had seen it earlier.  It was at the very back of the plant.  I'll try to photograph it each day as the flower gets bigger.  More on that later.

We had about an inch of rain last night.  The plants are happy, but more mowing is in order.

It's going to be up in the high nineties, low hundreds tomorrow in southern New England.

Stay cool....thanks for stopping by...........*s*