On Days Like These

Another slow start to the day, but by late morning the sun was out and we had a pretty hot afternoon, sitting out on the deck, reading, drinking tea, talking and playing with the cats.

This interesting succulent, Delosperma cooperi 'Ice Cream Fire' - odd name! - only comes out in the sun. 'Ideal for hot, dry gardens' we are told. Like coastal Argyll then? I have it potted and sitting on the table outside and on days like these it opens its flowers. The species is originally from South Africa and was formerly known as Mesembryanthemum cooperi , a name probably more familiar to most people. Is it hardy? Maybe - 'Useful for western xeriscapes', says the internet. Probably not hardy then! My extra is a close-up of one of the 15mm flowers. I have another - Delosperma cooperi 'Sundella Something or Other', out on the Drive Bed where it's pretending to be invisible - I think I'll dig it up and pot it and see if feels like producing a flower.

So many different plants to grow - gardening is never boring, unless you work for the council!