I was especially interested in succulents since I'm including more of them in my yard to take the place of the roses that are soon to depart. Incidentally, their rose garden was the best I've ever seen it. I also wanted to see if I could find specimens of the plants purchased their recent plant sale.

I really liked this succulent bowl. The pink edged small leaved green succulent on the left was purchased at the recent plant sale as 'hardy kalanchoe' where it was displayed as a hanging basket. I recently learned that Patty has it and purchased it as Kalanchoe 'Jingle bells' ...

I've never seen some of the succulents in this rock garden display ...

Especially interesting to me is how cactus and agaves are arranged in their gardens. Here they are seen with Mexican salvia as a backdrop. The green ground cover is Wedlia which I found too aggressive in my yard, but it apparently works well in dry conditions ...

I was bedazzled by the patterns on the spectacular Whale tongue agaves. Blooming in front of it is another of the plants I got at the sale; Baja red fairy duster ...

Another nicely patterned Agave was in the enclosed desert display. Who can tell us what it is?

Also can anyone ID this pretty plant growing in front of one of the little houses showcasing different landscaping designs? Firebush?

There were butterflies in abundance. This is a Queen I think ...

I swear to you these are the true colors of the begonia and bromiliad seen in the 'jungle/orchid' house ...

There were 11 full size replicas of dinosaurs and other ancient wildlife thoughout the gardens. They will be on display through December. Great for kids (like me) to see and wonder about ...

Here's a whole family galloping right at me ...

Also was impressed by several trees. I thought this was a Teneza tree, but the sign said differently ...

The bark is a little richer brown than my Teneza and picks up the color of the dinosaur lurking behind the stone wall making a beautiful scene ...

Another beautiful tree with beautiful peeling rich brown bark is growing near the entrance ...

It reminds me of a Texas madrone, but the bark is darker colored than most I've seen although the leaves and immature berries are very close. What do you think?

Visiting other gardens always inspires me to work around in as well as enjoy my own yard even more. Today was such a day and a day that was certainly well spent. May I encourage you to visit any botanical gardens in your city? And if you go photos would be nice :-)

I checked and Hamelia is available in orange though I don't think I've ever seen one.

The Baja red fairy duster looks very similar to something planted at the UT Health Science Center. I wanted to try to collect some seeds this fall because it seems like a very neat plant and pretty hardy. I don't know anything about seed planting unless it comes in a packet with directions printed on the back, but I thought I'd give it a shot with this one.

Lisa, if you and Miriam decide to go let me know. I might meet you there.

Ruth, I'll be checking out the succulents as they come into the garden centers in the spring and will let you know. Burro's tail sure sounds right for that long gray one.

Thanks for posting everybody! It seems like many of the regulars from years ago don't post anymore. We used to have more fun and games here.

I just posted some photos on the gallery if anyone wants to look.

Close up of leaves on the mystery plant:

Their are several leonotis plants . I gave a plant of Leonotis mentholatum to Shirley . It is taller with curled leaves. Hint ,... It grows from cuttings and you know where Shirley lives.. another of L. leonurus's common names is Wild Dagga. It is used as a narcotic in Africa.

Looks like a Madrone tree to me. The bark changes color according to how it peels and the time of the year. Maybe the growing conditions also cause a difference in colors.

The succulent dish has the round leafed edged in red plant called Kalanchoi luciae.

Do you have any information about the green small leafed
'Jingle bells' kalanchoe in the bowl on the left?

Mara, thank you for the ID and the tip on another good one to watch for. I'm very grateful for the new agaves I got at the plant swap. Gonna' baby those babies through the winter by giving them as much sun as possible and bringing them in on cold days in hopes of fast growth.

Tex thanks for telling us your experience. I grew a some sort of lion's tail years ago too and had the same thing happen. Never tried it again. Hopefully, others have had more success.