······   Creation - Succulent Gardening

I started collecting succulents several years ago. What a learning process that has been. I was thinking that because they would be the perfect plant for our hot dry summers, but the blazing hot days burn them, and they need shade cloth in order to survive the summer. And they really don't like our wet winters either, so I keep them on the east side of the house in summer, and in the greenhouse all winter.

I mostly collect in the family of Crassulaceae. I really love the Aeoniums, (Black Zwartkop & Atropurpureum), for their black and maroon rosettes. Echeveria (Hens & Chicks) and Sempervivums, which are often so similar I can't tell them apart, but are mostly rosettes in greens and reds. Graptopetalum, very easy to grow with grey/white/purpleish tones. I also have lots of Jades, Sedums and a few Dudleyas. Another genus I like is Liliaceae, better known for the many types of Aloes & Haworthia.