iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 18/09/2026

August ’26 - Late summer color of Aloes tucked between basalt or rhyolite boulders. From bottom to top, Aloe cameronii (Cameron's Ruwari Aloe or Red Aloe), Aloe 'Cynthia Giddy', Aloe Swordfish, Espostoa lanata (‘peruvian old man’). 🌱 #succulents

End of summer colorful Aloes and cactus wedged between cascading volcanic boulders

3388

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 28/07/2026

Aloe marlothii, only occasionally irrigated and summer sun stressed, slightly cupped leaves with red, yellow, green, and blue-grey hues. In the winter rainy season it’s shaded by oaks and a large New Zealand Laurel to the south. This one stands about 2.5 ft wide and high. July ’26 🌱 #succulents

An Aloe marlothii (Mountain Aloe) situated in a rock garden. Has been very hardy, in the summer it receives about 6 hours of direct sun, very little irrigation. This is the 3rd season in-ground, it's single stemmed and about 2.5 feet tall and wide.

0221

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 26/07/2026

JJuly ’26 - A male ‘flame skimmer’ dragonfly has taken up residence in our pond-side succulent gardens. Here he's perched atop a euphorbia, and held a pose long enough for me to grab and mostly steady a camera. A vibration reduction lens won the day! #sonomacounty 🌱 #succulents

flame skimmer or firecracker skimmer (Libellula saturata) native to California. A head-on photo.

flame skimmer or firecracker skimmer (Libellula saturata) - photo is tilted to show the veined wing patterns and body

0283

Reposted by straybird

Dutchy Patrick @dutchiepatrick.bsky.social · 09/06/2026

This Aussie is spot on, it will take years or decades to get rid of capitalism from the government. It’s not just Trump, it’s everything behind him, oligarchs, money, corruption, corporations etc. How can we fix this?

63783992625

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 25/02/2026

Aloe arborescens x ferox 'Tangerine' in bloom Feb 2026 . Planted in 2020, shaded by oaks, 3’ tall / wide . It’s a reliable February bloomer even in our wettest and coldest years. 🌱 #succulents

This photo is of an Aloe in tangerine-spiked bloom, directly behind is an 8 ft tall Aloe Hercules and the pump house garden with a variety of Aloes, Agaves, Yuccas.

4526

Reposted by straybird

SK Winnicki, PhD 🏳️‍⚧️ @skwinnicki.bsky.social · 14/11/2025

I did my PhD at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign, which has more Chinese students than any other US university. I had the privilege of teaching and collaborating with Chinese students there. This makes me indescribably angry for them and for all of us who benefit from our work together

39829

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 28/10/2025

Coastal Geology - Sea Ranch, California (10-2012) #seascape #nature #landscape #Sonoma

A closeup of rock formations overlooking the ocean. The photo was taken along the Sea Ranch bluff trail in northern Sonoma County.

081

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 26/10/2025

After a morning shower … Agave bovicornuta “Cow Horn Agave” (~4’ wide and tall) , flanked by Agave americana var. medio-picta 'Alba' “White-Striped Century Plant” (2.5’). All were planted from 5 gallon containers in the spring of 2022. 🌱 #succulents

Agave bovicornuta flanked in the rear by 2 Agave americanas and Trailing Lantana (purple blooms). The foreground surface is rocky along with a few gopher mounds.

0242

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 17/10/2025

A small (2”-3”) Haworthia along a garden path in early October. Unfortunately, it’s not labeled but from the size and leaf characteristics it appears to be a herbacea or reticulata. The distinctive bright yellow bloom makes an outsized statement in the garden. 🌱 #succulents

Howarthia with a yellow bloom tucked between small boulders. This is the second time I've noticed it blooming over the past half dozen years. It's hardy to at least 30 degrees, has no problem with our heavy winter rains.

3362

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Absolutely, Stapelia gigantea. Part of the nearby planting from years ago which I misidentified as a Euphorbia flanaganii years ago. I'll need to move this to a more prominent location in the garden 🙂.

010

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

Found this striking, 2-3” solitary volunteer growing in a lightly irrigated area partially shaded by a Toyon and tucked amidst Mangave, Agave and Euphorbia. Has coloring similar to Haworthia or Gastor-Aloe but the stem is not stout more like a flower stem, perhaps some NorCal native? 🌱 #succulents

Small unidentified plant or flower spotted brown with a yellow background growing in rocky, well-draining soil. In the top left corner of the photo is a Euphorbia flanaganii. The leaves are from a toyon.

5684

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 21/08/2025

South facing succulent gardens refreshed as part of a hillside erosion diversion creek project. Notable foreground plantings are Yucca Bright Stars pressed against an Agave Ocahu, and a San Pedro Cactus. In the background are Lomandra, Phormium and Opuntia, Acer palmatum... 🌱 #succulents

Summer dry creek bed and gardens along a hillside driveway. To the right and above is a deck and the creek bed runs along the driveway, The creek is spanned by several small wooden pathways. During the rainy season storms the creek handles water from an under-house sump pump, gutters and the hillside above. In the foreground, to the right is a minimally irrigated succulent garden. In the far background is a glimpse of live oaks and the valley in the distance.

1251

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

This Crassula ovata 'Gollum' was part of an assorted succulent pack planted in an inconspicuous partly sunny location 6 years ago. It’s thrived through the extremes of unusually heavy winter rains and last summer’s persistent heat waves. Today it’s about 2.5 ft tall and wide. 🌱 #succulents

Pictured is a Crassula ovata 'Gollum' (Gollum Jade), rising above a variety of smaller succulents (mostly Kalanchoe). In the background are the fronds of an Australian Tree Fern and the blurry trunk of a Live Oak. This Crassula features grey bark marked by dark rings and leaves that are tubular with cup-like tips. This plant is about 2.5 feet high and wide.

0312

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 08/05/2025

Trichocereus 'Sun Goddess' flowering (~5" diameter) between boulders, euphorbia, cactus and Equisetum hyemale (horsetail) 🌱 #succulents

2341

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 07/05/2025

Abundant diversity bordering this path - succulents to tree ferns / Japanese maples / Palms and Live Oaks. After 25 years of experimenting finally settled on a selection of plants that offer seasonal interest and minimal regular maintenance. (5/5/2025) 🌱 #succulents

Patio Path leading to backyard garden. The pathway is composed of Flagstone with railroad tie steps and is bordered by field stone. Most prominent on the left side of the path are Agave attenuata 'Ray of Light’, several fine leaved red Japanese maples / frond of an Australian Tree Fern poking out above the top left maple. On the right side of the path are succulents with a variety of Aloes, Agaves and even a Gastoria maculata which is somewhat rare in our area. Toward the top of the steps are Queen and Phoenix roebelenii (dwarf date) Palms. In the background are live oak and a Crepe myrtle.

2343

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 04/05/2025

The ‘pump shed garden’ conceived and planted winter-spring ’25 and designed around 3 yucca rostradas, a Bismarckia palm, an Agave 'Hakuro Shiro Fukurin’ , an Agave vilmoriniana and a Mangave "Kaleidoscope". To be renamed the ‘garden of relief’ when we are rid of the shambolic regime. 🌱 #succulents

3 yucca rostradas, a Bismarckia palm, an Agave 'Hakuro Shiro Fukurin’ , an Agave vilmoriniana, a Mangave "Kaleidoscope" (colorful plant in the foreground) and numerous filler Aloes. There is a stone path bordering on the left and a rock dry stream garden divide using local field stone and Noiyo cobbles (runns left to right in the center(
There is also a pump house in the upper center bamboo bordering in the upper right.

4361

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 31/03/2025

A volunteer Aeonium arboreum - 3” tall and wide growing on a moss covered (1/2-3/4” thick) boulder. Thought maybe I'd stuck it in there last summer but then discovered another smaller Aeonium sprouting elsewhere in the same moss. 🌱 #succulents

Aeonium arboreum, purple with a lime green core, 3” tall and wide growing on a bright green moss covered boulder. The area is mostly in dappled light.

0521

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 24/03/2025

Yea, a lot of kalanchoes prefer zone 10 (30-40 deg minimum) and above. The fedtschenkoi is one that handles temp dips into mid and upper 20s and has proven to thrive even with an occasional light freeze

040

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Kalanchoe fedtschenkoi (lavender leaf plant, floriferous, bryophyllum) - A robust and easily grown succulent in zone 9-11 gardens, nice blooms and the leaves turn lavender when the plant is stressed. It’s proliferated throughout our garden but it’s not a pest, easily controlled. 🌱 #succulents

This photo taken 03/2025 is of a blooming Kalanchoe fedtschenko growing over a boulder in our backyard garden. The flowers are pink to red and the leaves are light green to lavender.

1510

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 10/03/2025

Morning light, temp in the 40s, woke. Left to right Agave vilmoriniana (Octopus Agave), Bismarckia nobilis palm, Agave 'Hakuro Shiro Fukurin’ 🌱 #succulents

In the foreground are 2 Agaves (Agave vilmoriniana 'Octopus Agave' and Agave 'Hakuro Shiro Fukurin’). In the rear is a recently planted Bismarkia nobilis fan palm.

0250

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 05/03/2025

March 2025. I’ve been removing the Woodsorrel (Oxalis) and doing light cleanup in this garden. The multi-stalked, magnificent (almost full) bloomer is Aloe Taurus. Also noteworthy are the Agaves Blue Glow and Blue Flame which are great companions. Other plants mentioned in the Alt Txt 🌱 #succulents

This garden is a mounded Noyo cobble rock garden. The mound is a mix of amended loam and succulent mix. The garden is encircled by oaks, a naval orange, pittosporum, Photinia, paths and other gardens. It was originally planted from 5 gallon plants obtained from Seaside Growers Nursery - about 475 miles south of our home in Sonoma County. The garden is full sun mid summer but otherwise lightly shaded with dappled light in winter.

3261

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 15/02/2025

Aloe glauca (Blue Aloe), mid summer 2023. It prefers full sun (part-sun in warmer valley locations). This aloe is somewhat stressed beneath a Live Oak which is periodically messy with leaf drops (early spring) and sap (late summer). It receives dappled summer sun. Very hardy. 🌱 #succulents

This photo is of an Aloe glauca against a background of field stone and Noya cobbles. The leaves are green to dark grey-blue with orange teeth along the leaf margin bed of field.

0432

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 03/02/2025

Our backyard succulent gardens are planted on a gentle incline while in the front yard the slope is more pronounced. This view is from a front deck last Dec. The large palm is a Canary Island Date Palm. This area remains unfenced. a wildlife corridor. 🌱 #succulents

Southfacing view of our front plantings which include a large Phoenix Cariensis (Canary Island Date Palm), Trachycarpus fortunei (Windmill palm) and in the foreground a yucca and cactus at the bottom.

4937

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Aloe brevifolia growing amidst our regular winter clover. The brevifolia is zone 8 hardy. This plant with it's clumping offsets is about 8” wide and 6” tall. The garden location is part sun so the Aloe’s green-blue color is year round. In sunny locations it will take on a reddish tint. 🌱 #succulents

This photo was taken in Jan '25. The Aloe brevifolia (centered) is green to blue in color and has spikes around the leaves. Surrounding the plant is our winter crop of clover.

0450

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

This camellia is ~15’ tall X 10’ wide, planted in full sun, clay soil and only receives water from winter rains. It's always a vigorous bloomer Dec-Jan. This year a little late but with even more flowers than usual. 🌱

This photo taken Jan 20th at our home in Sonoma County features a 15 foot tall camellia blooming with pink to red flowers. Surrounding the tree are Black and Live Oaks along with several Windmill Palms.

1250

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

An Aloe striata situated along the top of a rock wall. Hardy into the mid 20s. This striata receives a dash of late afternoon so the plant’s appearance is slightly less robust than others in sunnier garden spots. Even so, it has nice color and is staying put. 🌱 #succulents

Aloe Striata atop a rock wall. The plant has green to slightly blue leaves (maybe due to insufficient sun exposure) with a red stripe that runs along the leaf margin. It is about 2 feet wide and a foot tall.

0130

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

This morning … a bowl of Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg’. Above. To the right, embedded along the rock wall, are Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' and an Oscularia (ice plant) splayed along the top most boulder. Behind are several varieties of Mangave and Aloe. 🌱 #succulents

Sunlit AM garden photo: a bowl of Echeveria 'Perle von Nurnberg’ (center bottom) grayish to purple with pink highlights. Behind and to the right are Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' with bronze to pink succulent leaves embedded in a rock wall and a light green Oscularia splayed across a boulder. Also in the photo are assorted Mangave in pots and in the distant rear are oaks.

1300

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

May of 2016 Oscularia deltoides flanked by a Aeonium arboreum(?) both potted. Regarding the name 'Oscularia' … my high school Latin was of no help. I was less than attentive as a student (apologies to Mrs Augustitus, my Latin teacher). A lesson on the naming in the Alt Image text. 🌱 #succulents

A Oscularia deltoides (ice plant) covered by pink flowers. Next to it is an Aeonium with about an 18" wide rosette. As for the Latin - from San Marcos Growers "The name Oscularia is Latin from the word 'osculum' meaning "little mouth" with 'oscularia' meaning "a collection of little mouths" in reference to the way the leaves appear as open mouths (teeth and all). The specific epithet comes from the Latin word for triangular in reference to the 3 angled leaves." And there is more if you're interested - https://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=2625#:~:text=This%20plant%20smothers%20the%20ground,have%20small%2C%20often%20reddish%20teeth.

1200

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Thanks! Succulents offer so much in structure, texture and color, it keeps me engaged 🙂.

010

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

This Agave geminiflora has won the day. Years ago it was 'temporarily' placed along a walkway, never removed from its 3 gallon growers pot. Kept thinking it needed to be properly planted … somewhere. Meanwhile, it made some friends and took root. 🌱 #succulents

This is an Agave geminiflora about 2'X2' growing along a garden path. It's leaves are dark green, linear, somewhat flexible. Adjacent to the Agave are a variety of green to purple leaved succulents and landscape rocks.

47610

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor' brightening up a patch of green Senecio. In our location it's been a vigorous grower generating many offsets. After a few years in-ground it's ~18” tall X 24” wide . At our zone 9b location it looks best with AM sun, PM shade. 🌱 #succulents

A top down photo of an Agave lophantha 'Quadricolor' embedded within a patch of Senecio fingers. The leaves feature bright yellow margins with a pronounced green strips (dark - light) up the middle and are heavily armed with spikes along the edges. Hardy below 20 degrees, native to Mexico.

0301

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

In case anyone is wondering, VR in this case refers to "Vibration Reduction" not the other stuff 🙂...

040

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Great selection of cactus and mix of textures!

130

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

A bud emerging from a rain-soaked Aloe ferox rosette. The photo was taken in late Nov '24 during a brief sunny break in the storms. Pretty sure this was a hand held shot (VR was on), kept it for the symmetrical appearance of the red spikes. 🌱 #succulents

A top down zoomed (and cropped) view of an emerging Aloe ferox bud. The leaf is lit by a ray of sun, is light green with red spikes.
The photo was taken using a 16-35mm f/4G at 23 mm with VR on.

3464

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

So many incredible hidden treasures on and around LI ... this reminds me of Manantic Creek on Shelter Island

010

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Up close, Aeonium ‘Sunburst’ - Grows well in our Zone 9b wet winter garden, really brightens things up. In spring mature plants produce a long lasting, impressive bloom (monocarpic). Dormant in the summer when I'm light on the irrigation, might benefit from consistent weekly water. 🌱 #succulents

This is an Aeonium 'Sunburst' (Copper Pinwheel) rosette from above. It is about 8 inches wide and a foot tall. The leaf margins are lined by a thin copper stripe, the leaf color is dominated by yellow with a trip of green up the middle. In our garden we grow it in sun to part shade, it's said to be hardy to 28 degrees F.

4513

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 28/12/2024

Looks to be an Echeveria gibbiflora hybrid - planted from an unmarked assorted tray several years ago. This photo from 2024, 6-8” tall X 3-4” wide, they grow well rainy zone 9b-10a. As with most echeverias in the garden, they look interesting from afar and remarkable up close. 🌱 #succulents

A close up of an Echeveria gibbiflora hybrid (or something similar) with rosettes of spade-shaped foliage in shades of red, chocolate browns, with a bright lime green stem.

1617

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 22/12/2024

Dudleya brittonii - Giant Chalk Dudleya, patio Nov 2019 We have a couple of these planted, they do best with some sun. Stays low to the ground about a foot across, can get lost in a busy garden and in my memory. Name plates are useful (on the back are basic plant requirements) Zone 9b 🌱 #succulents

Dudleya brittonii, about a foot wide. The plant is chalky white against a mostly lava stone backdrop and flanked by a field stone on the right.

0311

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 20/12/2024

Agave Potatorum "Kichiokan Marginata”, about 8” tall X 12” wide, zone 9b. We expected a little more red in spine color, that may be due to lack of direct sun or it may be sensitive to prolonged rainy periods… will be tested again as stormy pattern is approaching. 🌱 #succulents

An Agave Potatorum "Kichiokan Marginata” with green inner leaf color surrounded by creamy stripes with brownish red spikes on the margins. This one is 1-2' wide and about 8" tall.

0330

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 18/12/2024

Aloe tauri ‘Bullock's bottle brush aloe’ - 2024 A slew of emerging winter bloom stalks captured between recent storms.This aloe always looks great, when blooming will brighten a winter garden #sonoma #succulents 🌱

A closeup of bud stalks from an Aloe Tauri. The buds appear honey -combed in yellow and green with some orange highlights at the tips. The plant is about 2' tall by 3' wide and the buds range from 1 to 3 inches.

1405

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

Agave ‘Moonshine’ - one of many attenuate X varieties … I’ve got 5 or 6 different crosses, there’ll all great along paths and in pots. Soft leaved sharply tipped (not dangerous😁) . Stays small 1.5’ tall X 2.5’ wide and will clump. Beautiful addition to our Sonoma, zone 9b, lightly shaded garden.

Top down view of an Agave 'Moonshine'. This plant is an 'attenuata' hybrid, cold hardy to 28 F. In our location where temps occasionally reach 100 degrees it's thriving in a lightly shaded garden. The leaves are flexible, green with a thin red brown edge.

090

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 14/12/2024

This Agave Americana (mediopicta alba) was the first succulent planted in our garden a decade ago. Its structure, color, and texture was captivating and unique in our 2015 landscaping. Is manageable at ~3 ft tall x 5 ft wide (with an abundance of offsets), pretty tough, prefers sun. #succulents 🌱

An Agave Americana (mediopicta alba) - Zone 8 hardy. The one pictured has been in a front, sunny garden away from paths. It is striking in color with bold greenish cream central striped leaves with blue green margins. Well armed to deter deer. Handles temps below 20 degrees.

2471

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 11/12/2024

Thanks for this close up look at the seedy underworld of succulent bugs ... it brought to mind David Lynch's opening scene in Blue Velvet _and_ encouraged me to address the suspicious web activity on my Aloe lukeana and Ellemeets Agave.😀

120

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

The pond 20 years past This is one of many BS (Before Succulents) garden memories squirreled away in Lightroom. This from July 2005 as recorded through a Nikon D100 (Nikkor 12-24 mm lens) Hard to not be a bit nostalgic … #succulents 🌱

This photo from the summer of 2005 is of a portion of the garden that surrounds a waterfall and pond. Planted in and along the sides are red and yellow blooming Cannas, Phormia (New Zealand flax), Fountain Grass and purple blooming Lantana.

2283

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 10/12/2024

Agave 'Blue Flame' - Parentage is A. shawii x A. attenuata and it's 2-3' tall and wide. A multi purpose Agave that works in mass plantings or singularly and is not armed. Hardy into the low 20s, This one is lightly shaded beneath an oak which works well in our mild inland valley. 🌱 #succelents

An Agave 'blue flame' about 2.5 ft tall and wide. The leaf color is blue-green and the plant is not armed so it can be safely planted along a pathway. This plant thrives in dappled shade at our Sonoma inland location where winter night temps may occasionally dip into the high 20s. Said to be hardy into the low 20s.
Parentage is A. shawii x A. attenuata

0332

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 08/12/2024

Echeveria nodulosa ‘Painted Echeveria’ - 12-2024. About 6” wide 5 inches tall. Partially shaded with more light the leaves are lighter. It bloomed in August but it’s the distinct coloring of the foliage that wins the day. Rated zone 9b. 🌱 #succulents

Image of an Echeveria nodulosa aka ‘Painted Echeveria’. It's about 6” wide, planted the summer of 2024 from a 2" container. This lovely and accurate description from San Marcos Growers "5 inch wide rosettes of absinthe-green, pointed leaves that are slightly concave above and keeled below and are vividly marked with red on the margins and mid leaf"

0372

Reposted by straybird

Europe Street News @europestreet.bsky.social · 07/12/2024

Reminder of our starter pack on EU citizens' rights organisations, journalists, and experts. Includes latest arrival on Bluesky @britishineurope.bsky.social. Who else should be added? Let us know! go.bsky.app/EAGyge2

1157

straybird @attenuata.bsky.social · 06/12/2024

An unruly Aeonium “sunburst’ muscling its way between an Agave desmetiana ‘Smooth Agave’ and Mangave 'Red Wing' PP31,459. The Aeonium and Mangave are zone 9b, the Agave 10a. In a sunnier exposure this Aeonium has more distinctive coloring, brighter yellows and a thin reddish leaf edge. 🌱 #succulents

The photo shows an Aeonium "Sunburst" which has green and white-yellow margins sandwiched tightly between a green smooth leaved agave and bronze mangave.

1404