Beautiful....They look much better than mine that has had 3" of rain since September. I am down to 1/4 of my water tank so I can't water anything (rainwater collector)

Well that 'Fred Ives' with the Aloe vanbalenii is about the most amazing I've ever seen. What did they feed that puppy? Wow.

here is your photo

{{gwi:534642}}

San Francisco Bay Area conditions seem ideal for growing Graptoveria 'Fred Ives' to maximum size. If they get regular drip irrigation, as does this garden, they will grow supersized without any need for special fertilizer. These are growing in straight beach sand, with water every 4th day in summer for about 20 minutes at low pressure drip. You have to remember that we don't get much heat so close to the bay, so it is more like spring(average 65F for highs) growing conditions even in the middle of summer here. I have been kind of surprised, though, how 3 weeks of near continuous rain without let up took a toll on the Graptoveria, even when planted in full sun and almost pure sand. In another garden up in the hills, where I have 'Fred Ives' planted in bright shade, they have lost virtually all their leaves to rot this March. I know they will bounce back soon enough, but I learned something new this winter with the rains!

Here's another planting with Graptoveria 'Fred Ives', this time in combination with an Australian Banksia blechnifolia and the South African annual Linaria reticulata. I kind of like the 'Fred Ives' better without the flowers, and usually remove them, as they are prone to getting attacked by aphids most of the time if they aren't removed. This shot only shows the 'Fred Ives' at half their potential size, giving me plenty of opportunities to remove pups and use them elsewhere.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20217462@N02/5511954670/in/set-72157626121907584

Another application of Graptoveria 'Fred Ives', this time with shade and a foreground planting of our California native Yerba Buena falling over a retaining wall. 3 weeks of persistent March rain on these mostly shaded Grapto's and they weren't very happy, losing almost half their leaves, but they will bounce back now that it is warming up again.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/20217462@N02/5510053855/in/photostream/

Beautiful planter! Wow very nice indeed. Also the mass with Yerba Buena before and BOP behind.

My largest Fred kept bone-dry under the patio developed a rot-spot on the stem after our December of the 12" rains. He must be extra sensitive in winter. Now I know.