Two on One

Adenium obesum (Desert Rose) showing 2 flower types on the one plant thanks to a grafted stem (can you see the joint?).  This plant is well suited to San Diego summers as it needs little water and likes it hot.  The flowers, leaves, trunks and roots are all interesting. Plants can be lifted and repotted to display the roots.  In winter they are dormant so absolutely no watering and keep them above 40F.

Related Post

Monarch CaterpillarMonarch Caterpillar

A migrating female Monarch placed her egg (the size of a pin head) on a leaf of this milkweed in my garden.

Four days later a caterpillar emerged and started eating.  Ten days later, and about 2” long, the caterpillar developed a chrysalis which can be found hanging on a nearby tree or post.

Ten days later, the monarch emerged.  Pretty amazing journey for 28 days

Monarch butterflies lay their eggs on just one plant, and that is milkweed, Asclepias. This picture shows Asclepias curassavica.

This genus is herbaceous, perennial and flowering.  Monarch caterpillars eat only the leaves of the milkweed.

Milkweed is a beneficial wildflower and is not invasive. Other species use the nectar and some will also eat parts of the plant.

The plant, which has a milky sap, does contain toxins, which can be harmful to pets and humans, so be careful when handling.

post provided by SC.