Recent Repotted Plants

Here is the Haworthia truncata repotted in the Rectangular Buttery Yellow pot. And here is the Gasteria glomerata repotted in the Red 25 medium-small bowl (from two batches ago). These two pursuits - succulent rearing and ceramics - are quite possibly the most stress relieving activities ever.

My First Jamaica Clay Body Pieces

All trimmed up and ready for bisque firing. I have enjoyed working with Jamaica clay - it feels smoother than the Rod's Bod and Soldate 60 that I have been using. Thinking about the next steps, I believe I want to use minimal glaze on these pieces, to highlight the clay body. I know I'll have to glaze the interior of the two bowls for food safety, but in all cases, I will minimize what goes on the exterior. And these are the latest batch of pinched pots. I'll take Noe and Marlon in to the ceramics studio today so we can glaze these pieces (they each have one in this batch with the balance being my pots).

The Alulas are Still Pushing Out Flowers

I took these yesterday morning. The plant I put into a heavy ceramic pot has been the real producer this year. I'm not sure if the pot material makes a difference here - but it sure looks like it does.

New Pots from the Last Kiln Run

And here are the pots I got from the last run - four of them (small batch - I've been busy with other things). Here is a rectangular pot made with Rod's Bod clay, slab built, dipped in Buttery Yellow glaze. I made it to hold a lateral growing plant. This is a small round pot, again slab built Rod's Bod and this one dipped in Turq glaze. The turquoise aspect of the glaze didn't show up as much on this piece, but neither did the normal flat brown - this came out with a darker gray. This medium-small sized hand formed pot was built from Rod's Bod and dipped in Turq. The turquoise totally came out on this!!!! And the last pot in this run is a Rod's Bod, medium-small, pinched pot dipped in Buttery Yellow. I'd say this was the best run yet!

Kiln Treasure! Red 25 on a Wheel Thrown Bowl

My Ceramics instructor called me a "Lucky Bastard"!!! The latest batch of pots came out of the glaze firing and they were fantastic!!! His comment alluded to the fact that my pieces got an awesome reduction treatment and they came out about as good as it gets. I'll start off with this bowl - Rod's Bod clay body, wheel thrown with no tools used (I accidentally left my bull's tongue at home), dipped in Red 25. I've used this glaze multiple times before, but I've never seen it this solid, deep red before!!!! I'm pretty sure this is one of my favorite pieces to date!

New Plants from the Last Nursery Runs

Haworthia truncata, Gasteria gracilis (CORRECTION:Gasteria glomerata), Crassula falcata all from Once Again. And a couple of as of yet unidentified cacti (I know the Gymnocalcium, but haven't gotten the species name, and I don't know where to start regarding the mad scientist hair cactus) from a Big Box. I'll post some pictures of the repotted plants.

Field Trip to HARC

At the behest of Dr Maureen Fitch who we know from the Cactus and Succulent Society of Hawaii, La and the kids stopped by the Hawaii Agricultural Research Center out in Kunia (probably one of the few places that gets hotter and more intense sunlight than we do in Ewa Beach). The kids and La got a first hand account of what research is done at HARC and what a botanist does. These Aloe were transplanted from the KCC garden (if I am remembering my facts correctly) and they've had a few years to get acclimated to the conditions in Kunia. I'm glad La and the kids got to see the Aloes in bloom (I wish I could have been there)!

Marlon Gets to Checkout Once Again Once Again

With the family having to make a weekly trek out to Niu Valley so we can get Marlon to Orchestra practice, we've on occasion made the additional drive out to Waimanalo. Most times it's to run errands but we usually hit the nurseries while we're there. A few times we've gone to Once Again Succulents (and I feel bad because Marlon has been saying we should go). Well we made the time to go this afternoon. Lately we've been able to come. look around and leave with our wallets intact. Not so today - they got some new stock in and a strange, uncontrollable urge came over me to purchase a few. The Haworthia truncata and the Gasteria gracilis would not leave me alone. La was hell bent on getting enough succulents to fill out her circular pot she bought back in March and Noe found these ice plants irresistable. Marlon picked up a few also - a String of Pearls and spreading Sedum. This is always a nice stop when in Waimanalo, and I'm glad we were able to come with Marlon this time!