The 80 year old gem!

Guys, today I went to this "Oom" ("uncle") house. We call all older men "oom" in SA as a sign of respect...and boy here is a guy to respect. He says he fell in love with plants from age 5 and it grew on him ever since. He has collected, and bought plants for over 60 years. Just to speak to him was an experiece. Anyway I am going to try and note as much of his plants as possible..he knows them by heart or most of them, I did not have, stupid me, a notepad or recorder, but I took pics lots and I am going to take many more...here is taster...

These are all his cacti selection and he is too old to be able to keep everything clean, I do not mind one bit.....

Still just the outdoor cacti's

Another part

and some more

and yes some more...

Palmbob, you will like this, he has a major collection of Cycads, which includes hybrids...

another pic

He has about 1000+ lithops. Also Haworthia's, Gasteria's, many many other mesembs

Table's of them....

Crassulas, Echeverias...........

and so on...I can go on for ever.....point is that this is an opportunity also to pic and list as much as possible....I am going to need your help to id....he has many rare hybrids, like the grandidentata x striata hybrid, I only know the maculata x striata hybrid and as I said rare cycads hybrids and so on...I hope you will come with me on this journey...

Ok let's call this #1

This message was edited Dec 23, 2008 9:01 PM

nice native plant collection! (the cycads)

Yep, I thought it would interest you....I have taken various specimen pic's as well, his main collection is succulents and cycads with the cacti (non natives) as you see in pic's.

What an amazing collection you've described (and of which you've given us a glimpse)! 1000+ Lithops...I don't know whether to envy his collection or to take it as a cautionary tale ;)
All great stuff-- The little Lopho cluster is sweet! I have to take another look at that mixed table now...

Ya know, I don't mind at all the unkempt cactus areas.....looks more natural. Simply awesome stuff. Thank you SO much for taking the picts and sharing with us.

Sharon

Ok some more...I am not even going to try and id for now, just post and we all can have a crack at it...lets call this #2

This message was edited Dec 23, 2008 9:01 PM

#3 this aloe has not been described yet, according to him

#4 He says aloe, it can only be aristata as as I know, but it is big for that. I got a pup, which he gave me...we will see.

#5 a Huge group of mesembs...

#5b - Close-up

#6 Rhonibophyllum dolabriforme

#6b We with our small pots....check out what it looks like when given some space..

#7 I would not even try for now...would guess not local

#7b close-up

#8

#9

#10

# 11 I think C.orbiculata "elk horn"

#12 Mamalaria of some sort

#13

#13 base of plant

#14 Cycad

#15 Female Cycad....

#16 Crassula I think

#17 one of the local cacti I think

#18 Another one - local

#18b and the flower

#19 Lithops

#20 Lithops