May has been a wonderful month for flowering with nearly everything exceeding expectation.  I would be interested to know if everyone else has had the same experience.  It would be interesting to know what exactly governs whether it is going to be an exceptional year for flowers or just an average one.  Is it the sunshine the year before? Is it the mildness or severity of the winter?  Is it the light over winter? Is it a mild early spring? Or is it just a combination of these?  Whatever it is we must enjoy the good years when they come.

The Lithops seedlings are progressing well with many of them shedding their first seed leaves and giving early indication of their adult colour.  Aloinopsis and Titanopsis seedlings are much faster than the Lithops and are nearly ready for potting on.

I stripped the leaves from the flower stems of my dark leaved Echevaria once the flowers were over and I am pleased to see that all the leaves are sprouting.  I should have plenty of spare Echevaria Black Prince plantlets before too long.  For many years I had only grown the pale leaved Echevaria, Black Prince makes a very attractive contrast amongst its paler cousins.

The cuttings of Operculicaria both in potting compost and in water are looking green and healthy. Although they give the impression of growth, there is, as yet, no sign of roots on them.  Maybe in another month or two!!

My plants for the show are ready and packed in their containers.  I will pack the car on Friday night ready for an early start on Saturday.  It is a good idea to take a water spray with you to the show. A little spray when you put them on the showbench freshens up the plants and brings out the colour of the leaves of such things as Haworthia or Gasteria.