Let’s Talk Succulents

If you love succulents and cactus, here is your chance to get the inside scoop on some very interesting species. Lithops, otherwise known as living rocks; the astonishing Kalanchoe, the variety called, among other names, Mexican hat plant or mother of millions; or the extraordinary elephant bush of which elephants will make a meal of up to two tons a day. The Madagascar palm with its caudex root where it stores water . . . there is so much to see and learn.

Where is this magical kingdom? Not far from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, there is a family-owned nursery called Our Farm Greenhouses (https://www.ourfarm.biz/index.html#/ or https://www.facebook.com/ourfarmgreenhouses/).  It is chiefly run by Shea Doherty, one of the sons of the founder. Shea is always agog with wonder about the natural world. He grew up observing all the little bugs and animals and plants and trees that surrounded him in his prairie world. He listened to buds break in the still of a spring night, hobnobbed with squirrels and owls, buzzed with bees and at one time raised honey.

When he got a little older, this fascination with plants became a passion when he discovered succulents. He was collecting them long before they became a “thing” in the gardening world. His private collection is much larger than the 500 varieties he puts on sale every spring.

In these videos, he gives up a brief tour of some of the little wonders he has on sale, explaining the light and water needs of each plant and providing background on their natural habitat.