Aloe arborescens typically blooms in December and January; this looks like the bloom of an Aloe brevifolia, which is currently blooming

Good question! It's a corm mostly from arid Namaqualand, but it's survived winters here with up to 48" of rain, but we don't have the same cold. It doesn't sprout here until the end of February, so perhaps if March or later is frost-free there, it would work. Once sprouted, I'm sure it's tender

Thanks, very enjoyable! And I just happen to be headed to Escondido this summer to visit friends

How cool to see this!! My 6x-great grandfather John Alderson was born near Muker in 1699 and came to America in 1719 where he became a pioneer Baptist preacher on the frontier. I can almost imagine his seeing the same landscape then

Good pic! That looks like Euphorbia lambii. E. cyparissius has pine-needle like leaves.

Eternal vigilance is the price of a good garden! I've not seen those traps--our neighbor claims good success with the GopherHawk traps, but I've not used them. Keep it up!

At first we also trapped using this type of trap but we were overwhelmed. Two barn cats helped a lot (lots of guts on the porch). I doubt gas would work since their tunnels are so extensive. Each winter we have "gopher geysers" of water shooting out of various tunnels from uphill runoff.

I feel for you! And remain earnest, for sure! We're currently in the process of digging out raised beds and replacing the hardware cloth underneath that's been breached after 10 years by those voracious critters. My tomatoes shall not be violated!

You are so lucky not to have western pocket gophers undoing all your hard work!