Plants I'm growing: First Blooms--Phlomis Purpurea, Aloe Aristata

First blooms today on the Phlomis purpurea behind the house. It looks very similar to the more common Phlomis fruiticosa, but has hairier leaves, stays somewhat lower, and the flowers are pinkish lavender rather than yellow.

Also blooming today is the ball-shaped Aloe aristata called "Tegelberg's Triumph."