I saw this rather magnificent stand of Optunia... I wish I could say it was natural, but it's a deliberately planted security barrier... unless you're driving a tank, I seriously wouldn't recommend trying to get through this...
And here's a rather magnificent scrub oak... I've always loved the meandering twisted branches on these things...
And fairly close to my house, there's a cemetary that I realized I'd never visitited... of course, I looked for cactus... But I think that other cemetary I saw them in is an exception to the norm... there's no cactus here at the Rehoboth Cemetery... I intend to look up the word Rehoboth, because I have no idea what it could possibly be referring to... 
Thsi is the grave of Mary Miller... the first grave at this site...
And this is the grave of Clara Bell and Cora Lee Whitehead... twins who were born and died within a month.
And here's a distant shot of the cemetary... You can't tell from the pic, but the grounds are dotted with small wildflowers... which is really kind of a relief... I get tired of cemetaries that are maintained like golf courses. A more natural look is far more fitting to these historical sites...
And this was blooming it's fool head off when I got home... My Parodia werneri was blooming! I thought the buds were a couple days away from opening, but the heat over the last couple of days must have spurred them on... These pics don't show the colors well... the blooms are actually darker, almost royal purple...
UPDATE: The name Rehoboth is biblical...
And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, "For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land." (Genesis 26:22 ESV)
I'm still not sure that I totally understand the reference, but there it is...
I MUST GET some Parodia cactus!!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove your cemetary pics! I love the old country graves. My maternal grandparents are in a country cemetary and it is a pleasure to visit the very serene and beautiful site every few years. (Lots of oaks there too)!
Do you keep your parodia in full sun??? I am wondering if I could do a pure Parodia tire???
Julie, This particular Parodia likes lower light levels, but most of them can take full sun...
ReplyDeleteTrying to get through prickly pear would be as bad as running from cops through a field of cholla. That happened to a couple of criminals here in AZ not long ago. Needless to say, they immediately gave up after their mistake, begging for help, with cholla sections clinging to them.
ReplyDeleteYou should go on a site called Find A Grave and post those cemetery photos. Some people do that as a service to genealogists, and some photograph whole cemeteries and post. With the smaller cemeteries like the ones you find, the odds are that descendants don't even know they exist.
That's a wonderful Parodia flower. I don't see many with the purplish blooms. I've only had one Parodia bloom so far, but a couple are coming along. A new Echinopsis hybrid bloomed for the first time today. Beautiful orangy flower. I'll post soon.
Aiyana
A friend planted cactus under daughters bedroom window to keep the boys out and her in! Love the cactus-I saw a few buds on a couple of mine-can't wait!! Good idea from Aiyana on the grave photo!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know why I haven't stopped by here before. I've seen your comments on Julie's site before and thought they were helpful and insightful. Must be the age thing again.... I never really liked succulents until I moved to FL. This year I bought a sempervivum, and I'm craving one of those century plants that are so popular around here. I'll probably have to put a barrier around it, though, to keep the grandson at bay.
ReplyDelete