E . Misouriensis blooming...

The cemetary cactus, which I've written about rather extensively in the past, and graces the header of my blog, has honored more with a bloom today. Many more coming, and rhe bright red berries from last years fruit make the plant look good too!

Random pics and stuff...

just some random pics around the yard... not sure that there's anything all that interesting going on...

This is an actual Mansfield Cemetary cactus blooming in the back... not bad for a cutting that is a little less than a year old, huh? As you can see, he's already growing offsets, and the smaller cutting directly next to him is more typical of the cuttings that I have... still too small, but I expect big things from them next year...

And the winter may have killed my Variagated Agave americana... but the roots have evidently survived underground and are starting to resprout... how cool is that? I'll probably take one inside this winter, as they're evidently not as hardy as the unvariagated form. The web-sites aren't in agreement as to exactly how hardy they are... so we'll not take any chances...

And here's a common everyday thistle by the side of the road. I've always been fond of thistle. I have no real reason why, just am...

And here's the new growth on the Sago Palm... The other rescued sago may be showing some signs of stirring to life... but it's very subtle... anyway... as soon as these leaves get up and hardened off, I'll cut off the older beat up leaves, what few are left, and try to find a place in the yard to put this guy... where he'll sit for at least 3 months before he puts up another whirl of leaves... they don't grow their leaves one at a time, but rather in periodic bursts. Sometimes only one group a year, and never it seems more than 3 a year. hmmmmm.

Anyway... no day off for me this week... I've got to work on Monday for someone who's got a Dr's appointment... oh well...

Cemetary cactus all abloom...

All right, not the actual cemetary cactus... those are in another part of my yard... this is an Escobaria missouriensis that I'd had for a few years before... the actual cemetary cactus are producing blooms, or about 1/3 of the cuttings are... the other ones are still too small... But the slightly pinker toned blooms in my header photo were taken in the cemetary last year.

This plant crowns the top of a strawberry jar in my back yard, and by this time next year will have totally covered the opening...

It's been blooming for about a week now. Unfortunately, the blooms only open when the plant is getting direct sun. The sun moves behind the house and throws a shadow on the plant every day at about 4:30 pm... causing the blooms to close. So today, when I had a day off, was the first time I've been able to see the blooms open.

I'd move the whole thing to a sunnier spot... but all together it weighs well over a hundred lbs, and it's just not worth it to me for a blooming season that's going to last about 2 weeks.

I've found that photographs don't do these, or any cactus bloom, justice. Cactus flowers have a pearlescent sheen on their petals that is impossible to capture on film. But, you get the general idea, I'm sure...

Well, I was out in Mansfield again today, with a very few minutes, so I decided to stop by the cemetary to check out the cemetary cactus... they're putting out their fruits this time of year, and in about a month or so they'll be blooming their fool heads off. (The blooms are the ones in the header pic)

I've done some checking around, and this is evidently one of the few remaining areas where these plants are growing in a wild or semi-wild state in this area... would have gotten a few more pics, but I got an order and had to run...

I was intent on blogging today. I'm trying to make a point of blogging, as I've been very lazy about it lately. Actually, not so much lazy, as working on another writing project. It would appear that, when it comes to typing, I have only so many words a day before my brain says 'no more'

But here's a few pics from the yard... some pansies...

The Rosemary is blooming too... usually it blooms in December, if it's gonna, but this year it decided to surprise me... I'm one of the few people I know who like rosemary blooms... I've always thought they looked like tiny little orchids...

And the Southern Snowflakes are going haywire...

And that's really about it. I know, not very exciting huh?

cemetary cactus update...

An update on the Cemetary Cactus...

Of all the little pups and chopped up pieces that survived the cemetary lawnmower, all but 2 rooted... which means I have 42 little cactus, and they're all showing signs of new growth.

Some of you may recognise this tire planter... I origionally put some semps in here under the agave and prickly pear... but I decided that this really was the best place for the cactus cuttings... they won't mind being shaded by the larger plants, and when they bloom next spring, their yellow blooms will look good next to the yellow stripes and polka dots of the other plants. Kind of a mixing textures thing...

I think that as these grow and produce a huge mound of plant, they'll look really amazing... as for now, I've kinda scattered them randomly... I think it will look more natural that way than if they were all exactly 1 1/2 inches apart... especially since they are of several different sizes.

The other day I drove by the cemetary these came out of, and they were mowing again. I almost stopped to see if there were more little plants to save, but thankfully, I didn't. I mean really, 42 little plants is more than enough for anybody, right?

And now, I really should be going... I may have a better post for you tomorrow. I've got it into my head to do a large garden project.