How's your flowers, Pops?

[pixel]

For the first time in 7 years, our cactus presented 8 flowers before Christmas: one or two a week, each lasting just a couple of hours. If anybody know its name - I don't, even though I scoured various websites and catalogues.

 

[Ijustnewit]

Wow , pixel ! Worth the wait for sure . Glorious colours

 

[burglar]

Hi pixel,

The resolution of your photography is awesome.
Is it done on a mobile phone?

My sister would say your choice of colour is "intense".
But I am guessing it wasn't in flower when you acquired it.

 

[pixel]

Hi pixel,

The resolution of your photography is awesome.
Is it done on a mobile phone?

My sister would say your choice of colour is "intense".
But I am guessing it wasn't in flower when you acquired it.

Thanks for the compliment, Burglar;
No, I don't take photos with a phone. I got myself a Kodak Max Z990 that captures the colours absolutely "true". All I have to do is crop the result for publication.
And you're right - we didn't see any flower when we acquired the cactus. It's still in a (rather large) pot, tree-like, and about 5ft high.

Here is another succulent: a groundcover in our backyard; the flower is about half an inch in diameter.



same photo, cropped, denoised and deblurred:

 

[pixel]

For the first time in 7 years, our cactus presented 8 flowers before Christmas: one or two a week, each lasting just a couple of hours. If anybody know its name - I don't, even though I scoured various websites and catalogues.

I finally found it. And the news isn't good
Its botanical name is "Opuntia Spinosior", and it's a declared weed. (Thanks for the hint, Ted.)

So I better keep it in its pot and make sure it doesn't escape.

The previous owner also left us another potted cactus, flowering yellow out of flat sections.
Found that also to be a declared weed; Queenslanders know it as "Prickly Pear".

PS: Just found out the "Opuntia Spinosior" is NOT PROHIBITED at all in Western Australia. Even the Prickly Pear is only Prohibited North of the 26th Parallel.

 

[Ijustnewit]

Despite a near record hot Summer and hardly a drop of rain these little guys are showing some Autumn colour.

 

[McLovin]

Picked up a couple of dahlia tubers a couple of months ago. They've come out pretty nicely.

 

[burglar]

Picked up a couple of dahlia tubers a couple of months ago ...

Did you know they would be this intense colour?

 

[McLovin]

Did you know they would be this intense colour?

Yeah, I saw what they looked like before I bought.. I'm a pretty lazy gardener, but dahlias are so easy to grow and they come in such a wide variety and look pretty amazing when they bloom. Always worth planting a few for the summer.

 

[burglar]

The house is sold!
Property is subdivided and now overgrown.
The Cootamundra Wattle still looks magnificent.


I had pulled up all the bulbs.
Three-quarters went to a friend's garden.

I potted the rest.
Now moved in with a neighbour.
All the pots lining the courtyard.

So, how's your flowers, Pops?
Forlorn.



P.S. My friend gave me visiting rights! Yay!

 

[Julia]

The house is sold!
Property is subdivided and now overgrown.
The Cootamundra Wattle still looks magnificent.


I had pulled up all the bulbs.
Three-quarters went to a friend's garden.

I potted the rest.
Now moved in with a neighbour.
All the pots lining the courtyard.

So, how's your flowers, Pops?
Forlorn.



P.S. My friend gave me visiting rights! Yay!

Burglar, I know how much your garden meant to you from the many photos you posted. Sad to leave what you've put so much love and energy into.
Gardens are meant to be shared imo so perhaps there's comfort in knowing your efforts will give someone else pleasure.

 

[burglar]

Burglar, I know how much your garden meant to you from the many photos you posted. Sad to leave what you've put so much love and energy into.
Gardens are meant to be shared imo so perhaps there's comfort in knowing your efforts will give someone else pleasure.

Take joy in the little things.
For me gardening and music.

And there is always the Botanical Gardens!! So all good!

 

[Ijustnewit]

Burglar , thanks for the photos , information and above all sharing. Lets hope your green thumb finds some greener pastures.
I was just thinking of this thread this afternoon actually , the Spring blossoms on the fruit trees are out already . The magnolias are also waking up from what has actually been a reasonably warm Winter. It's going to be a colourful but warm Spring and Summer here in Hobart town.

Cheers
IJN

 

[burglar]

... Spring blossoms on the fruit trees are out already . The magnolias are also waking up from what has actually been a reasonably warm Winter ...

Second year running, the almond blossom is out early.

 

[Ijustnewit]

Time for this years run of late Spring early Summer bloomers. They are enjoying today's near 30 degree temps , a bit different to last weekends 16 degree days. Anyway's something to brighten up all those other polictal discussion threads.

 

[Julia]

There's nothing like bright, smiling colours in a garden, and I so agree about the pleasant diversion from the woeful political situation. I'll have a look at some of my recent photos too.

Thanks for sharing them IJNI. What are they?
Both are familiar but I can't come up with any names.

 

[Ijustnewit]

The really big ones are Proteas but I don't know which variety , and the yellow ones seem like some sort of succulents ?
I'm not much of a true gardener I guess , but that's the fun I think. I enjoy the the wonders that happen to pop up and really spend those deep moments just looking at them for what they are. It's a real " Zen " moment.
Glad you like them
cheers
IJN

 

[Julia]

Ijustnewit, a few in exchange:

 

[pixel]

I finally found it. And the news isn't good

Our other potted cactus, a "Prickly Pear", has also been flowering again.

 

[noirua]