Arizona "native" back yard - cactus blooms - Orchid Board

EdinAZ · #1 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 10:34 PM

As a “companion” post to my “Arizona naturalized yard” post, this one just shows a few (very few) my cactus (and a couple of non-cactus) that have bloomed recently. I probably have almost as many different cactus varieties as I do of orchids.

These cactus blooms can be as beautiful as orchids, but they generally only last for a day and bloom only once a year. Some varieties will bloom 2 or 3 times annually, and some will re-bloom (same blossom) for 2 or 3 days. They DO have a succession of bloom, so one cactus may be in bloom for a week or so, and there is something blooming much of the time. They bloom MOSTLY when it is rainy . . . we have 2 “rainy seasons” a year here . . . and “rainy” means total of 5-6 inches for the season, 10-12 for the entire year. Yes . . . it’s a dry heat.

It’s a shame the cactus are not more floriferous, because some of them are really spectacular.

The last picture is an Agave (used to make Tequila).

Ed

rtsingleton · #2 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 10:48 PM

poor agave, it put its life into that bloom, hopefully it attracted something

isurus79 · #3 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 11:06 PM

Looks fantastic! I lived in Tucson for 6.5 years (graduated from Sabino and spent 4years at UA) before I moved to Hawaii and I do miss those cactus blooms and the monsoons! My mom told me that the storms are pretty impressive this year. Thanks for the pics!

bellini girl · #4 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 11:19 PM

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing

Lecent

stonedragonfarms · #5 (**permalink**) 07-31-2008, 11:20 PM

Ed what are the white blossoms in the fourth pic? I like them a lot...

EdinAZ · #6 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 12:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stonedragonfarms

Ed what are the white blossoms in the fourth pic? I like them a lot...

In the forth picture . . . that is an Echinopsis hybrid, don't know the name. It is actually a very pale purple-pink blush. The one that is a true white is the fifth one (last one on the left) . . . that is a Cereus hybrid.

AND, to rtsingleton . . . that Agave was swarming with insects day and night (moths), and the occasional hummingbird. That spike was about 12 feet tall, and the bloom head lasted about 2 months. I do hate to have them bloom (which they seldom do) because then I lose a nice landscape plant, and need to replace it.

Ed

snow · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 01:21 AM

hi ed. i enjoyed you,re cacti very much.
i do have some in my rockgarden in the summermonths; but have to bring them back in when it gets cold.
they really don,t like it in the house. poor things

Lagoon · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 05:22 AM

WoW!! Those are just gorgeous

I wish I could grow these in my yard - Lucky you Ed.

Chubidubi · #9 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 09:51 AM

WOW Ed those blossoms blew me away. THEY'RE GORGEOUS!!!

RoyalOrchids · #10 (**permalink**) 08-01-2008, 10:28 AM

Very nice Ed. Keep em' coming!