Submitted by twig on Mon, 11/05/2012 - 7:30am
Trichocereus pachanoi
San Pedro cactus
This is why I love cactus -- the flowers. Most of the year, you have a plant that's pretty much untouchable, and often isn't all that attractive to begin with. And then one day, you look outside and holy moly, the thing has just produced one of the most extraordinary flowers you've ever seen -- out of nowhere! Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 7:30am
Trichocereus pachanoi or Echinopsis pachanoi
San Pedro cactus
San Pedro cactus is more famous for being a source of mescaline than for flowers, but the flowers are still awesome. The buds are fuzzy gray balls that look like cat toys. (You can sort of see one on the right, just beneath the two open blooms.) Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Thu, 09/15/2011 - 7:30am
Echinopsis
Easter lily cactus or sea urchin cactus
Echinopsis is a guess; I'm not really sure if that's accurate. If someone has a better handle on this, please correct me in a comment. The cactus itself has limbs about the size of hot dogs -- roughly 1.5" to 2" in diameter and about 10-12" long. It usually has about a half dozen flowers like this at any one time during summer. They stay open as long as the plant's in full sun, then fold up at night. Read below the fold...
Submitted by twig on Fri, 06/24/2011 - 7:30am
Opuntia ficus-indica or englemannii
Prickly Pear cactus
What would summer be without cactus blossoms? Some of the most beautiful flowers I've ever seen have been growing on gnarled old cacti. The opuntia (I think that's correct, but if not, please feel free to set the record straight) shown above is huge, five or six feet high with branches going off in various directions. It's quite an amazing plant all by itself. But when it flowers, it's truly jaw dropping. Read below the fold...
