Sunday, July 30. 2006
Big Cactus in Texas
Yes, we know, they grow 'em big in Texas.
Here's proof.
Well, it turns out it's just an agave bloom. No big deal at all. It turns out that they just brag 'em big in Texas.
Here's proof.
J. Robert and Doris Causbie were amazed as they watched what they thought was an ordinary cactus, grow more than 25 feet and blossom bright orange — and it all happened in less than two months.
Though the cactus’ bright streaks of color have waned somewhat since early July, the stalk can still be seen towering skyward just off Causbie Road in Weatherford.
The century plant, agave parryi, usually blooms in late spring or early summer, but only once in a lifetime.
Though the cactus’ bright streaks of color have waned somewhat since early July, the stalk can still be seen towering skyward just off Causbie Road in Weatherford.
The century plant, agave parryi, usually blooms in late spring or early summer, but only once in a lifetime.
Well, it turns out it's just an agave bloom. No big deal at all. It turns out that they just brag 'em big in Texas.
Quote of the Day
From the New York Times' editorial endorsing Ned Lamont in the Democratic primary for Senate in Connecticut:
If Mr. Lieberman had once stood up and taken the lead in saying that there were some places a president had no right to take his country even during a time of war, neither he nor this page would be where we are today. But by suggesting that there is no principled space for that kind of opposition, he has forfeited his role as a conscience of his party, and has forfeited our support.
Saturday, July 29. 2006
Talk About Peyote in Arizona
From an article in Klondyke, Arizona
For a plant so steeped in controversy, peyote is quite unassuming. The average cactus resembles an oversized green molar. And after growing for nearly 80 years, it's barely the size of a navel orange, covered in tender, muted spikes with the occasional daisy-like flower....
Peyote is illegal for general use because it contains hallucinogenic mescaline, though federal law allows for limited use in American Indian religious ceremonies. Courts have generally refused to allow non-American Indian groups to use peyote in ceremonies....
''They believe it is the sacrament of God, it is a medicine,'' said John Halpern, a psychiatrist who spent nearly seven years studying the effects of peyote among members of the Native American Church. ''It's not taken to see visions, or to get high or anything like that.''...
There are only a handful of farmers licensed to grow peyote in the U.S., and they can do business only with members of the Native American Church....
Zapf is concerned that the cactus is disappearing. The land where it grows has been whittled away, acre by acre, over the years.
''It's an endangered species,'' she said. ''We need to ensure it for the future, which means we must start taking better care of it.''
Peyote is illegal for general use because it contains hallucinogenic mescaline, though federal law allows for limited use in American Indian religious ceremonies. Courts have generally refused to allow non-American Indian groups to use peyote in ceremonies....
''They believe it is the sacrament of God, it is a medicine,'' said John Halpern, a psychiatrist who spent nearly seven years studying the effects of peyote among members of the Native American Church. ''It's not taken to see visions, or to get high or anything like that.''...
There are only a handful of farmers licensed to grow peyote in the U.S., and they can do business only with members of the Native American Church....
Zapf is concerned that the cactus is disappearing. The land where it grows has been whittled away, acre by acre, over the years.
''It's an endangered species,'' she said. ''We need to ensure it for the future, which means we must start taking better care of it.''
A Cactus in Japan
They grow them big in Japan.
A cactus that a Tokyo resident starting growing from a height of 30 centimeters has shot up to 6 meters in height, gaining attention from local residents.
The cactus, which stands outside of the home of 78-year-old Joji Tanaka in Tokyo's Suginami-ku, has reached the roof on the second floor of the home.
"It's rare for them to grow this big at a regular home," a surprised botanical garden worker said....
"Maybe its growth has been spurred on by the music coming out of the house," said Tanaka, who enjoys listening to classical music.
Tanaka said the growth of the cactus has rivaled that of his granddaughter, who is now in her fourth year of elementary school. Last week its white flowers blossomed for the first time this summer.
Congratulations to the Tanaka family for their big cactus.
A cactus that a Tokyo resident starting growing from a height of 30 centimeters has shot up to 6 meters in height, gaining attention from local residents.The cactus, which stands outside of the home of 78-year-old Joji Tanaka in Tokyo's Suginami-ku, has reached the roof on the second floor of the home.
"It's rare for them to grow this big at a regular home," a surprised botanical garden worker said....
"Maybe its growth has been spurred on by the music coming out of the house," said Tanaka, who enjoys listening to classical music.
Tanaka said the growth of the cactus has rivaled that of his granddaughter, who is now in her fourth year of elementary school. Last week its white flowers blossomed for the first time this summer.
Congratulations to the Tanaka family for their big cactus.
Thursday, July 27. 2006
SF Chronicle 96 Hours
Cactus Jungle is the first stop on the San Francisco Chronicle's 96 Hours "Street Date" with Berkeley's Fourth Street!
96 Hours Street Date
Monday, July 24. 2006
Conservative Quote of the Day
I don't actually agree with this, but still....
From War Room on Salon.com
William F. Buckley on George W. Bush:
"If you had a European prime minister who experienced what we've experienced, it would be expected that he would retire or resign."
"If you had a European prime minister who experienced what we've experienced, it would be expected that he would retire or resign."
From War Room on Salon.com
Blooming Prickly Pear
Opuntia undulata
Sunday, July 23. 2006
We Get Texas-Sized Questions
Q: We live in west Texas and we love cacti. We planted an ocotillo in our backyard about 5 years ago. It is very healthy and growing quickly however it has never bloomed. How can we force this beauty to bloom for us?
rosewood
A: Hello,
You can encourage your Ocotillo, which is most likely Fouquieria splendens, to bloom by fertilizing with something with a good amount of Phosphate. We add fish bone meal to our soil to encourage blooms as well as use Dyna-Gro liquid Bloom fertilizer when things need an extra boost. For a non-organic fertilizer Dyna-Gro seems to work very well on cacti and succulents, including all of the Fouquieria. Our young, seed grown Fouquieria macdougalii (a cool Baja Ocotillo) started blooming at only two to two and a half feet tall using fish bone meal in the spring and using Dyna-Gro Bloom in their water once a month.
If you can't find Fish Bone Meal and Dyna-Gro in Texas, look for a fertilizer with a high-ish (12 or 16) middle number. Fertilizers have three numbers listed, (such as 3-12-6 or 12-12-12) the first number is Nitrogen, which encourages fast, green leafy growth, the second number is Phosphate, which is for blooms, the third number is Potash which helps roots and strong trunks. Usually you want a nice balance between all three, but if your ocotillo is growing well, but not blooming, giving it a boost with some phosphate should help it bloom.
Good Luck,
Hap
rosewood
A: Hello,
You can encourage your Ocotillo, which is most likely Fouquieria splendens, to bloom by fertilizing with something with a good amount of Phosphate. We add fish bone meal to our soil to encourage blooms as well as use Dyna-Gro liquid Bloom fertilizer when things need an extra boost. For a non-organic fertilizer Dyna-Gro seems to work very well on cacti and succulents, including all of the Fouquieria. Our young, seed grown Fouquieria macdougalii (a cool Baja Ocotillo) started blooming at only two to two and a half feet tall using fish bone meal in the spring and using Dyna-Gro Bloom in their water once a month.
If you can't find Fish Bone Meal and Dyna-Gro in Texas, look for a fertilizer with a high-ish (12 or 16) middle number. Fertilizers have three numbers listed, (such as 3-12-6 or 12-12-12) the first number is Nitrogen, which encourages fast, green leafy growth, the second number is Phosphate, which is for blooms, the third number is Potash which helps roots and strong trunks. Usually you want a nice balance between all three, but if your ocotillo is growing well, but not blooming, giving it a boost with some phosphate should help it bloom.
Good Luck,
Hap
Saturday, July 22. 2006
Heating Up
It may be global warming, or it may random record-breaking heatwaves. Either way, now is a good time to do a little extra watering. Remember to water in the early morning or late evening to prevent wasteful evaporation.
Australians Have Questions
Q: Hi there
i am just wondering where can i find the PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS..are they available in Australia.
thanks a lot.
regards
KEVIN
A: Hello Kevin, You can find links and maps to Australian Cacti Nurseries here.
But I do not know if any of them have the Opuntia violacea in your photos.
Good Luck,
Hap
i am just wondering where can i find the PRICKLY PEAR CACTUS..are they available in Australia.
thanks a lot.
regards
KEVIN
A: Hello Kevin, You can find links and maps to Australian Cacti Nurseries here.
But I do not know if any of them have the Opuntia violacea in your photos.
Good Luck,
Hap
Friday, July 21. 2006
Nursery News
Let's see, what news do we have? Not a lot. A little bit.
It's going to be hot today; we have a lot of plants.
The Opuntia subulata babies have been planted in a trough to finish rooting. They should be ready in 2-4 weeks.
A bunch of prickly pears have been potted up and are out. We'll be featuring them in August, but they're out now.
Oh, and some Pachycereus too.
The rebutias are blooming. The gymnocalciums too. Pelargoniums, Cotyledons, Echinopsises, and a beautiful Adenium obesum has 2 blooms open, a third on the way. And a big horse-crippler barrel (Ferocactus latispinus) is blooming! Maybe I'll post some pictures. Who knows.
It's going to be hot today; we have a lot of plants.
The Opuntia subulata babies have been planted in a trough to finish rooting. They should be ready in 2-4 weeks.
A bunch of prickly pears have been potted up and are out. We'll be featuring them in August, but they're out now.
Oh, and some Pachycereus too.
The rebutias are blooming. The gymnocalciums too. Pelargoniums, Cotyledons, Echinopsises, and a beautiful Adenium obesum has 2 blooms open, a third on the way. And a big horse-crippler barrel (Ferocactus latispinus) is blooming! Maybe I'll post some pictures. Who knows.
Friday Whippet Blogging
Special video edition, wherein Benjamin tries to be still for 30 seconds, almost making it.
Oh... almost.
Oh... almost.
Thursday, July 20. 2006
Cactus St. Louis
It's a show and sale in St. Louis, deep in the heart of Missouri. Well, on the edge. Along the Great Missouri River. Well, actually it's along the Mississippi. Anyway, it's a cactus show and sale.
This weekend! And I don't have a flight yet!
Cactus Society show-sale:
The Henry Shaw Cactus Society's 64th annual show and sale features hundreds of varieties of cacti and succulents from throughout the world. Cactus Society members will answer questions and encourage beginners to grow these easy-care plants. From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through July 23. At the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard. Free. Chihuly Nights admission applies, $10-$15. For information, 314-577-9400.
The Henry Shaw Cactus Society's 64th annual show and sale features hundreds of varieties of cacti and succulents from throughout the world. Cactus Society members will answer questions and encourage beginners to grow these easy-care plants. From noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through July 23. At the Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard. Free. Chihuly Nights admission applies, $10-$15. For information, 314-577-9400.
This weekend! And I don't have a flight yet!
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