Wednesday, February 28. 2007
We Get Questions
More Questions about the winter freezes.
Q: Well I've heard both sides now. One party says leave them alone and another says trim the dying flesh of my 15 year old cactus. It appeared to be getting worse with time so now I've trimmed it. Did I do the right thing and is there anything else I can do or fix if I did the wrong thing?
Richard
A: Richard,
If the flesh was turning black... trimming was the best action you could take. You should clean and treat the trimmed area with household hydrogen-peroxide, put in a spray bottle or use a paint brush. Treat it with the 'peroxide several times over the next week or so. It will help the wound heal and help stop any infection.
Good luck,
Hap
Q: Well I've heard both sides now. One party says leave them alone and another says trim the dying flesh of my 15 year old cactus. It appeared to be getting worse with time so now I've trimmed it. Did I do the right thing and is there anything else I can do or fix if I did the wrong thing?
Richard
A: Richard,
If the flesh was turning black... trimming was the best action you could take. You should clean and treat the trimmed area with household hydrogen-peroxide, put in a spray bottle or use a paint brush. Treat it with the 'peroxide several times over the next week or so. It will help the wound heal and help stop any infection.
Good luck,
Hap
Tuesday, February 27. 2007
Berkeley Cactus
Bancroft Way
Kniphofia uvaria in bloom, Agave americana, a very lush Crassula ovata (Jade) and an unknown Euphorbia.
Cactus Harvest
Another great article from the Pueblo Chieftain Online:
Delicious.
Tribe Celebrates Cactus Harvest
Imagine organizing your life around the growth cycle of a cactus. The Tohono O’odham do just that; their new year begins when the fruit of the saguaro cactus is ripe and ready for harvest....
Each ripe, red fruit contains as many as 2,000 shiny black seeds, which can be dried and eaten or ground into a rich, buttery paste that is considered a delicacy. The sweet, fig-like pulp is eaten fresh, dried and stored for winter, or boiled over wood fires in large kettles to make jam and syrup. Some saguaro-fruit juice is always set aside and allowed to ferment into wine....
- Lynda La Rocca
Imagine organizing your life around the growth cycle of a cactus. The Tohono O’odham do just that; their new year begins when the fruit of the saguaro cactus is ripe and ready for harvest....
Each ripe, red fruit contains as many as 2,000 shiny black seeds, which can be dried and eaten or ground into a rich, buttery paste that is considered a delicacy. The sweet, fig-like pulp is eaten fresh, dried and stored for winter, or boiled over wood fires in large kettles to make jam and syrup. Some saguaro-fruit juice is always set aside and allowed to ferment into wine....
- Lynda La Rocca
Delicious.
Conservatives and Science
Have you heard about the new Conservapedia? It's the conservative version of Wikipedia, which has "anti-christian anti-American" bias, according to the founders of Conservapedia. So, like they refuse to allow any anti-christian screeds on their website, like using the term CE instead of AD, and that's just the first rule on the front page. Here's their entry on CACTUS:
I'm not kdding, that's the entry. Although, since it's a user-edited document, it may have changed by the time you read this. But wait, there's more!
. The secularist view of the Cactaceae is that they are roughly two million years old, and that they have evolved exclusively in the new world. This view fails to explain, however, how it is that the Opuntia genus is native to the island of Opus, near Greece. Cacti are known for their high content of alkaloids, and have often been used in the sacramental rights of the Native Americans. Because of this, the early Catholic missionaries in the west thought the plants to be the work of Satan, and this is perhaps a preferable view to that of materialistic evolution since it is difficult to imagine how something like mescaline could have evolved by natural selection. Besides that, the psychoactive content of many cacti have inspired the writings of such ungodly men as Aldous Huxley and Albert Hoffman.
Several species of cactus are now endangered in the west due to "poaching" by collectors and invasive species. But, since Genesis suggests that man has been given dominion over all of the earth, the environmentalist concerns on this note are entirely inappropriate. It may also be that environmentalists, in addition to flauting the Word of God, are merely concerned about the effects that declining cactus populations will have on their supply of mescaline.
Several species of cactus are now endangered in the west due to "poaching" by collectors and invasive species. But, since Genesis suggests that man has been given dominion over all of the earth, the environmentalist concerns on this note are entirely inappropriate. It may also be that environmentalists, in addition to flauting the Word of God, are merely concerned about the effects that declining cactus populations will have on their supply of mescaline.
I'm not kdding, that's the entry. Although, since it's a user-edited document, it may have changed by the time you read this. But wait, there's more!
Continue reading "Conservatives and Science"
Monday, February 26. 2007
Saguaro National Park
The Pueblo Chieftain Online has an article about Saguaro National Park. They write about the saguaros, the echinocereuses, and the petroglyphs too. It's close to Tucson (actually, it kinda straddles Tucson in 2 sections) so you can stay in a really nice resort, relax, enjoy the sunshine and the pool and then take a lovely drive into and through the park. The saguaro forests are spectacular. Although, we found the saguaro forests in nearby Ironwood Forest National Monument to be just as spectacular.
More after the break...
Thousands of saguaros (sah-WAH-rows), the largest cactus species in the United States, rise majestically from the floor of Saguaro National Park, a sprawling, 91,327-acre expanse composed of two districts separated by city of Tucson. Odd, human-like shapes and upraised "arms" give these cacti the appearance of immovable, indestructible sentinels guarding a spectral landscape bristling with spines, thorns, hooks and barbs....
(T)o survive, saguaro seedlings must be sheltered from the elements. The small percentage that reach maturity usually grow in the crevices of rocky outcrops or beneath "nurse plants" like mesquite, bursage or paloverde....
(T)he first buds of its branches or "arms" won’t even begin to sprout until after its 75th birthday. Saguaros that make it safely through that bumpy first century, however, can grow to 50 feet, weigh as much as 8 tons, and live another hundred years...
(T)o survive, saguaro seedlings must be sheltered from the elements. The small percentage that reach maturity usually grow in the crevices of rocky outcrops or beneath "nurse plants" like mesquite, bursage or paloverde....
(T)he first buds of its branches or "arms" won’t even begin to sprout until after its 75th birthday. Saguaros that make it safely through that bumpy first century, however, can grow to 50 feet, weigh as much as 8 tons, and live another hundred years...
More after the break...
Continue reading "Saguaro National Park"
Sunday, February 25. 2007
Apes
It's the Planet of the Apes all over again. AP reports:
Chimpanzees have been seen using spears to hunt... U.S. researchers said on Thursday in a study that demonstrates a whole new level of tool use and planning by our closest living relatives.
Chimpanzees have been seen using spears to hunt... U.S. researchers said on Thursday in a study that demonstrates a whole new level of tool use and planning by our closest living relatives.Berkeley Cactus
It's been a while since I've posted any of these shots. Too lazy I guess to go around and find them. But I was walking past this and I also just happened to have my camera with me, so why not.
6th Street
Opuntia nopales, Echeveria imbricata, Agave zonata variegata in a wood box.
6th Street
Opuntia nopales, Echeveria imbricata, Agave zonata variegata in a wood box.
Pittsburgh Cactus
Winter is long and harsh in Pennsylvania, so I'm told by my friends. So when we visited them they took us to the Phipps. Of course it was summer at the time, but that doesn't matter, because today's article is about enjoying the Phipps in the winter.
Now you know. There's more. about eachand every room, at the orginal article if only you would click through.
Phipps offers warm, verdant respite from winter
However, in Western Pennsylvania we are especially fortunate to have a place that is green year-round -- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood.
Phipps has 14 rooms, each with a particular plant that stands out from the rest. Each is an old friend, and my mid-winter trips to Phipps are a reunion...
To the right of the South Conservatory is the Tropical Fruit and Spice Room.
We could have a healthful meal here, with fruits such as bananas, papayas and citrus. This is a good place to see how some of the exotic foods found in the grocery store look "on the tree." ...
After the humidity of the tropical rooms, the Desert Room is always a break.
A walk from one end to the other of the room is a stroll from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern. The front of the center bed has young saguaro cactus Carnegiea gigantea, native to the American Southwest. The genus name of this tallest member of the cactus family is in honor of a famous Pittsburgher, Andrew Carnegie. At the other end of the Desert Room are cactus and succulents from the deserts of South Africa.
However, in Western Pennsylvania we are especially fortunate to have a place that is green year-round -- Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, in Pittsburgh's Oakland neighborhood.
Phipps has 14 rooms, each with a particular plant that stands out from the rest. Each is an old friend, and my mid-winter trips to Phipps are a reunion...
To the right of the South Conservatory is the Tropical Fruit and Spice Room.
We could have a healthful meal here, with fruits such as bananas, papayas and citrus. This is a good place to see how some of the exotic foods found in the grocery store look "on the tree." ...
After the humidity of the tropical rooms, the Desert Room is always a break.
A walk from one end to the other of the room is a stroll from the Northern Hemisphere to the Southern. The front of the center bed has young saguaro cactus Carnegiea gigantea, native to the American Southwest. The genus name of this tallest member of the cactus family is in honor of a famous Pittsburgher, Andrew Carnegie. At the other end of the Desert Room are cactus and succulents from the deserts of South Africa.
Now you know. There's more. about eachand every room, at the orginal article if only you would click through.
Saturday, February 24. 2007
Letters to the Editors
The LA Times prints letters:
It got cold all over California last month. The letter was short and so I printed the whole of it, which may overstep my "fair use" so if Kurt or anyone at the LA Times wants to complain, I'm all ears.
THANKS for the thorough and depressing story ["Nursery Stock Cut by Freeze," Jan. 25], about our recent freeze and its effects on growers.
I was beating myself up for the losses in my own garden, but if professionals suffered too it makes me feel a little better. So now I will forget about my lost orchid and jacaranda trees. It's cactus, sand and sculptures for me. The searing desert summers and frigid winters are too discouraging, no matter how keen I am on a unique garden.
KURT SIPOLSKI
Palm Desert
I was beating myself up for the losses in my own garden, but if professionals suffered too it makes me feel a little better. So now I will forget about my lost orchid and jacaranda trees. It's cactus, sand and sculptures for me. The searing desert summers and frigid winters are too discouraging, no matter how keen I am on a unique garden.
KURT SIPOLSKI
Palm Desert
It got cold all over California last month. The letter was short and so I printed the whole of it, which may overstep my "fair use" so if Kurt or anyone at the LA Times wants to complain, I'm all ears.
Saturday Morning Video
It looks like it's going to be a rainy day today at the nursery. Cold too. So start your day off with a video of 80s new wave'ers Cactus World News with Years Later.
Those heady days of the 80s when everything was possible because it was morning in uncle ronnie's america, and breakfast was still on the table, bacon and eggs and toast and potatoes. Whatever happened to that morning? Ahh, the days carry on and the morning becomes afternoon and eventually it's twilight and then dark dark night comes on and the sky is spread with the blanket of stars above and the grass is wet with dew as we dance around the maypole.
Those heady days of the 80s when everything was possible because it was morning in uncle ronnie's america, and breakfast was still on the table, bacon and eggs and toast and potatoes. Whatever happened to that morning? Ahh, the days carry on and the morning becomes afternoon and eventually it's twilight and then dark dark night comes on and the sky is spread with the blanket of stars above and the grass is wet with dew as we dance around the maypole.
Friday, February 23. 2007
Bugs
They Get Questions, at the Contra Costa Times, about bugs.
We use Neem Oil as a spray. If the mealy bugs persist, they're probably in the roots, and a drench of the soil may be necessary, or even unpotting the plant, removing all the soil, and drenching the roots directly with Neem before repotting in fresh dry soil.
Q. I have white fuzzy spots on the joints of the leaves of my Christmas cactus, and it seems to be spreading to all the leaves on the plant. I don't see any insects moving, but it has now spread to two other cactus on the same shelf. The shelf is in my dining room, and I am reluctant to use chemicals.
A. Your Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) has been infected with mealy bugs.
They are difficult to see, as they are covered with a white waxy coating....
Once settled, they rarely move again. Adults cannot fly, and new infestations occur when infected plants are brought in contact....
Getting rid of mealy bugs is relatively easy, but you must be persistent. There are several least-toxic approaches that work well.
Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and carefully go over the joints of the leaves. This will remove the bugs and kill any young. You will need to check and do this every time you water for several months. There are insecticidal soaps on the market that also list mealy bugs on the label. Follow instructions carefully, and repeat as necessary.
A. Your Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera bridgesii) has been infected with mealy bugs.
They are difficult to see, as they are covered with a white waxy coating....
Once settled, they rarely move again. Adults cannot fly, and new infestations occur when infected plants are brought in contact....
Getting rid of mealy bugs is relatively easy, but you must be persistent. There are several least-toxic approaches that work well.
Dip a cotton swab into rubbing alcohol and carefully go over the joints of the leaves. This will remove the bugs and kill any young. You will need to check and do this every time you water for several months. There are insecticidal soaps on the market that also list mealy bugs on the label. Follow instructions carefully, and repeat as necessary.
We use Neem Oil as a spray. If the mealy bugs persist, they're probably in the roots, and a drench of the soil may be necessary, or even unpotting the plant, removing all the soil, and drenching the roots directly with Neem before repotting in fresh dry soil.
We Get Questions
Q: Hi. I have a question about my (baby) cactus.
It's one of those "pet plants" (www.petplants.net), i've only had it a
fortnight and it keeps coming out of it's earth. Can you suggest
anything that will ensure it will stay in until it's too big for it's
container?
The cactus and earth is normally kept in place with a thick plastic
ring around the base of the cactus. I was thinking of putting a pin
horizontally through the base of the cactus to try to keep it in
place. Would doing this cause any long term damage to the cactus, or
kill it?
Thanks in advance.
Andy.
A: Andy,
I do not recommend "pinning" your plant. It would be likely to cause an infection that could kill your plant. You might try a couple dabs of "Super-glue" and try gluing the cacti to the plastic ring. I know super glue is used to suture so it should hopefully be a low toxic glue that the plant will put up with.
Good luck,
Hap
It's one of those "pet plants" (www.petplants.net), i've only had it a
fortnight and it keeps coming out of it's earth. Can you suggest
anything that will ensure it will stay in until it's too big for it's
container?
The cactus and earth is normally kept in place with a thick plastic
ring around the base of the cactus. I was thinking of putting a pin
horizontally through the base of the cactus to try to keep it in
place. Would doing this cause any long term damage to the cactus, or
kill it?
Thanks in advance.
Andy.
A: Andy,
I do not recommend "pinning" your plant. It would be likely to cause an infection that could kill your plant. You might try a couple dabs of "Super-glue" and try gluing the cacti to the plastic ring. I know super glue is used to suture so it should hopefully be a low toxic glue that the plant will put up with.
Good luck,
Hap
Friday Whippet Blogging
An atmospheric shot of Benjamin for your perusal and enjoyment.
Thursday, February 22. 2007
George Washington's Birthday Quote of the Day
The nation prompted by ill will and resentment sometimes impels to war the government contrary to the best calculations of policy. The government sometimes participates in the national propensity, and adopts through passion, what reason would reject; at other times it makes the animosity of the nation subservient to projects of hostility instigated by pride, ambition, and other sinister and pernicious motives. The peace often, sometimes perhaps the liberty, of nations has been the victim.
Link, via Digby.Wednesday, February 21. 2007
Vincent Price
This is the Tale of the Old Dead Man and the Cactus. It is a very scary tale, told by Vincent Price, though he is long dead. Come with me to the LA Times, and we will tell the tale to you.
Ooooohhh..... Scary.... What do you think happened after he bought the Old Man Price's house? Goblins appeared! Spooky things everywhere! Maybe.... Continue with us after the break.
Her second acquisition was more unusual: a division of Sansevieria cylindrica var. patula received in 1978 from a friend who had bought actor Vincent Price's Hollywood Hills home and its contents, including some interesting succulents....
Ooooohhh..... Scary.... What do you think happened after he bought the Old Man Price's house? Goblins appeared! Spooky things everywhere! Maybe.... Continue with us after the break.
Continue reading "Vincent Price"
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