Wednesday, October 31. 2007
Cactus Costume
Here's another Cactus Costume, probably a little too late for you to order for halloween. It's expensive, since it's a full-blown mascot costume. I guess it's the kind of costume we should buy for our employees to wear around the nursery, or at least out on the major streets with big red arrows pointing our way. But then we'd have to get them the optional cooling vest and refills, and that would be ridiculous.
Link of the Day
A blogger named Shepherd visited a gardener named Naomi in L.A. and took pictures of a magnificant old cactus garden.
We Get Questions
Q: Hello,
I would like to know what this plant is. I bought it at Target some time ago, and it has been doing very well. It has tiny rosettes-like "babies" growing on each of the branches. Now they dropped to the soil and each of them are turning into a small plant. I will have thousands of them soon!
Do you by any chance know where or whom might like to have baby succulants? I have many many variety of them in my yard, and hate to throw them away, when they propagate like crazy.
I enjoy receiving your emails, and seeing the beautiful and unique plants that you have. Thanks
Lillian
A: Hello Lillian,
Your plant is Kalanchoe daigremontiana or "Mother of Thousands" it is also been classified to a new genus as Bryophyllum daigremontiana. It is native to southwestern Madagascar, so it does not like frost. But here in the bay area it does pretty well until we have a real hard freeze. It has very nice reddish tubular blooms that attract hummingbirds.
Take care,
Hap
I would like to know what this plant is. I bought it at Target some time ago, and it has been doing very well. It has tiny rosettes-like "babies" growing on each of the branches. Now they dropped to the soil and each of them are turning into a small plant. I will have thousands of them soon!
Do you by any chance know where or whom might like to have baby succulants? I have many many variety of them in my yard, and hate to throw them away, when they propagate like crazy.
I enjoy receiving your emails, and seeing the beautiful and unique plants that you have. Thanks
Lillian
A: Hello Lillian,
Your plant is Kalanchoe daigremontiana or "Mother of Thousands" it is also been classified to a new genus as Bryophyllum daigremontiana. It is native to southwestern Madagascar, so it does not like frost. But here in the bay area it does pretty well until we have a real hard freeze. It has very nice reddish tubular blooms that attract hummingbirds.
Take care,
Hap
Tuesday, October 30. 2007
National Geographic's Photo of the Day Blogging
From National Geographic, we borrow this wondrous photo, for your scientific information and enjoyment:
Slug Caterpillar, Manu River, Peru, 2001
Photograph by George Grall
Brushlike suckers radiate from the body of a slug caterpillar resting on a leaf near Peru's Manu River. The stinging hairs, or suckers, of these brightly colored, fleshy caterpillars contain mildly venomous toxins used for defense purposes. However, simply touching a slug caterpillar triggers toxin transfer, which causes rashes, swelling, and in some cases, fever and nausea.
(Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Fragile World of Frogs," May 2001, National Geographic magazine)
Slug Caterpillar, Manu River, Peru, 2001
Photograph by George Grall
Brushlike suckers radiate from the body of a slug caterpillar resting on a leaf near Peru's Manu River. The stinging hairs, or suckers, of these brightly colored, fleshy caterpillars contain mildly venomous toxins used for defense purposes. However, simply touching a slug caterpillar triggers toxin transfer, which causes rashes, swelling, and in some cases, fever and nausea.
(Photo shot on assignment for, but not published in, "The Fragile World of Frogs," May 2001, National Geographic magazine)
Winter Polling
It's been a while since I had a poll of my readers. So now that winter is upon us, give or take, I must determine what you all are doing to prepare.
Link of the Day
A blogger is being indecisive about gardening:
Konagod
I'm thinking of two options, either a rock garden with cactus and succulents which are winter hardy, or amend the soil and maybe try growing some veggies and herbs. A variety of chili peppers would add some color.
Konagod
Monday, October 29. 2007
Nature
The Nature Conservancy in Texas has a Preserve for the Astrophytum asterias (Star Cactus). It's a 415 acre former ranch.
Star cactus (Astrophytum asterias)
Photo © Lisa Williams (JPGI, 446KB)
Star cactus (Astrophytum asterias)
Photo © Lisa Williams (JPGI, 446KB)
Arkansas Cactus
In Arkansas they study cactus and fruitflies, together at last.
It's an old study, but fascinating in its implications. Well worth the effort.
Now how about those Red Sox?
[Update 4:32pm: "See, this is what happens when you win it all under the simple guise of just being the best team, absent the melodrama. You sweep the Rockies and neither Jimmy Fallon nor Drew Barrymore is anywhere in sight." Bob Ryan, Boston Globe.]
It's an old study, but fascinating in its implications. Well worth the effort.
The flies appear to have started exploiting Opuntia cactus, one of the most ancestral varieties, perhaps 30 million years ago. They spread to taller columnar cactus species as those came into existence.
Furthermore, throughout the fly family tree, he found several places where fly species have "jumped," or quickly evolved from eating one kind of cactus to another.
"These are repeated, unrelated events that happen over and over independently," Etges said. "This shows that it's not necessary to think about evolutionary events as only happening once."
Some fly species that move on to exploit new resources have lost the ability to use the Opuntia cactus as food.
Furthermore, throughout the fly family tree, he found several places where fly species have "jumped," or quickly evolved from eating one kind of cactus to another.
"These are repeated, unrelated events that happen over and over independently," Etges said. "This shows that it's not necessary to think about evolutionary events as only happening once."
Some fly species that move on to exploit new resources have lost the ability to use the Opuntia cactus as food.
Now how about those Red Sox?
[Update 4:32pm: "See, this is what happens when you win it all under the simple guise of just being the best team, absent the melodrama. You sweep the Rockies and neither Jimmy Fallon nor Drew Barrymore is anywhere in sight." Bob Ryan, Boston Globe.]
Yellow Bloom
Ferocactus emoryi
World Series Update
The Boston Globe has an update on the World Series:
Oh, and here's a Euphorbia photo for you too, from BlueSunFlower's flickr stream:
Oh, and here's a Euphorbia photo for you too, from BlueSunFlower's flickr stream:
Sunday, October 28. 2007
Funny Plant Names 101
The funny/rude species name:
"knippellianus" as in: Echinocereus knippellianus
Say it out loud, pronouncing all the syllables (but silent "k"). Thanks to Erica for this fine discovery.
"knippellianus" as in: Echinocereus knippellianus
Say it out loud, pronouncing all the syllables (but silent "k"). Thanks to Erica for this fine discovery.
Link of the Day
Saturday, October 27. 2007
Bonus Whippet Blogging
Oh no, Friday Whippet Blogging is creeping into Saturday.
I found an early puppy picture of Benjamin. And that's me too. It's all just too precious.
I found an early puppy picture of Benjamin. And that's me too. It's all just too precious.
Friday, October 26. 2007
Pass It On
From the Dallas Morning News.
Get it while it's hot. If you're in Dallas, that is, and can haul it. Otherwise, nevermind.
Large cactus plant. 3 feet tall, 6 feet in diameter, around 150 pounds. Has outgrown pot. You haul. Allison, Mesquite
Get it while it's hot. If you're in Dallas, that is, and can haul it. Otherwise, nevermind.
Poetry Books in Print
There's a book called Political Cactus Poems. Here's the description:
I don't understand this review. But anyway, here's some of Skinner's outdoor poetry, Little Dictionary of Sounds (pdf) including original sounds embedded in the pdf if you click the headlines. An excerpt after the break...
Description: Poetry. "If cactuses could talk, poets would be out of work. In the meantime, Jonathan Skinner's POLITICAL CACTUS POEMS are primers of attentive engagement.... In these poems, the saguaro drinks our words and leaves us thirsty for more"--Charles Bernstein.
I don't understand this review. But anyway, here's some of Skinner's outdoor poetry, Little Dictionary of Sounds (pdf) including original sounds embedded in the pdf if you click the headlines. An excerpt after the break...
Continue reading "Poetry Books in Print"
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