This is the first time we’ve had the nursery open in January, and it’s been surprisingly busy. If we had known this, we would have opened in January years ago.

Except that it’s strangely even clumpier than the rest of the year. Yesterday was very busy, even in the rain, while today is dead, even with sun. 

But the real point of this post is to warn you that we should have some frost over the next couple days. So if you thought the freeze in December and the freeze 2 weeks ago was it for the year, and put away your frost blankets, well think again.

Well, this is the last of my posters, now that the change of administration is complete, I feel like I can obamify our logo.

So I haven’t seen the movie Pineapple Express, but apparently there’s a crucial cactus scene. From R-Views in Melbourne, we get this review of the DVD just out.

Best scene: Our two stoned heroes strap a guy to a chair for questioning. Then, to make him speak, they threaten him with a cactus. The great thing about the scene is that the cactus threatening act does not take center stage and does not grab for screen attention; it’s a subtle gesture done in the background, as if cacti are common truth elicitation devices.

So I suppose I have to go see this just for this scene and report back whether this review is accurate or not. Oy, what I do for you, my loyal readers, both of you.

Still more from Obamiconme.

From Obamiconme comes this, just in time for the inaugural.

That’s Hap jumping off a cliff.

I found this interesting webtool to obamify your picture. What this has to do with cactus is for you to decide, but I’ll be presenting a few new posters that you can enjoy until the inauguration.

There’s a new plant wiki in town, Plants.am – Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki.

Let’s explore.

Venus Flytrap. Nope, page doesn’t exist yet. Maybe you could fill them in?

Cactus. Well, that’s interesting. The page starts off by borrowing photos and text from Wikipedia.

Wikipedia: A cactus (plural: cacti or cactuses) is any member of the spine plant family Cactaceae, native to the Americas. They are often used as ornamental plants, but some are also crop plants.

Plants.am: A cactus (plural cactus, cacti, or cactuses) is any member of the succulent plant family Cactaceae. They are often used as ornamental plants, but some are also crop plants.

I see some differences there. Just not a lot. But then, it’s a new site. More will come, I’m sure.

Harold’s New Toy

Dad got a new 4-wheeler thing to go exploring in Arizona among the cactus. Do you think he’ll send us some pictures of the pristine desert environment?

Keith was browsing the internets, no longer called a series of tubes since Senator Stevens lost to Mark Begich, and he found this picture of a giant cactus. Even bigger than that, I’d say. Let’s call it “gigantic.”

It’s a Pachycereus weberi from Oaxaca. Photo by Arturo Anaya from Columnar Cacti.

Did I mention that Hap went to school with Senator-Elect Begich? Oh, the stories he could tell. Or not. But congratulations.

OK, so that was a lot of cactus salt and pepper shakers yesterday. But I’ve saved the best for last, and waited a whole day to post it. I was really tempted to post this yesterday, since it’s the best one, but I held back, kept my impulses in check, and saved it for today. But now that it is christmas eve, it’s time to share with you this final cactus salt and pepper shaker that I’ve found on the web. The best one, after all.

But you’ll have to click through after the break to find out who won the title of Best Cactus Salt and Pepper Shaker. Read More…

Offered here is a Vintage Made in Japan Cactus Salt & Pepper Shakers in excellent condition. Marked on the bottom. So cute for your kitchen decor and even one is missing the cork still in perfect condition!!

The dimension of each cactus is 3” tall.

These are perfect for the guest house out back, with the little kitchenette. You wouldn’t want these on your dining room table in the main house, or even at your beach house on Martha’s Vineyard, but it will go perfect with your retro decor and all the other knick-knacks you hide out back in the guest house.

i wonder how many cactus salt and pepper shakers there are in the world? I’m up to 5 already and I’ve barely scratched the surface. These are for sale on EBay, of course.

CACTUS SALT & PEPPER SHAKERS – CUTE!!!!

Well, I think we can debate that characterization.

From the Wing Thing we find some classic styling.

Cactus Salt and Pepper Shakers

These are vintage salt and pepper shakers that would be perfect for backyard dining, retro casual fare. There is no chipping, but a little bit of paint has worn off a corner (see shaker on the top left – the right hand corner) from being used. Otherwise, the condition is very good. They both have cork in the bottom and are 3″ high. Most likely from the 40’s/50’s. Probably made in Japan, but unmarked.

I suppose these will increase in value since they’re vintage. Not yet antique, but well on their way.

Now this pair is amazing. I think you’d want the salt in the cactus and the pepper in the vulture, but that’s just an opinion. On the other hand, I am the Cactus Blogger, so you will do as I say.

Vulture/Cactus Salt & Pepper Shaker Holder from Wrangler Iron
Length: 4.00″ Height: 5.75″ Width: 2.00″

Salt & Pepper Shakers are not Dishwasher Safe.  Sponge Clean Only.

Oooohh, that may be a deal killer.

A modern interpretation.

Cactus Salt and Pepper Shaker from EXPREZZO, the European design store for the home

I wonder what species these 2 are? I would guess Echinopsis terscheckii and Stetsonia coryne.

Cactus Salt and Pepper Shaker Set

Bring a piece of the Sonoran Desert into your home with the Saguaro and Prickly Pear Cactus Salt & Pepper Set.

I think that’s very nice of them to offer you such a nice way to bring a piece of the desert home with you. notice the details of the little cactus wren, and they caught the cacti in full bloom too!

It’s probably too late to order one of these for this year, but keep it in mind for next year.

6′ PVC Cactus
2,528 Tips – 420 Clear Lights – Green

You know I’m sure there’s plenty of incredibly interesting things I could say about a plastic cactus christmas tree with lights, but then I think it would diminish the power of the image to speak for itself. And that is one powerful image.

‘Tis the season for teapots. Cactus teapots. All kinds and sizes of cactus teapots. Some are more functional, others are more attractive, and most are available for you to buy right now.

Tea for One By Decole Japan at Sugar Pine Beauty

Mini Cactus teapot from Mary’s Teapots at Tea Infusion

1 inch Cactus teapots for $2 each from Siamsmalls

Cactus teapot by FF Japan on Ebay Canada

And one more special teapot after the break…. Read More…

Yesterday I was looking for a cactus version of Mr. Potato Head and I didn’t find one. However, today I found a class in how to make a Mr. Cactus Head. Not exactly what I was looking for, but it’s not nothing to sneeze at.

Little Digger’s workshops
Jan 11th – Growing Mr. Cactus Head
Feb 8th – Get down and dirty in the garden
Mar 8th – Bulbs
Mar 9th – St Erth Festival
Apr 5th – Heronswood Festival (Autumn)
11-2pm. Competition results, seeds, seedlings, craft.
May 10th – Cooking with Skeet
Jun 14th – Mr. Potato Head

Notice how Mr. Cactus Head comes before Mr. Potato Head on the calendar. Very nice. Now you just have to be in Australia to take advantage of this special offer.

I don’t know what this means.

Cactus Head Minnow from danscustomflys.

I don’t know if the minnow is a cactus head or if the lure for the minnow is cactus head.

Anyway, I was looking for a cactus version of Mr. Potato Head, a Mr. Cactus Head if I were so lucky, to give as a very special gift, and this is the best I came up with. But don’t worry, I’ll keep looking.

Here’s another gift item for your favorite cactus friend.

It’s a kitchen magnet from Swisstoons on Zazzle.

Buy it for the design, cherish it for the humor.

You know you’ve been looking for a cactus sweater for your nephew, and I found one for you just in time for christmas. You can thank me later.

Hand Knit Wool Peruvian Camel Cactus Sweater Boys
Great 3D Details in This Sweater! Hand Knit in Equador

A restaurant chain called Boston Pizza has a food item called Cactus Cuts with Cactus Dip. I don’t know what it is. But here’s the nutritional info on it from About.com Health.

Calories in Cactus Cuts with Cactus Dip
Manufactured by Boston’s Gourmet Pizza

Nutrition Facts
Serving Size 1 serving (459.0 g)
Amount Per Serving
Calories 1170
Calories from Fat 630
Total Fat 70.0g
Sodium 1220mg
Total Carbohydrates 113.0g
Dietary Fiber 8.0g
Protein 11.0g

Wow that’s a lot of salt and fat and carbohydrates.

This blog post is kinda stupid. Here we have a food item at a chain that has the word “cactus” in it, so here I am posting it. I don’t even know anything about it. This is ridiculous. let me go find out at least what this food item is. Follow me on this journey of discovery after the break… Read More…

It’s all about the T-shirts this holiday season. I’m pretty sure that’s what all the kids want for christmas. And here we have the one T-shirt they’ll want more than any other, or so I’m told by Invisible Industries on Zazzle.

Well it sure is cute. Here, let me analzye for you why this is so cute. I know you’re thinking it’s the kid. And yes, the kid is cute, with the chubby cheeks and the puffy hair. But it’s the bandaid on the cactus from the kid, rather than a bandaid on a kid from the cactus. It’s very clever, and that’s my analysis of cuteness on this very cold Sunday morning in December.

What is this video blogging doing on a cactus blog? Is this reasonable?!?

Time to get ready for winter. I see from the weather reports that some parts of the Bay Area are going to be below freezing this coming week. I know that the current rains are more imminent than some frost in a few days, but it’s the combination of 3 days of rain followed by temperatures in the low 30s and even into the 20s in some parts of the area that will cause you to want to put a frost blanket over some of your more sensitive succulents, like the aeoniums and kalanchoes. 

But, what with our crazy quilt pattern of local variation, you may not be getting below 40 anyway, so then don’t worry.

Grammar isn’t my strong suit.

Nice gift set for a kid, if you have a small kid to buy a gift set for. I don’t. Railroads, Western motif, and Cactus, as shown right there on the box. It’s good stuff.

You can thank me later for all these wonderful cactus gift suggestions.