Reader <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1870&amp;entry_id=1699" title="http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/index_5.php" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.churchsigngenerator.com/index_5.php’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Bob Davis</a> sent along this photo of what appears to be an upcoming sale at a local church. I hope it’s not a sermon.<br /><br /><img width="432" hspace="5" border="2" src="/blog/uploads/cactus/churchsign.jpg" /><br /><br />

<a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1869&amp;entry_id=1698" title="http://www.bearskinrug.co.uk/_articles/2006/09/12/mojo_and_cactus/" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.bearskinrug.co.uk/_articles/2006/09/12/mojo_and_cactus/’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Mojo and Cactus go at it at Bearskinrug</a>. <br /><br />Strip after the break…<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/archives/1698-guid.html#extended">Continue reading "The Sad Tale of the Monkey and the Cactus"</a>

A cactus was growing quite tall<br />Until Bob in a car did come call<br />He chopped it quite fast<br />It fell with a blast<br />Causing Bob to be pinned to the wall.<br /><br />

The <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1862&amp;entry_id=1688" title="http://www.modernphoenix.net/hometour/index.htm" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.modernphoenix.net/hometour/index.htm’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Phoenix Home Tour</a> this April 5 + 6, there’s going to be a focus on the landscape and cacti as part of the modern life of the city.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Charlie Ray, Designer, The Green Room<br />
Cacti and Succulents as Living Sculpture<br />
In addition to leading the indoors out, a principle tenet of Modernsim is bringing the outdoors in. Learn how to create living modern sculpture out of low-maintenance cacti and succulents in this hands-on workshop. Plant selection, dramatic staging, top dressing, potting, aesthetics, and maintenance will be discussed.</span><br /></div><br />There’s also some Frank Lloyd Wright discussion over at Taliesen West, plus pretty pictures too. It looks like Brady Bunch Suburbia.<br /><br /><img width="432" hspace="5" border="2" src="/blog/uploads/misc/earll3.jpg" /><br /><br />I see agaves.<br /><br />via Julie at <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1863&amp;entry_id=1688" title="http://asucculentlife.blogspot.com/2008/02/modern-phoenix.html" onmouseover="window.status=’http://asucculentlife.blogspot.com/2008/02/modern-phoenix.html’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">A Succulent Life</a><br />

St. Olaf College has some cactus art.<br /><br />There is only so much we can do when writing sentences like that last one. It is full of information, densely packed tight, and yet I have no idea what it could mean. Shall I read the article to find out what it means? Or pass over it and regain a few minutes of my life lost to the reading of that enigmatic sentence.<br /><br />Well, here it is if you should care to find out more, after the break…<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/archives/1684-guid.html#extended">Continue reading "Cactus Art"</a>

Some people just have too many cactus, even if they live in Fayetteville, NC and write for the <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1858&amp;entry_id=1679" title="http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=285055" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=285055′;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Fayetteville Observer</a>.<br /><br style="font-style: italic;" /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><img width="250" hspace="5" height="329" border="2" src="/blog/uploads/misc/20se10209dsc-scaled.jpg" /><br style="font-style: italic;" /><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo by Roger Mercer<br />
This crested form of Lemairocereus thunbergii probably will never bloom, but the plant’s brown bristles and contorted growth make it delightfully decorative.<br />
<br />
I grew almost 4,000 cacti and more than 1,000 species of cacti and succulents. That was before I moved from a house with two greenhouses to a house with none.</span><br /></div><br />Good Grief.<br /><br />

<a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1857&amp;entry_id=1678" title="http://www.diyclick.com/2008/02/how-to-have-beautiful-spring-garden.html" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.diyclick.com/2008/02/how-to-have-beautiful-spring-garden.html’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">DIY is featuring</a> some help in planting for drought conditions, and recommends native cacti and succulents. However they don’t say where they are native to. No matter, low-water plants of all types are good during drought. Except today, when it’s raining. And tomorrow, and the day after that, too. It looks like at least another week of rain here.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Many of our own native plants, water-storing cactus and succulents for example, have evolved over time to tolerate dry conditions… Often they display one or more adaptations, including deep taproots or shallow but wide-reaching root systems to maximize the chance of finding water, gray green waxy or hairy leaf coverings, or reduced leaf surface to cut down on water loss through transpiration.<br />
<br />
Prudent gardeners select companion plants with similar water needs… The trick is to keep young plants watered during the first two to four weeks while they become established, and after that they will be fine.</span><br /></div><br />So that’s how you do it.<br /><br />

This is a mystery post. I don’t know what a cactus dahlia is, but they like them in London, as the <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1832&amp;entry_id=1656" title="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2008/02/02/garden-dahlia102.xml" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/main.jhtml?xml=/gardening/2008/02/02/garden-dahlia102.xml’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Daily Telegraph</a> has a whole article about cactus dahlias at Sissinghurst.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">There are two very old dahlias in the coral-pink-orange range that I can recommend. The first is the cactus variety ‘Pontiac’. I first saw this in the bright and intensely colourful cottage garden at Sissinghurst and I’ve now grown and loved it for years.<br />
<br />
It has far fewer petals than most cactus dahlias and is all the nicer for it.</span><br /></div><br />I’ve done some research for you on this strange topic and found out that, &quot;<a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1833&amp;entry_id=1656" title="http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8500.html" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/hort/hil/hil-8500.html’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Cactus dahlias</a> have somewhat tubular shaped petals that curve backwards for over one-half of their length.&quot; <br /><br />Alright, I still don’t understand. Is the word &quot;cactus&quot; just a modifier? Does it have any meaning? Let’s try <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1834&amp;entry_id=1656" title="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahlia" onmouseover="window.status=’http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dahlia’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">wikipedia</a>.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">The American Dahlia Society recognizes 19 distinct bloom forms:<br />
<br />
<strong> Formal Decorative<br />
</strong> Informal Decorative<br />
<strong> Straight Cactus<br />
</strong> Semi Cactus<br />
* Incurved Cactus…</span><br /></div><br />Ahhh… it’s a label to distinguish certain elements of the dahlia blooms!<br /><br />
From <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1835&amp;entry_id=1656" title="http://www.sunnygardens.com/garden_plants/dahlia/dahlia_0953.php" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.sunnygardens.com/garden_plants/dahlia/dahlia_0953.php’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Sunny Gardens</a> I’ve borrowed a photo:<br /><br /><img width="260" hspace="5" height="260" border="0" src="/blog/uploads/misc/0953.jpg" /><br /><br />Now we know what one looks like.<br /><br />

The University of South Florida Botanical garden has some lovely cactus in their collection. From the <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1831&amp;entry_id=1655" title="http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jan/27/pa-a-perfect-place-to-get-away/" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/jan/27/pa-a-perfect-place-to-get-away/’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Tampa Bay Tribune</a>.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">I had the pleasure to encounter three… curators as they busied themselves among a prickly display of cacti and succulents….<br />
<br />
Edelman and her fellow cacti curators Bob Gallion and Emily Laurenti volunteer their time and expertise twice weekly. Their duties range from keeping the exhibit manicured and healthy to preparing cuttings for public sale. But most important to them is the opportunity to share their knowledge with greenhorn and green thumb alike….<br />
<br />
But most of all, the USF Botanical Gardens is a great place to take a load off. Shade abounds, as do secluded nooks replete with quaint wooden benches and fragrant solitude. I paused for a sit among several dozen species of bromeliads, some in bloom while others waited out the winter for warmer days.</span><br /></div><br />Nice.<br /><br />

A columnist for the <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1827&amp;entry_id=1648" title="http://www.shetlandtoday.co.uk/Shetlandtimes/content_details.asp?ContentID=25024" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.shetlandtoday.co.uk/Shetlandtimes/content_details.asp?ContentID=25024′;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Shetland Times</a> writes about the ongoing competition between Tuscany and Shetland, Italy vs. Scotland, and seems to think that Tuscany may be winning, what with their better climate for growing cactus.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">After 30 years in Shetland we could probably put up with a touch of Tuscan winter damp, and there’s nothing wrong with alcoholic neighbours during their sober spells.<br />
<br />
The turf around the house is dotted with the marbled leaves of Arum italicum and there are bound to be other treasures. Cyclamen for one, and wild narcissi. I could grow my collection of cacti and succulents as they should be grown. Planted deeply into well-drained sandy soil where they can reach the heights and girths they want to be, rather than remain dwarfed by the straightjackets of containers.</span><br /></div><br />It’s a pleasant enough article, you should go read it. And it is true, the climate in Tuscany is perfect for cactus, whereas Scotland – not so much. Darkness, dreariness, fog, rain, old castles with tiny windows. Of course, I’ve never been to Tuscany. No wait, that’s not true. I spent a week there once. But that was in Firenze, back when I was an architecture student, not out in the countryside where they grow all that cactus.<br /><br />

Jeff Smith has a new comic out and for inspiration he went to the desert and communed with the cactus. Publisher’s Weekly has the interview:

Ouch.

They’ve been eating them in the Americas for centuries. From Humboldt County’s <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1809&amp;entry_id=1628" title="http://www.northcoastjournal.com/012408/food0124.html" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.northcoastjournal.com/012408/food0124.html’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">North Coast Journal </a>comes this long article about the eating habits of native americans.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Throughout North America, prior to the westward press of pioneers, native people exploited their environment ingeniously….<br />
<br />
The Plains Indians, whose staple protein was bison, ate a starchy lily root called camas, from which they made bread, as well as tubers with flavors resembling sweet potato and salsify….<br />
<br />
Even in the arid Southwest, mesquite beans, pine nuts, <span style="font-weight: bold;">nopales (from prickly pear cactus)</span> and banana yucca supplemented The Three Sisters, together with a wide variety of chiles.</span><br /></div><br />And good for you too.<br /><br />

Since I can’t be in Phoenix today, I’ve decided to watch the game on TV here in Berkeley.<br /><br />My predictions:<br />[Updated 2/4 6:00am: Oops.]<br /><br />

They have a strange set of interests in Colorado. They go to the desert and they find a toaster. Then they write an entire article about the toaster and print it in the newspaper. I’m not shocked, after all, since Coloradans are living pretty high. From the <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1802&amp;entry_id=1610" title="http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/jan/17/head-southwest-for-saguaros-singletrack/" onmouseover="window.status=’http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/jan/17/head-southwest-for-saguaros-singletrack/’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Boulder Daily Camera</a>.<br /><br style="font-style: italic;" /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><img width="384" hspace="5" height="512" border="2" src="/blog/uploads/misc/G0117TUCSON.jpg" /><br />An old toaster decorated with cactus is part of the folk art adorning the Fantasy Island riding area in Tucson, Ariz.<br />
Photo by Marty Caivano</span><br /></div><br />That’s a nice toaster.<br /><br />

<a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1800&amp;entry_id=1608" title="http://houstonist.com/2008/01/18/houstonist_bart_51.php" onmouseover="window.status=’http://houstonist.com/2008/01/18/houstonist_bart_51.php’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Houstonist finds a recipe</a> for a cactus juice cocktail that contains prickly pear fruit juice, and of course tequila.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Houstonist is heading to Big Bend National Park this weekend to participate in our annual camping extravaganza…<br />
<br />
This year, we decided that it was time to "live off of the land" and "leverage" available natural resources. What’s plentiful in West Texas besides sand and sun? That’s right – cactususes. [We know cacti is correct, but cactususes is more betterer. So, deal.]…</span><br /></div><br />Recipe after the break….<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/archives/1608-guid.html#extended">Continue reading "Drink Your Cactus"</a>

It’s not a list of the best restaurants, for that would be <span class="sense_content"><span class="syn">repetitious, what with the hundreds of best-of year-end lists and all. Instead, with a little bit of creativity, the fine folks at the <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url=aHR0cDovL3d3dy50dWNzb25jaXRpemVuLmNvbS9zcy90YXN0ZS83Mjg5OQ==&amp;entry_id=1577" title="http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/taste/72899" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/ss/taste/72899′;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Tucson Citizen</a> have delved deep within and discovered their 25 favorite dishes. This being Tucson, one could certainly expect to find some cactus in there.<br /><br /></span></span><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span class="sense_content"><span class="syn"><span style="font-style: italic;">Tequila Lime Salmon ($19) at Lodge on the Desert, 306 N. Alvernon Way. The tequila and lime made for a vibrantly juicy and even salty salmon, carefully teamed with a mango salsa and a <span style="font-weight: bold;">prickly pear cactus juice</span> reduction.</span></span></span><br /><span class="sense_content"><span class="syn"></span></span></div><span class="sense_content"><span class="syn"><br />Well, cactus juice counts, I suppose. One of my favorite dishes locally is at <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url=aHR0cDovL2NvY2luYXBvYmxhbmEuY29tL2VtZXJ5dmlsbGUvaW5kZXguaHRt&amp;entry_id=1577" title="http://cocinapoblana.com/emeryville/index.htm" onmouseover="window.status=’http://cocinapoblana.com/emeryville/index.htm’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Cocina Poblana</a>, just around the corner from us. <br />
<br />
Huarache Tingado <br />
An overgenerous Huarache lined with refried black beans and grilled Penca de Nopal, with your choice of Beef or Chicken tinga Mexican and Cotija cheese.<br /><br /></span></span>

I added a couple new t-shirts to our <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1765&amp;entry_id=1572" title="http://www.cafepress.com/cactusjungle" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.cafepress.com/cactusjungle’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Cafe Press Store</a>. Now you can get our logo t-shirts, some of my fancy graphics t-shirts, a chalk dudleya mug, blooming rebutia tile, and these 2 new ones:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img width="150" hspace="5" height="150" border="0" src="/blog/uploads/misc/blue_neon_cactus.jpg" /><img width="150" hspace="5" height="150" border="0" src="/blog/uploads/misc/red_neon.jpg" /> <br /></div><br />Our newest classic, the <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Neon Cactus Ringer T-Shirts</span> in red and blue<br /><br />

For no particular reason that I can think of.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Euphorbia pubiglans</span><br /></div><br /><a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1759&amp;entry_id=1564" title="http://cactusjungle.com/plant_pages/euphorbia_pubiglans.htm" onmouseover="window.status=’http://cactusjungle.com/plant_pages/euphorbia_pubiglans.htm’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Plant page with image is here.</a> Anyone think of a reason for the name?<br /><br />

We’re back from our winter travels to Idaho and through the Donner Pass in a snowstorm. We got stuck waiting for the 17 car pileup to be cleared, but contrary to what others have implied, we were not part of it.<br /><br /><br />

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/fYbkYfKMhsU" /><embed width="425" height="350" adblockframename="adblock-frame-n7" adblockframedobject2="true" adblockframedobject="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/fYbkYfKMhsU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /><br /><br /></object><a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1751&amp;entry_id=1554" title="http://atrios.blogspot.com/2007_12_23_archive.html#8016868247926657037" onmouseover="window.status=’http://atrios.blogspot.com/2007_12_23_archive.html#8016868247926657037′;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">via atrios</a><br /><br />

A strange article about what they used to do to celebrate christmas in Florida, from the <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1739&amp;entry_id=1543" title="http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/122107_fpg-04.txt" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/122107_fpg-04.txt’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Tampa Bay Beacon</a>.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Christmases past in Florida<br />
<br />
The beauty of a Florida sandman is the sun won’t melt it. The only danger is high tide.<br />
<br />
Cactus-fruit pies, jousting competitions, contraband bottles of whisky washing ashore have made for some memorable Christmases past in Florida.</span><br /></div><br />I don’t know what they’re talking about. This is quite the mystery. Are any of my readers long-time Florida residents who know what this means?<br /><br />I didn’t think so.<br /><br />

<a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1737&amp;entry_id=1540" title="http://www.orangepower.com/showthread.php?t=46362" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.orangepower.com/showthread.php?t=46362′;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Oklahoma State</a> is going to the Insight Bowl (it’s a football thing) in Phoenix and some local fans are making tourist recommendations.<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Oklahoma State football fans heading for the Insight Bowl in Arizona are in for some real treats and the lucky ones will plan on spending extra time in the area….<br />
<br />
No. 1 on my do-not-miss list is the Desert Botanical Garden with 50 acres of trails. From towering cardon and saguaro cactus to rotund barrel cactus, the walks are lined with more than 50,000 specimens of cacti, succulents and desert wildflowers.<br />
<br />
Birders flock here, too, to see cactus wrens.</span><br /></div><br />OK.<br /><br />

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/JBvf30C_x-8" /><embed width="425" height="350" adblockframename="adblock-frame-n7" adblockframedobject2="true" adblockframedobject="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/JBvf30C_x-8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /><br /><br /> </object>

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="https://www.youtube.com/v/yYUsr8RZvSU" /><embed width="425" height="350" adblockframename="adblock-frame-n7" adblockframedobject2="true" adblockframedobject="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/v/yYUsr8RZvSU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" /></object> <br /><br />

It may be too late for christmas, but then I’ve never cross-stitched a doilie, so maybe not.<br /><br /><img width="300" hspace="5" height="401" border="0" src="/blog/uploads/misc/cross_stitch_10089-3.gif" /><br /><br />It’s a cross stitch cactus from <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1726&amp;entry_id=1527" title="http://www.s-embroidery.com/magazin/catalog/Cross_Stitch_Cactus_Set_1_p_136.html" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.s-embroidery.com/magazin/catalog/Cross_Stitch_Cactus_Set_1_p_136.html’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">s-embroidery.com</a>, as if you didn’t know.<br /><br />

The original article this letter is referring to was something about public art, but it’s hard to tell from the letter itself. From the <a href="https://cactusjungle.com/archives/blog/exit.php?url_id=1713&amp;entry_id=1517" title="http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/1217monlets172.html" onmouseover="window.status=’http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/1217monlets172.html’;return true;" onmouseout="window.status=”;return true;">Arizona Republic letters page</a>:<br /><br /><div style="margin-left: 40px;"><span style="font-style: italic;">We need shade. The diaphanous flexible nets would probably work great for shade. But a blooming cactus flower does not give much shade, so let’s try another design that would be a roof.</span><br /></div><br />No way.<br /><br />

We had the company party last night and I’m still a little groggy. I made cranberry margaritas which were very popular with the young crowd.<br /><br />And on top of that the new Mac broke again yesterday. I hate Apple. But I’ll get around to some cactus blogging soon enough, I’m sure. We’ll just let the aspirin kick in first.<br /><br />

We’re coming up on a week of rain, starting last night. So make sure your cacti and succulents have good drainage. If they’re in pots and sitting on a concrete deck, then for god’s sake lift them up on pot feet already so they can drain out the drainage hole in the bottom.<br /><br />I’m just cranky ’cause I’m going to be outside at the nursery in the cold and rain all day today. <br /><br />