The Opuntia ‘Mini Cholla’ is also starting to grow - both the main plant and the cutting. These ones are quick growers, so I am very excited about these guys!
The Darwin cactus, Maihueniopsis darwinii, is finally showing new growth again. You may remember, despite being a cold hardy cacti, I doubted that the Darwins were mature enough to survive the winter, so I placed them in a sunny eastern window. It seems the location, teamed with the heat from the Fios box, inadvertently started them growing, but the light level wasn’t high enough for normal growth. I made the decision to cut off the growth over a month ago, and they are finally coming back!
The aloe hybrid bloom has found its way to direct sun.
OK, this little prickly pear is too adorable. I know I am often quite factual in my posts, but come on, look at this little guy.
Well, post number 500 is a big deal, so here is a small post: the Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (Christmas cholla or tasajillo) is continuing on its mini-explosion. Yay!
This just in: the Mammillaria rodantha is now blooming.
…and here is part 2 of the cactus and succulent garden at the Dallas Arboretum. When possible, I tried to include shots of the labels if you see something you like that you don’t have.
As promised, here is the cactus and succulent garden at the Dallas Arboretum. It is only a cactus garden because it is home to two prickly pears (including a Baby Rita like mine). Otherwise, this garden houses agaves, yucca, sedum, and other great desert plants. Enjoy the eye candy! Part 2 to follow immediately …
fuzzytrees asked: Hey Cactguy! I just noticed that my mamm. elongata seems to be having a problem. It's been leaning towards the light, but when I picked it up just now to water it, one of the columns (coincidentally one that has a new offset about halfway up) sort of flopped over in the opposite direction. Flopping does not seem to be healthy behavior for a cactus. I've been a tad negligent towards my plants recently, so it could be any number of things. I was wondering specifically if it might need repotting?
It shouldn’t need repotted. Most experts recommend every 4-5 years for slow growers and 2-3 for fast growers.
Apparently my largest prickly pear is going to bloom twice this year. That’s a first!
This is the Water-Wise Garden at the Dallas Arboretum. It shows a mixed planting of grasses, coneflowers, and salvias along with various yucca and agave species. It looks like it could use a little care, but give Texas gardeners a sampling of how to mix floral plantings with succulents - and check out the Chihuly tower in the background.
The succulents includeA. ovatifolia(Whale’s Tongue),A. striata var. falcata(a pencil-like Century Plant),Yucca baccata(Banana Yucca), and Hesperaloe parviflora(Texas Red Yucca), amongst many others.
The Dallas Arboretum is a great garden, with awesome views of White Rock Lake and downtown. While they have very few cacti (twoOpuntiathat I saw in the entire 66 acres), they do have a few gardens that feature succulents.
The first one that I will share with you today, I will call the Georgia O’Keefe garden. This spot has a pot of potential and it is begging for some cacti!
Here is the second half of shots from my visit to Orand Nursery in Fort Worth. The first set focused on their agave selection, so here I have shots mostly showing their cacti, aloes, yucca, and other desert plants. Enjoy!
Well, I definitely missed the first blooms. The good news is there appear to be a few more that will emerge within the next week or two. I may have to stay home when it gets close in order to capture a shot!
Dallas Arboretum … Photos to come!
