My first hardy blooms! (Edited 6-18-09)

Tom2643 · Post by **Tom2643** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:50 am

One of my Opuntia put out it's first bloom ever! I'm guessing it's O. polycantha but I'm awful with Opuntia ID (except fragilis! I can usually pick that one out). Anyways, here are a few shots! I'm really excited for the big show (it has about 20 buds on it!)

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:58 am

Congrats Tom!

Tom2643 · Post by **Tom2643** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 3:06 am

Thanks!

Lachy · Post by **Lachy** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 9:07 am

That's a surprisingly delicate-looking bloom for such a spiny cactus. Vety nice indeed.

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 2:51 pm

Nice bloom!

RayC · Post by **RayC** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 4:08 pm

Nice one, congrats

Andy_CT · Post by **Andy_CT** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 6:28 pm

Nice lemony yellow! I think its a polyacantha too

ihc6480 · Post by **ihc6480** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 10:57 pm

Good to see some action in your garden Tom. Lovely bloom for a spiny cactus.
Theres no doubt it's a polyacantha

iann · Post by **iann** » Mon Jun 15, 2009 11:05 pm

Its great to have flowers like that in the garden, especially a "not desert" garden in the north.

kevin63129 · Post by **kevin63129** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 2:37 pm

Congratulations Tom.Your plant is looking great.

John P Weiser · Post by **John P Weiser** » Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:23 pm

Let me add to the chorus! Congrats to you, on your first but far from your last blossom!!

Post by **daiv** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:27 am

Right on! Now that you got flowers, you're past the point of no return! - not that you'd want to return anyway right?

Tom2643 · Post by **Tom2643** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:31 am

Return? Why would I want to do a silly thing like that? No, instead I was encouraged enough that I cut about 5 feet off the lilac hedge next to the garden to add more room for new cacti and assorted succulents. I've got a few more plants coming in july when Dennis, our cacti supplier brings me in some cuttings out of his yard. I can't wait! I did get some new stuff this week but I haven't had time to upload pictures but I sure am excited for all of it!

I think by next year the entire 50 foot long hedge is going to be ripped out and a new cacti 'hedge' installed

Tom2643 · Post by **Tom2643** » Thu Jun 18, 2009 10:16 pm

More pictures! Anyone know what's up with all the little red mites? They're not spider mites and they don't actually seem to be feeding on the plants. The way the move almost seems like a predatory mite or something. There are millions of them all over my garden though

There are a lot more flowers open today, my parents think I'm crazy because I just keep admiring it.

The just-opening flowers look a lot like a rose, I was surprised

And, while not a cactus, I still thought I'd share this picture of my cobweb sempervivum blooming

Post by **CoronaCactus** » Fri Jun 19, 2009 1:01 am

Great show!
Very nice Opuntia

If they are a predatory mite, hopefully they prey on the unfriendly bugs and not the friendly ones