Connecticut Outdoors 2012 (Andy)

[fanaticactus]

We sure got a break this winter in southern New England and the lower Hudson valley, didn't we? You are looking fantastic for this time of year, Andy. Love the babies and signs of flowers. Gives one hope! I don't think this next week of 50-degree weather will hurt anything, but it might slow down the fast start these few 70-80 degree days have given. Can't wait to get to VT (Apr. 2) and really try to establish a larger outdoor cactus area. Am also excited about the greenhouse and the new possibilities it will provide. Not to mention no longer having to bring 80 or so cacti indoors in rainy spells! Best of luck on the new season.

[Andy_CT]

While I don't really need the shovel it did snow about an inch

E. coccineus

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E. leei

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[RayC]

Yes indeed, little white stuff here also

[hoteidoc]

We just got enough to remind me it is March...April....May , but nothing stuck. Nice pan of some of the other cacti behind the coccineus! They look very good! Hope the AZ people see we can grow some tough plants out here in the NE!
Peter

[majcka]

Just like lots of stuff we get from America we also received a shipment of snow. Just yesterday it snowed in Connecticut this night we had it here.

Snow is all around me...

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[hoteidoc]

Majcka - Like most exports (e.g. beer, wine, whatever) most countries keep the "good" stuff for themselves! Beautiful countryside! From the day I moved to upstate NY, snow has always mesmerized me!

[Andy_CT]

Getting a little bored waiting for plants to really get going so here's some hardy cactus trivia. Below are 3 different Escobaria vivipara plants of identical size, 1 is from Colorado and 2 are from North Dakota. Which one is from Colorado?

A

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B

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C

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[Pilif]

this is a trick question for sure; but the only one substantially different (except for the central spines on the bottom one, but I won't be tricked!) is the first one. The tubercles are rounder and longer than the other two.

[RayC]

No Idea

[Andy_CT]

No Idea

This is a very good answer Seriously at this size it may well be impossible to tell. As they get larger you'll see the two N. Dakota plants being much more flat to the ground.

Anyway plant C is from far Eastern Colorado

[John C]

Wow! That was tough!

[Andy_CT]

Just a few choice photos from the outdoor garden yesterday.

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[hoteidoc]

Hey, Andy - What are pic 1 & 2? I'm guessing #1 is an Echinocer & #2 is Opuntia, but I see long whiskers on it. #1 - a nice macro shot!
Peter

[Andy_CT]

Yeah #1 is Echinocereus viridiflorus, #2 Opuntia polyacantha var. schweriniana. Ever since I got it it has gone a bit 'hairy' with the spines at the base.

[Andy_CT]

I haven't posted in awhile due to a health issue I've been going through the last two months. I still took some pictures to show. The reichenbachii, viridiflorus and some of the missouriensis were seed grown by me.

E. missouriensis

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O. polyacantha

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O. humifusa in a sea of Sedum

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O.humifusa with Sempervivum calcareum hybrid

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Sempervivum arachnoideum 'Abruzzi'

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O. humifusa

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O. humifusa

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O. humifusa with pollinator, these sweat bees go mad when the humifusa bloom

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E. reichenbachii var. baileyi (Granite, OK)

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O. polyacantha

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Hybrid Opuntia, probably cymochila x fragilis

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E. missouriensis

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E. reichenbachii var. perbellus (Timpas, CO)

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E. viridiflorus, far Eastern Colorado

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E. viridiflorus, far Eastern Colorado

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E. missouriensis, Hot Springs, SD

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Lastly the highlight of the season, a true O. fragilis with one flower! Cheyenne, WY

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