Dismemberment a Grizzly Necessity

John P Weiser · Post by **John P Weiser** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 8:51 pm

Well it got out of hand!! That's all I have to say about the situation!! It needed to be handled!! So I gritted my teeth, rolled up my sleeves, and had at it!!

The wicked tools of the trade!

The victim after the deed was done!!

The carnage!! As you can see few were spared!! See what happens when they don't play nice!!

HA!Ha!HaHaHaHaHaHa!

Harriet · Post by **Harriet** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 8:57 pm

Looks painful (for you). The plants will probably be better off for it though.

John P Weiser · Post by **John P Weiser** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:05 pm

Harriet
I can honestly say it was painful. In the most literal sense.

The snow load this winter flattened that big guy and he didn't want to get back up. His little neighbors were suffering.

Harriet · Post by **Harriet** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 9:09 pm

I have some Opuntia that lives in the ground outside, but I don't have to worry about snow loads. I just hope the ones I have planted live up to their descriptions, and don't turn into 12 foot tall monsters!

Peterthecactusguy · Post by **Peterthecactusguy** » Sun Apr 11, 2010 11:41 pm

John
Looks like you got a lot more plants now!

And your Opuntia look happier now that they arent all toppled over. I saw the poor Mamm getting squished under the Opuntia!

Andy_CT · Post by **Andy_CT** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:07 am

A-ha that's why I like to stick the smaller Opuntias, the big guys are bullies. Looks like you showed them who's the boss though

John P Weiser · Post by **John P Weiser** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:19 am

Peter
Need some!! Want some????? Got plenty to spare!!

If not that's OK, they are bio-degradable.

Well all except the spines they can lay in the soil for years bidding their time waiting for an unsuspecting foot, knee or other appendage to spear!!

ihc6480 · Post by **ihc6480** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:40 am

Must be some mean critters to warrant a pair of welding gloves

Know the filling to well John, the snows and mostly bitter cold took it's toll on some of my opuntias.
Some I can replace and others will be hard to replace

John P Weiser · Post by **John P Weiser** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 12:56 am

Bill
The thicker the better!!

I don't think I need dexterity as much as protection!!

Peterthecactusguy · Post by **Peterthecactusguy** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:06 am

John,
I suppose I could take some of those off of your hands.

what types do you got?

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:44 am

Now theres a big pile O cuttings I dont want a couple of!
Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. Take that and that and that!!!

Peterthecactusguy · Post by **Peterthecactusguy** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:46 am

hahaha, guess I am the only nut case in here that actually wants those. (I mistyped actually, I spelled it cactually... LoL)

Tony · Post by **Tony** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 1:50 am

I guarantee you are not the only nut case that wants them.

king_hedes · Post by **king_hedes** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 2:57 am

that is a good pile of opuntia cuttings you got there
what kind is that at the bottom right of that sheet it looks cool and them purple ones

John P Weiser · Post by **John P Weiser** » Mon Apr 12, 2010 3:33 am

king
Bottom right corner of the tarp is O. polyacantha var. polyacantha. A good one similar to the named selection "Crystal Tide". Very hardy, with chiffon yellow, fully double flowers accented by red stamen filaments. Collected in North Dakota.

The purple one bottom center is O. macrocentra. Not as hardy. I have to plant it up close (two foot) to the south facing wall of my house. Any further than four feet into the yard and it gets frost damaged. It will survive but looks very beaten up and scared. Flowers are campaign on the petal tips, shading to intense golden yellow and finally fiery red at the very center. spines are black with white tips.