Echinopsis 'Romance' flower
The South-American natives, Echinopsis, are not the most attractive cacti. They are often slightly off color with yellow or brown patches instead of a healthy green, they do not have particularly interesting spines and yet I cannot help but always have a few around. So what is their appeal? Why when space is limited to I feel the need to keep them in the collection?
Dryland Mesa in bloom
Prickly pear cacti blooming in Dryland Mesa
Early mornings in the gardens are definitely peaceful and cool, however some gardens, like some people, are not at their best until well after lunchtime. The south end of Dryland Mesa is currently one of these gardens and the cacti flowers, which are at their peak right now, are definitely late risers, refusing to open until the sun is at its fullest.
Admittedly an early morning visit does have the reward of the intense chocolate aroma of the Berlandiera lyrata (chocolate flowers). The closed Eschscholzia californica (California poppies) have a certain charm too, it is fascinating to watch them open as the sun falls on them. By mid-afternoon though everyone has stretched and opened
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I visited our Cactus and Succulent collection today and was pleased to see the blooms. Their thickened forms and outlandish shapes hide their underlying solidarity with our more familar landscape plants, at least until they bloom and reveal their true affiliation. The blooms seem all the precious when you contemplate them in contrast to their dry, challenging habitats in the wild.
The Colorado Cactus and Succulent Society is having a show at Denver Botanic Gardens this Saturday, March 29 (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and Sunday, March 30 (9 a.m.-4 p.m.). The show includes recognized experts available to answer questions, brief yet informative seminars, hourly drawings for free plants, and a variety of plants and supplies for sale. I just hope to see more beautiful plants!
Posted in: At the Gardens, What's Blooming - Comments(3)