Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Flowering Opuntia polyacantha

Last year I didn’t experience a single of the many flowers set by my Opuntia polyacantha. Fortunately a visit to my summerhouse (where my winter hardy cacti beds are located) coincided with the flowering of the Opuntia polyacantha this summer.

Opuntia polyacantha flower, close-up
Opuntia polyacantha flower, close-up

The plant is growing in the middle of my oldest cactus bed and soon needs pruning – otherwise it will spread into the neighboring Opuntia 'Smithwick' and Opuntia humifusa plants (seen respectively in the front and background of the below picture). The wild poppies also have to go; I found them charming when small but now they are taking up too much space.

Opuntia polyacantha in cactus bed
Opuntia polyacantha in cactus bed

Like Opuntia humifusa flowers the flowers of Opuntia polyacantha are popular with bumble bees.

Bumble bee indulging in the pleasures of pollen and nectar
Bumble bee indulging in the pleasures of pollen and nectar

Even the slightly spent flowers from the day before are fancied by the bees.

Bumble bee leaving a flower
Bumble bee leaving a flower


You can find details on other Opuntia plants that flowered in the summer of 2007 in these posts: Opuntia fragilis (Butte Co, Nebraska), Opuntia 'Claude Arno', Opuntia tortispina (Albuquerque, New Mexico).

Flowering Opuntia fragilis

Many of my Opuntia plants are flowering early this year including one of my favorites, Opuntia fragilis (Butte Co, Nebraska) with beautiful yellow, red-tinted flowers displaying red filaments, yellow anthers, and green stigma lobes.

Opuntia fragilis flower, close-up
Opuntia fragilis flower, close-up

Last year the plant was moved to a new bed resulting in very few flowers. Now the plant has settled into its new location and the old growth is budding with flowers.

Opuntia fragilis at its new location
Opuntia fragilis at its new location

Opuntia fragilis, flower buds
Opuntia fragilis, flower buds


You can find details on other Opuntia plants that flowered in the summer of 2007 in these posts: Opuntia polyacantha, Opuntia 'Claude Arno', Opuntia tortispina (Albuquerque, New Mexico).

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Delosperma – early flowers, take 3

Delosperma 'John Proffit' is flowering as the last of my Delosperma plants, displaying a wealth of attractive purple flowers with bright white centers.

Delosperma 'John Proffit', close-up
Delosperma 'John Proffit', close-up

Delosperma 'John Proffit' is a vigorous, almost aggressive, grower. The plant has taken over a good part of one of my cactus beds, leaving a Cylindropuntia viridiflora stranded in a sea of purple flowers.

Sprawling Delosperma 'John Proffit'
Sprawling Delosperma 'John Proffit'

For an illustration of the prolific growth you can compare the above plant with the same plant 10 months ago.