Cold Climate Cactus

The Escobaria vivipara cacti are starting to bloom. Their buds are much harder to see because they blend in with the appearance of the spins. Then they seem to suddenly open. Taking every chance I can to pollinate them and often they are closing up again by the time I come home from work. These flowers come out with the sun light and they start to close when the sun goes behind the trees.

The Echinocereus viridiflorus cacti are flowering very well and I'm hoping they will form plenty of seed pods too. They open with the sun and close again later in the afternoon. On cloudy days or if the day turns cloudy they will close up very quickly.

There have been gray skies and cool rain for the week and the Echinocereus cacti all still have their buds closed. Hopefully the sun will open them on days when I can get out to pollinate them. It is impressive how these plants can save their flowering for sunny weather when the insects they need will be out too.

The Echinocereus triglochidiatus and viridiflorus cacti are producing lots of buds. A few plants have started to open their flowers, but cooler weather has kept all of the flower buds closed for a few days. When the sun comes out again there should be plenty of flowers to pollenate.

The Pediocactus plants are on their last flowers and they will finish blooming before any other species begin to bloom. There are signs of developing seed pods and the plants are putting out plenty of new growth.

The Pediocactus simpsonii var. minor plants are starting to bloom. Now, I'm going out with a paint brush every day to pollinate these plants. I think they have the most ethereal flowers of any cactus plants. All of the outdoor cacti seem to be forming flowers and buds early this year.

I have this dream sometimes that I'm a child riding my bicycle in the town where I grew up. There are piles of fill dirt for road construction and I see globular and prickly pear cacti mixed in with the piles of dirt. I decide to go home to get a bag to carry them in so I can plant them in my parents yard. Then I wake up.