Nature is astonishing, isn’t it? How delightfully ironic that the flowers of many cacti resemble water lilies and the tops of some, snowflakes. Here are 18 examples to warm you this chilly season. Apologies to cactiphiles; I wasn’t able to identify all of them. If you would like to provide one or more IDs, please do! —[...]
Turk’s cap cactus uses its pelt to collect moisture. It’s native to a maritime location that gets fog but very little rain. As far as the other fuzzy succulents shown here, the best I can come up with is that their filaments help them gain a few degrees of cold protection. If you have a better[...]
For the past few years I’ve created a garden wall calendar; this year, I did two. Giving someone a calendar is a step up from sending them a greeting card. A calendar is a gift, but not one that people feel they need to reciprocate, so there’s no awkwardness if they don’t give you something,[...]
I’m often asked to recommend sources of succulent cuttings for wreaths, topiaries and other projects. Unfortunately, most online sources sell cuttings for around $1/apiece, which means a wreath—not counting its moss-packed wire donut—may cost $100 to make. But pre-made wreaths available this time of year not only cost much less, they’re also a great source[...]
Here in the far southwestern corner of the US, we have our own ways of interpreting the autumn garden---cactus, succulents, dry gardens, fruit and pumpkins all come into play.[...]