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| Epipyllum |
These are all flowering cacti in my patio. I haven't identified all of them yet because they were given to me by friends and neighbors. Some of these are "Epi-s," tropical cacti that often live in the nooks and crannies of trees or rocks in the forests of temperate climates. They like humidity and bright indirect light.
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| Same Flower Open |
We've had an especially good year for the flowers. They only last a day or two, but they are breathtaking, unexpected and other-worldly. They remind me of a flower you might see in the old Star Trek series. Isn't it funny when certain natural things appear made up?
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| Cereus? |
A lot of clients I work with want plants that flower virtually all year long, and why not? We live in a climate where that is possible. Nothing wrong with enjoying our blessings. In fact, it makes good sense to plant things that have interest all year, and that flower over a long period. But (you knew there was a but!) I think cactus flowers remind me of that side of life that one is uniquely able to celebrate and process through gardening -- Impermanence.
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| Name?? Big Bloomer! |
Impermanence and beauty go hand in hand. The cactus flowers that last only a day or two -- some only opening fully that night -- are such treasures. Their impermanence makes them seem more valuable and ethereal than the Lavenders, Salvias, and even Roses that flower constantly in my garden.
Like the fleeting fruit-tree blossoms of Spring, or the falling leaves of Autumn, short-lived flowers mark the seasons and the passing of the years in a very comforting way.
All this reminds me of my powerlessness in the face of Nature. Sometimes remembering how small we are, and how big and varied the universe is, is very comforting.
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| Same cactus as above |
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| Another "Epi" |
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