We have a Peruvian cactus( the tallest of all cactus) next to the garage entry. It came as a potted plant years ago that flowered that year in its pot. Hardy and tolerant of many conditions(I think that because the above ground root ball, exposed, makes it tolerable to our watered clay soil). It quickly grew in its oak barrel and from there, rooted into the soil. The plant is easy to propagate, cut anywhere on its stock, plant the down side, and then wait. The wait isn't long before you get flowers and possibly fruit.
In the summer it flowers as in the photo, only at night, closing by mid morning, they will open and close for a few days before turning black and falling from the cactus. Beautiful, even more so a day ago because of a fortunate alignment that occurred at the same time. The full moon was at its closest orbit to earth, clear skies with the cactus in full bloom. Incredible to see towering overhead that night in the garden with cream white blooms a foot long and almost as wide catching moonbeams on clear summer night.
I wished I could take photos like the pros. My night shot really didn't show how wonderful the blooms looked like. They glowed in a gold-tinged white. The color of butter dripping from pancakes. But this shot was on the morning after, with bees busy deep in the stamens. The pollination that occurs brings a football shaped bright red fruit. The birds love them and get most of the fruit. I get what I can reach and allow pods to ripen a nice red when I see them begin to turn from green to pink.
The rind is cut off easily, once one side is slit leaving a flawless white flesh specked with black seeds similar to banana seeds. They are slightly sweet with a refreshing crisp when eaten. The way the birds go after them, they have to be good.
Nice addition to a breakfast meal, once the fruit appears, I'll show photos of the flesh inside.
Germany won the world cut. I have polka music going in the patio in celebration of their title. It was a good game.
No comments:
Post a Comment