It's sometimes difficult to distinguish between new growth and a bloom on an Opuntia, perhaps Echinocereus were similar? I was cautiously hopeful.
As time went by it became clear what the nubbins were, this is what they looked like when I took my Bloomday photos. Close, but not quite there...
A couple of days later there was this!
An hour or two passed and they were both open.
I'm sure those of you from warmer, dryer, locations are like "ya, okay...it's a cactus bloom" but I am thrilled! Thrilled this guy has managed to live through our cold, wet, winters and is happy enough to bulk up with additional growth and to bloom.
I bought this plant when I visited the Hillside Botanical Garden in Yakima, WA. The name is a little misleading, it's not a public garden but rather a spectacular cactus garden in owner Ron McKitrick's back yard.
After touring the garden I had the opportunity to purchase a couple of plants, I asked Ron for advice on what would be good for Portland (Yakima, while cold in the winter, is very dry compared to Portland – their rainfall seldom exceeds 6" per year). Ron dug a seedling from his garden – a hybrid form of Echinocereus triglochidiatus v. gonacanthus, resulting from a natural cross of two different Echinos in his garden.
There was no way to know what color the flowers would be, but I am thrilled with this orangey red.
Since the flowers opened the weather has been cooler and cloudier than last week, I don't know if that's why the flowers are sticking around (this is day 3) or if that's just what they do.
No doubt somebody wants to remind me that I claim to be a foliage gardener, why am I so excited about flowers?
Because a blooming cactus is rare in these parts, you see Opuntia blooms around town but not these. And I take it as a sign that I sited this plant correctly to keep it happy. And they're beautiful!
Color me a happy gardener.
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
Beautiful! What a great color too. Congrats on getting them to bloom!
ReplyDeleteThanks Renee!
DeleteI TOTALLY get your excitement! I'm that way every year when a cactus blooms. Plus, I have a real soft spot for claret cup cactus. I love this particular shade of orange-red. What would you call it? Scarlet? Plus, claret cup flowers last much, much longer than most cactus flowers. Almost a week!
ReplyDeleteMine are still looking good, I like the idea of a week!
DeleteOMG..this is so cool! They are darling : ) I had a tiny cactus bloom last week. I was so surprised and thought of you immediately. I put its photo on Instagram I should have tagged you : ) . Maybe you can see it if you follow this link https://www.instagram.com/p/BFWXwcUMJql/?taken-by=ravenscourtgardens
ReplyDeleteIt's orange! I love it.
DeleteWell done Loree! And coincides nicely with Gerhards recent post too :)
ReplyDeleteGreat minds...
DeleteLovely, good to see someone else going photo mad for the flowers
ReplyDeleteI did take quite a few didn't I...
DeleteThey're beautiful. I'd be excited too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kris!
DeleteUsually if someone said, "These little reddish nubbins appeared on my Echinocereus triglochidiatus" I'd think that they might need an antibiotic. This news is much more exciting! So happy for you and your happy cactus. The blooms are gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteHere's hoping you find little reddish nubbins appeared on your Echinocereus triglochidiatus someday.
DeleteBeautiful, exciting, and I feel that way too! Nice photos as well. Even foliage people get excited about some blooms!
ReplyDeleteGlad you understand.
DeleteThrilling! That is a great color and a very adaptable little cactus. Congratulations. I have a little Echinocereus trichoglochidiatus (sp?) That has been chugging along at a snail's pace for several years in the garden and I despair of it ever blooming.
ReplyDeleteWhen you least expect it...
DeleteI get excited when my Claret Cup cactus blooms too even though they (or at least the parent) are native to south Texas. The orange-red color is pretty typical and I always enjoy their bright blooms in early spring. Congratulations on giving them a happy home.
ReplyDeleteThanks Shirley, I'm in good company.
DeleteThose are gorgeous! Definitely worth getting excited over, even if you are a foliage gardener. I have two cacti with buds, but neither is hardy outside here. I so want to "like" Peter's comment. Oh Facebook, how you've trained us.
ReplyDeleteI find myself doing that too (like), it's kind of scary.
DeleteAnyone not living in the desert who gets a cactus to bloom gets to gloat - especially with that color. Looks particularly good with the blue gray neighbor.
ReplyDeleteIt's my desert corner! Between the sidewalk and the driveway there is plenty of reflected heat.
DeleteI would be just as excited as you if I had those gorgeous blooms in my garden.
ReplyDeleteThere are a couple of other small cactus nearby, from Xera years ago. I found myself looking at them yesterday with a sort of "see, maybe you guys might want to get in on the fun and actually bloom someday?..." I'm getting greedy.
DeleteCongratulations! Those blooms are stunningly beautiful! Wow, I'd be excited, too.
ReplyDeleteThanks Beth!
DeleteThey sure took their time, didn’t they?! I love that orange color - it matched the hanging planters in your garden!
ReplyDeleteWow, good memory Diana!
DeleteBeautiful color, like sunshine on a grey day. Congratulations! I don't get that many cactus flowers myself, not having many cactus, so it's an event for me, too.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I just haven't been in the desert long enough, but that would have me pretty excited too, Loree! There's something thrilling about cactus blooms, I think; they're such an emphatic flower. And they do look great next to the Agave :)
ReplyDeleteFabulous. I want to paint a room that color!
ReplyDeleteRarity is nice, but this guy is just plain gorgeous! Plenty enough reason to celebrate.
ReplyDeleteHere is a link to a magazine article featuring Ron (you only showed one autographed page in your post)
ReplyDeletehttps://issuu.com/yakimaherald/docs/yak_mag_0510/36
thank you!
Delete