Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Wednesday Vignette: look, up there in the sky!

January of 2014 and completely by accident I happened upon a Portland house with cactus on its roof (photos here). Over the years I tried to find it again, I was curious to see how the opuntia were doing. Were they still there? Had they multiplied? Try as I might I wasn't able to locate it. Then out of the blue I got an email from my friend Doug Norseth and he'd happened upon the same house, and took note of it's location! Naturally I did a drive by. 

The cactus are indeed still there, but in the 7 years since I first photographed them they hadn't grown much, if at all.

I find this all very curious. If I were going to plant opuntia on my roof I'd go a little wild. If one or two plants made it through the first year then maybe a dozen plants would follow—but that's me. Obviously these folks are happy with just the two plants. Good on them. I am happy to see they're still there all these years later.

Weather Diary, Jan 26: Hi 41, Low 35/ Precip .20—some of which fell as snow

Wednesday Vignettes are hosted by Anna at The Creative Flux. All material © 2009-2021 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

16 comments:

  1. How peculiar that there isn't any noticeable growth. The house on the other hand appear to have new sidings and paint. Maybe the garden will get some attention next.

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  2. Curious how it hasn't grown much at all. I was half expecting it would have taken quite a chunk of the roof space. Unless it's been tidied recently.

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    1. Or I suppose weather could have also done some downsizing.

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  3. That's pretty cool! I know where that is - in the old 'hood, if you will. Used to love passing by that on the way to Mt. Tabor. Always amazed at Portland creativity. Thanks for sharing.

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    1. I thought about asking you where it was, as I remember you used to live nearby and I think we've even talked about it. But I kept forgetting!

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  4. Like the Opuntia in the tree at my local botanic garden, it may have been planted accidentally by wildlife. The botanic garden's odd Opuntia in a tree hasn't gotten very big either and I hazard a guess that their growth is limited by the space available to spread their roots.

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    1. There's always a chance, but I think that sort of thing is much more likely in your part of the world.

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  5. It looks to me like the one on the right has lost pads!

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    1. I think that was my issue with where I stood to take the photo.

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  6. I think that's so cool and strange, but I like the unexpected.


    This has nothing to do with today's post, but I am sure enjoying your book. It's really good. Not all gardening books are. I'm on page 90. Thanks for writing it. Laura

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    1. Thank you Laura, I really appreciate your saying so.

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  7. Hmmmm...now this has me curious. Do they have anything else up on that roof? It looks like there are some mosses and maybe some other plants up there? Is there a staircase leading up there, so they can sit on the roof on fair-weather days? I want to pry over the top and see the magic...

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    1. Drone to the rescue! Well, if I had one, which I don't.

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  8. Haha - I see what you mean! Nope, you're right. An opuntia would not like my shady backyard, but I'm happy to tell you I have three little baby paddles getting a start in life in my community garden. For now, I just hope they will make it through the winter. :)

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