Sunday Selections was originally brought to us by Kim, of Frogpondsrock, as an ongoing meme where participants could post previously unused photos languishing in their files.
Huge thanks to Cie who gave me this wonderful Sunday Selections image.
The meme was then continued by River at Drifting through life. Sadly she has now stepped aside (though she will join us some weeks), and I have accepted the mantle.
The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent. Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to me. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
I
usually run with a theme. This week I am concentrating (mostly) on our night flowering cactus. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I had missed this season's first bloom. I was determined not to miss the next. A watched kettle may never boil, but a watched cactus does bloom. Eventually. I am also showcasing the bloom in a nod to Charlotte (MotherOwl)'s colour of the month - which is white.
Late one afternoon there were signs that this was the night.
I went out again about an hour and a half later, just as the sun was setting.
When I went out again early the next morning the bloom was on full (and lovely) display. It has a pleasant scent too. Each flower is about my hand span in size (about 22cm or 8.6 inches).
The blooms don't last long though. The following photos were taken the next day.
While it is a short-lived beauty, it is one I look forward to each year. In the last shot you will notice another bud which has since bloomed. I took photos of it too.
I hope you find beauty in your week too.
WOW!!! The cactus bloom is beautiful and it was fun watching it bloom, the stages there of. Way back in the day Disney did time lapse photo's when they did nature things and even as kid I was enthralled with watching.
ReplyDeleteSandy: I thought of time lapse photography too, particularly when I saw just how fast it opened (once it had started.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous bloom! I can see why you'd stalk its arrival. Too bad it doesn't last a bit longer to enjoy it at leisure. I'm so glad you were able to capture the fleeting beauty in photos and share with the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI hope you and your household - human and feline - have a good week without much stress to go along with it. Hugs and scritches all around.
River Fairchild: You are right. I did stalk it. This week looks both busy and stressful. Fingers and toes crossed that both diminish. Huge hugs to you too.
DeleteWow, 8.6 inches wide. I'm so glad that you could watch it bloom to it's full potential. Too bad they don't last longer.
ReplyDeleteWe are having a very cold blast from the North Pole and it's insanely cold here all of a sudden. The wing is so strong that I had to wait til the blast of wind died down before I cold open my car to get in. Even too cold to blow bubbles.
Thanks for sharing the gorgeous bloom.
Hugs,
Julia
Julia: Stay warm and out of the wind. We are having a weird summer. For the last few days we were told to expect snow on the nearby hills. It didn't happen but the temperatures dropped dramatically. Today we are back to summer sweatiness.
DeleteWow, what an amazing bloom! I always wish that short-lived blooms could last longer; but I guess their ephemeral nature is what makes them extra-special when they occur. Thanks for sharing! :-)
ReplyDeleteDiane Henders: Isn't it gorgeous? I don't know that I could ever get blase about this one, but was very, very glad to see the display.
DeleteNice! It took me a few pictures to realize it was a cactus. 😄
ReplyDeleteMike: Definitely a cactus. Not only does it have vicious spikes it also has fine hairs that break off and embed themselves in you skin if you go too close.
DeleteThat's wild it barely blooms one day. Beautiful flower.
ReplyDeleteAlex J. Cavanaugh: It is indeed beautiful. I am so very glad I didn't miss these - and there is another bud on the way.
DeleteSo magnificent.
ReplyDeleteSandi: We think so too.
DeleteNo, they do not last long which makes them all the more magnificent. What a great patient series of photos here my friend! I really really applaud you for this post
ReplyDeleteCloudia: River Fairchild had it right. I stalked this bloom (and the one beside it). You are right about the magnificence - and thank you.
DeleteThe flowering cactus is a special phenomenon. Love the photos
ReplyDeleteroentare: Thank you.
DeleteThat is so pretty. I'm happy you were able to get the photos.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: It is a lovely thing isn't it?
DeleteCactus blossoms and their cycles – one could become philosophical ...
ReplyDeleteGlad you made it this year, Sue.
Sean Jeating: Few cycles are quite as brief as this one. Which may or may not be a good thing.
DeleteWe enjoy the beauty while it lasts and are always on the lookout for the next treat!. The bloom was gorgeous! Have a great week, EC.
ReplyDeleteMarie Smith: I am a beauty addict and definitely enjoy it while it lasts. Thank you.
DeleteHow lovely! It's great that you could provide us with a series of photographs as the beauty opened.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
Janie Junebug: Thank you. My obsessional self HAD to document the process.
DeleteIt must be so exciting to watch with such huge anticipation. Barely one day of flowering does not give a lot of time to reproduce.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: I assume that its pollinators are moths? Mind you, I don't think that cacti reproduced from seed.
DeleteInteresting and lovely blooms.
ReplyDeleteI hope Odie and Batty are doing okay. And I hope the coming week treats you kindly, EC. Take care. :)
Lee: Thank you. Odie and Batty are marking time, and still not right. Yet another call and possibly visit to the vet (or the vet specialist) this week. I hope that you and Shama are doing a tiny bit better.
DeleteThat is most lovely, i'm glad you were able to catch the next ones.
ReplyDeleteMy selections will be over here.
messymimi: Thank you. I look forward to your selections, including your often present skyscapes.
DeleteThat white night flowering cactus is lovely. Thanks for getting so many pictures for us.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: I could have inflicted you with a LOT more photos.
DeleteCacti are an amazing plant but do have beautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteTake care.
Margaret D: They do don't they?
DeleteThe flower is gorgeous and so big! I really hope Odie and Batty keep improving, I remember well how stressed I was when Lola would scratch herself raw for several months each year. The fix turned out to be so simple and I wish it could be the same for Odie and Batty.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I am amazed at how large the flowers are every year. I am indeed very stressed about the kittens and really hope there is a simple solution for both of them. Sadly I think that surgery is in Batty's future.
DeleteI remember having some night-flowering cacti as house plants and the whole family sitting up and waiting for the flowers to open as if they were watching a tense thriller on the TV!
ReplyDeleteJohn "By Stargoose and Hanglands": That is a wonderful image - and I would rather watch the cactus than I would a lot of thrillers.
DeleteI keep expecting that cactus flower to say, "FEED ME!!" It truly is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBill: I would happily feed it. A near neighbour has a yappy little dog...
DeleteAre cacti native to Australia, or are these beauties brought in from other corners of the world?
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Sadly we have no native cacti - though several introduced ones thrive here.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteWith all the stress in our lives and hatred out in the world, it is so important to focus on things that bring joy. This flowering cactus is one of them. Thank you for sharing its beauty.
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: My sadly neglected garden is causing me stress at the moment, and I hate the amount of work I need to do, but I still find joy in it. And most definitely in this stunning bloom.
DeleteHi EC - amazing photos - with them being stunningly produced for us here: thank you ... gorgeous to see - and definitely a flower to wait for ... amazing inflorescence - so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteAt least giving you something to take your mind off the kitties et al ... with thoughts to you both and them during the coming week - cheers Hilary
Hilary Melton-Butcher: Thank you. It is a thing of beauty - and as you noted a welcome distraction.
DeletePhotographing the bloom from bud to bloom to wither is glorious, EC. Does it get pollinated in that short span as a flower?
ReplyDeleteStrayer: If it does get pollinated my best guess is that moths are responsible.
DeleteBeautiful shots. There are night blooming cacti next to Punahou School in Honolulu. President Obama graduated from Punahou, so he probably remembers those cacti too. The flowers are so beautiful.
ReplyDeletegigi-hawaii: Once seen never forgetten. I expect (hope) that he does remember them.
DeleteI loved seeing that beautiful flower in full bloom. You didn't miss it this time, and thank you so much for sharing it.
ReplyDeleteDJan: I was furious with myself for missing the first bloom of the season and determined not to make that mistake again. There is another bud starting to swell - and I am watching it closely too.
DeleteI love cacti, prickly through.
ReplyDeleteBob Bushell: That particularly cactus has vicious spikes, but its flowers make up for it.
DeleteThey are, indeed, a glorious feast for the senses. I think there may be buds forming on our non-thorny pink cactus;difficult to be certain as it's in the mini-jungle on the front porch!
ReplyDeletedinahmow: An exploration of the jungle may be in order. And I need to check some of our other cacti.
DeleteAnd bloom it did. Right before your eyes and your camera. What a glorious beauty it is. Most impressive.
ReplyDeleteHope the kitties are well.
I've tried for HOURS to publish this very short message.
Bleubeard and Elizabeth: Thank you so much for persevering. The kittens are still not out of the woods. And yes, those blooms ARE impressive.
DeleteWow - that bloom is enormous! So very pretty; I wonder why it is so short-lived. It must be something to do with evolutionary advantage but I don't know what it would be. Thank you for the wonderful series of photos to give us an idea of its progression.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a good week, dear friend.
jenny_o: It is enormous and very, very beautiful while it is in flower. I have no idea why it blooms for such a short time, but am grateful to see it. Huge hugs to you, sister across the seas.
DeleteBeautiful photos, as always. It's been a long time since I participated, almost six months. I have another photo from my aquarium collection and a Haiga. https://poetryofthenetherworld.blogspot.com/2023/02/lonely-soul.html
ReplyDeleteOrnery Owl of Naughty Netherworld Press and Readers Roost: How nice to have you joining us again. I will head over and check out your entry very soon.
DeleteOh a big WOW from me, it's a beautiful bloom.
ReplyDeleteI just love the beauty that nature provides in so many different plants, flowers, trees ... we are blessed.
My good wishes for the new week ahead.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you. I love this bloom and find solace in nature almost every day. I hope you and Eddie have a wonderful week.
DeleteIt's glorious! I'm so glad you managed to catch it in bloom (for you and for us)
ReplyDeletekylie: Having missed the first bloom of the season I was NOT going to miss the next. I agree, it is a glorious thing.
DeleteThat cactus blooming is beautiful and so are your skies. Happy week to you :)
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Thank you. And to you and Gregg.
DeleteWow the night cactus flower is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHena Tayeb: We think so too.
DeleteVery cool to see the cactus blooming like that! So pretty!
ReplyDeleteRain: Once it starts to bloom it is astonishingly quick. We think it is a lovely thing and celebrate each and every bloom.
DeleteWhat a wondrous gift. Thanks for sharing, my friend.
ReplyDeleteSandra Cox: I am always happy to share beauty.
DeleteDear EC, oh what a lovely sentence you wrote with alliteration and cadence that just aches to be sung and/or danced to. I'm talking about this sentence: " A watched kettle may never boil, but a watched cactus does bloom." You know I've never been to the southwestern part of the United States where there is desert and cacti. So this white cactus bloom just delights me. Thank you so much for sharing. Peace from Dee and the cats.
ReplyDeleteDee: This cactus is far from its native lands (indeed I am not sure where they are) but the blooms delight us too. I hope you and the cats are well.
DeleteSo beautiful! You are so patient. I can see why it's so worth the wait!
ReplyDeleteJuli: Fortunately it didn't require too much patience (which is in short supply here). It just needed me to be alert.
DeleteThat's just spectacular! Even that particular shade of white - creamy and so enticing! Thank you for sharing the photos.
ReplyDeleteI think beauty is cherished for its very transience, here one moment, gone the next - flowers, sunsets, seasons. If it weren't so, humans being what they are, most people would just take it for granted. And some people sadly do so in spite of that and set about ruining it for the rest of us.
I hope things are going well this week and kitties' health issues are better.
Nilanjana Bose: I don't think I am ever blase about beauty and this cactus blows me away each and every time it flowers. Thank you. Sadly both the kittens and I still wrestle on the health front. This too will pass.
DeleteThat is one big bud an an impressing flower. Thanks for remembering 'my' colour.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): The cactus bloom struck me as a perfect way to remember your colour.
DeleteJust stopping by on this post to say ...
ReplyDeleteThinking of you and sending lots of good wishes.
Have a restful and recuperating blog break.
All the best Jan
PS no reply needed :)
Lowcarb team member ~Jan: Thank you.
DeleteWell we are all in agreement: that is one seriously gorgeous bloom.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a nice, productive, and relaxing break (though that sentence sounds kind of counterintuitive)
Anne in the kitchen: Thank you. That bloom is/was a real spirit lifter.
DeleteI'm glad to see you taking a break. I know how important that is. I hope your break helps you to heal, gather your strength, and continue to do the things you love. I think of you often. It's important to step away from the usual, especially to begin anew. Opportunities, changes, and plans to go in a different direction all need a little peace to formulate properly.
ReplyDeleteSending you love, appreciation, and hugs. You were always there for me. Let me be there for you!
Always, Renee
Renee: Thank you. I have sent you an email.
DeleteYou are right, better taking a break then getting a nervous breakdown ! https://gattinawritercramps.blogspot.com/2023/02/sunday-selection-marcinelle-belgium.html
ReplyDeleteGattina: Thank you.
DeleteGood morning, I hope all is well and thank you for these lovely views into your world. I've been feeling quite stressed too with our extreme weather especially. Thankfully we've had a break or two with warmer weather and you know we make good use of those days. Yesterday at our Art Shanty Project for 2023 really boosted the spirits of tons of folks! If you can believe it some outdoor cafes (with heaters) opened up for business at the warmer temperature of 41 degrees! Take good care of you.
ReplyDelete21 Wits: I hope your warmer weather continued and that you are finding fun, beauty and whimsy. As you always do.
DeleteMy dear Child, you always find something wonderful to share. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteShort-lived beauty teaches us some of the best lessons.
I'm smiling again.
I hope you rest up, do all that you can do, rest again. And I hope you feel much, much better soon. Plenty love xxx
neena maiya (guyana gyal): Thank you. My addiction to beauty serves me well.
DeleteHaces muy bien en tomarte unos días de descanso, ya que lo primero eres tu, así que cuídate y descansa, que por aquí estaremos tan pronto vuelvas.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo, y me gustó mucho esta entrada.
Manuel: Thank you so much - and I am glad you enjoyed this post.
DeleteI'm so sorry to read you're feeling tired and overwhelmed. But glad you're stepping away to recharge. I hope you can sort things out in peace and quiet and feel better soon. Sending you good energies and hugs.
ReplyDeleteNilanjana Bose: Thank you. This too will pass.
DeleteWas sorry I couldn't leave a comment on our newest post indicating you're taking a break. Hope whatever is going on calms down for you soon. You'll be missed. Please sing out to let us know you're back in blogland. Take Care
ReplyDeleteSandy: Thank you. I hope to be back in a few weeks.
DeleteHave a great time off
ReplyDeleteSteve: Thank you. I hope you and yours are well.
DeletePopping in to say hi and let you know am still thinking about you.
ReplyDeleteSandy: Thank you so much.
Delete