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. Sorry I still
haven't succeeded in working out how to do a blog hop. Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.
I usually run with a theme. This week? What a difference a day makes.
We have a cactus that lives on our front veranda (to be accurate several pots of it). It is a vicious beast and not only has strong spikes it also has fine hairs that break off (and fester) if you touch it. It makes up for that when it blooms. It blooms over night and only lasts a day. Spectacular scented blooms that are over eight inches across.
Wednesday evening it was starting to open.
Just before sunset it had opened a little more.
The following morning by 5.30 it was fully open.
And by the time I got home from my shift at Lifeline it was well on the way to closing.
There are several new buds - and I will be watching.
I hope your week is blooming lovely.
You only get one day with a blossom? I would steer clear of those spines.
ReplyDeleteStrayer: One day per bud. And yes, it is definitely desirable to stay away from those spikes.
DeleteI've got two small Christmas cacti that have bloomed already. The flowers last about two weeks.
ReplyDeleteIf yours is the one I was reading about, they said it can get 5 meters high.
Mike: I can well believe that this cactus can get that tall. Ours are seriously potbound - and repotting them is not a fun job.
DeleteYes, we have night blooming cerius here in Honolulu and when I used to work overnights it was very striking to see them appear like little moons!
ReplyDeleteCloudia: Little moons is the perfect description.
DeleteThat is really beautiful.
ReplyDeleteSandi: It is, isn't it?
DeleteI have one cactus on the verge of blooming. But nothing like your stunning beauty. There's something so deep and meaningful about one day of flowering.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
Wisewebwoman: On day of flowering is indeed something to ponder. I assume it is pollinated by moths.
Delete"Wonderful E.C.!!
ReplyDeleteI really love cactus blooms
even though they last for a short time, they are so precious!
Katerinas Blog: We have other flowering cactus - but they last longer than one day. I watch for this one to come into bloom and revel in it.
DeleteBeautiful blossom in deed
ReplyDeleteroentare: It is - an annual treat.
DeleteWow-- thanks for sharing that with us!
ReplyDeleteBill: It is my pleasure.
DeleteVery pretty and may all of your blooms be as lovely.
ReplyDeletee: Not all of our blooms are so spectacular - but I find beauty, solace and hard work in the garden.
DeleteHi EC - that's amazing ... eight inches across ... wonderful - yet dangereuse ... festering hairs ... a tale could be made from that ... how gorgeous - and how lovely you're going to get more blooms ... just lovely - thanks for sharing with us. Cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteHilary Melton-Butcher: It is only dangerous if you get so close - which is true of many things. I am looking forward a lot to the next blooms.
DeleteWe have two such beautiful wonders of nature. Patience for but 364 days, and they will already bloom again. ;-)
ReplyDeleteSean Jeating: Hopefully.
DeleteGood morning, EC. The cactus flower is/was beautiful. My mother love cacti, (she love gardening when she could find the time in between working), and there were always a few dotted about when I was a kid.
ReplyDeleteTake good care, EC. I hope the coming week treats you kindly. My cuddles to Batty and Odie. I hope all is well with them, too. :)
Lee: My mother was a gardener too - though not of cacti. The coming week is expected to be hot and horrid here. I hope it isn't too bad for you.
DeleteOdie is curled up in my lap as I type. Battie is avoiding having his morning inhaler.
That is totally mesmerising! Staggeringly beautiful. I could keep going until I ran out of superlatives. It would be so easy to miss the flowering but you captured the entire process so perfectly, thank you!
ReplyDeleteKim: It would be very easy to miss the flowering. So far I haven't - and those superlatives roll off my tongue every year.
DeleteRiver Fairchild - Gorgeous! The best things in life usually come with thorns… or so I tell myself. ;-) You continue to amaze me with your green thumb and dedication to gardening. Thank you for sharing photos of your labor. Always appreciated.
ReplyDeleteI hope you have a good week ahead without too much stress. Hugs to you.
River Fairchild: Some of the best people I know certainly have thorns. There will be heat stress this coming week but hopefully not much else. I hope you have a great week - and it isn't too cold and miserable. Huge to you too.
DeleteDear EC
ReplyDeleteWhat a beauty! I love to see the plants that you grow - so exotic! Thank you for sharing this stunning flower.
Have a flower-filled week!
Best wishes
Ellie
Ellie Foster: This one is exotic to me too. I don't know where it is native to (South America) but I delight in it every year. You have a flower filled week too.
DeleteA day in the life of a flower...that doesn't work. How about 'A flower in the life of a day'. Forget it. The flower is spectacular, and there will be more to come. Batten down for the heat tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAndrew: I am so pleased that there will be more to come - and will be watching carefully. I am already battened down for tomorrow - and today will be bad enough.
DeleteWhat a dramatic and beautiful cactus bloom! It’s amazing how such a thorny plant can produce something so delicate and stunning, even if only for a day. Nature’s surprises are always worth the wait!
ReplyDeleteMELODY JACOB: You are so right about nature's surprises.
DeleteA beautiful cactus flower.
ReplyDeleteJoanne Noragon: It is indeed.
DeleteThat big blossom is spectacular. I wish I could smell it. The only thing blooming are my three Christmas cacti, one off white, one,
ReplyDeletepink, and the other, a salmon colour.
It's very cold this evening. Take care and stay healthy.
Hugs,
Julia
Julia: I wish you could smell it too. It is a sweet but gentle scent. Our Christmas cacti have been and gone. Very hot here - stay warm stay safe.
DeleteWhat a glorious flower! Perhaps even more appreciated because of it's short life
ReplyDeletekylie: You are probably right and its blink and you will miss it nature is part of the appeal. Only part of it though.
DeleteThe cactus flower is amazing and they do grow very tall. I had a couple of plants side by side about five houses ago (I moved a lot) and the flowers were pink, with several blooming at once on both plants, but only for a day, then a new batch would start. I remember they bloomed one year when my mum visited and she was so happy to see them.
ReplyDeleteRiver: I would love to see a pink one. So far ours have only bloomed one a time - perhaps in time they will synchronise the flowering.
DeleteWhat a beautiful cacti flower, most of them do have beautiful flowers and it's worth waiting for.
ReplyDeleteMargaret D: This one is certainly worth waiting for - and is much bigger than our other cacti flowers.
DeleteIt’s gorgeous, a beauty and the beast all in one. Thanks for sharing it and have a very happy Sunday.
ReplyDeleteDeniseinVA: Beauty and the Beast sums it up well.
DeleteI earnestly hope that my darling Sulphur-crested Angels have learned to stay well away from this malevolent plant lying in wait to inflict pain and misery!
ReplyDeleteDavid M. Gascoigne: Despite the fact that we have no native cacti rest assured, the sulphur crested vandals stay well away.
DeleteSiempre se ha dicho: que lo breve y bueno, dos veces bueno, aunque reconozco que en esta caso por su belleza y perfume, un día es muy poco para disfrutar de ella.
ReplyDeleteBuen Domingo, amiga Sue.
Manuel: Its very (too?) brief flowering season means I appreciate it even more. Have a lovely week.
DeleteAmazing!! Thank you.
ReplyDeletecontempladoraocidental: It is amazing and each year we are happily amazed.
DeleteWow! Thanks for sharing your beautiful flower with me, without any danger of getting pricked! Yay for the cactus!
ReplyDeleteDJan: Not the slightest danger of being pricked - but you also miss out on the scent.
DeleteThat is a vicious looking cactus, but the bloom is absolutely amazing.
ReplyDeleteBleubeard and Elizabeth: It is only vicious if you touch it - and the bloom is amazing and delights me every year.
DeleteOh my thank you for the countdown to bloom! How beautiful it's nearly like being there, and I'd be happy to be in a more bloomable and sunny season. More grey days, and a wintry mix here but that's our life for a while and I must get used to it! The good thing is all the lovely photos from places like your world to brighten my day!
ReplyDelete21 Wits: We are in a heat wave here and I am grateful to be able to see (and almost feel) the delicious cool from your side of the world.
DeleteI applaud you on this wonderful series of photographs, so interesting to follow it's bloom and closure.
ReplyDeleteThank you.
All the best Jan
Lowcarb team member ~ Jan: Thank you. It is such a short window I glad I could catch it.
DeleteWhy do beautiful flowers have thorns. Not only cactus, but also roses and bougainvillea.
ReplyDeletegigi-hawaii: I know not - though I suspect in the case of the cactus it is to prevent others from plundering its precious water. The thorns are worth it though.
Deletewow.. so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteHena Tayeb: It is isn't it? I am watching several other buds carefully.
DeleteThat flower is so pretty! I love plants that produce big flowers like that. How often will it bloom? Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteAlex: Welcome and thank you. It blooms once a year, though if we are lucky (and we are this year) there will be several flowers.
DeleteWhat a pretty flower on that cactus.
ReplyDeleteMary Kirkland: Thank you. I am getting quite excited watching new buds swelling.
Deletegood one
ReplyDeleteusa digitizers: Thank you.
DeleteIt is gorgeous! So glad you were able to catch it at different times during its blooming!
ReplyDeleteDMS: I had to be quick, but I am glad I made the effort.
DeleteSuch adorable photos, and I may not be able to visit for a while due to packing and moving xx
ReplyDeleteaussie aNNie: Thank you. I hope your move goes smoothly. I will be here when you are ready to surface again.
DeleteWhat a delight, no wonder you keep it!
ReplyDeletemessymimi: I find it hard to dispose of any plants.
DeleteJust beautiful. I had a Christmas cactus the kind with the spiky green leaves. I used to find the oddest times of the year to bloom and had lovely little red flowers. Seven years ago when my husband passed in August I came home one day to see the Christmas cactus in full bloom and I knew it was his way of greeting me since he had given me that cactus, Sadly the cactus died that last winter I spent in Latvia but I have some photos that always bring back the memories, Christmas is just around the corner so I wish you and yours a Merry Christmas and my Freddie and Tish send their sincerest meows to both of your four-footed darlings.
ReplyDeleteRasmaSandra: Thank you for telling us your Christmas cactus story and for your greetings. I hope your holiday season is wonderful.
DeleteI enjoyed the photos. Most of my indoor plants are cacti or other succulents.
ReplyDeleteSnowbrush: Good to see you here. I have very few indoor plants but quite a lot of veranda plants.
DeleteMy grandma had a cactus like this. She called it her Queen of the nigth, and one of my earliest childhood memories are being allowed to stay up late to watch and smell this flower unfold. Thanks for this trip down memory lane.
ReplyDeleteCharlotte (MotherOwl): Queen of the Night is a lovely name and I am so glad I brought back wonderful memories.
DeleteWow! That's very lovely, and such a shame that it only lasts for a day. I love ❤️ the way you captured each phase of its growth. Merry Christmas 🤶, and lots of hugs, RO
ReplyDeleteRO: How lovely to see you here. I miss your posts. I do hope your Christmas and the year to come are wonderful.
DeleteI had never heard of this beautiful plant. You captured its opening so well and now I have learned something new I would not have known and enjoyed if not for you and your camera. I always enjoy your posts.
ReplyDeleteGlenda Beall: It is a beauty isn't it? There are a few more buds opening and with luck we will have flowers for Christmas. Thank you for your kind words about my posts which are often same old, same old.
DeleteWhat a gorgeous cactus bloom, Sue! Cacti have such an amazing variety of flowers.
ReplyDeleteFundy Blue: That is by far the most dramatic of our flowering cacti. With luck we will get another bloom (or two) close to Christmas.
Delete