Sunday Selections #217

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. 

The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.  Clicking on any of the photos will make them embiggen.

Like River I usually run with a theme.  This week it is a return to some of my obsessions.

In the middle of the week I noticed that one of our Christmas (or orchid) cacti is confused and is either significantly ahead or behind its schedule.  Given that many of our spring bulbs are shooting (in early Autumn) and that an anenome has made a pathetic attempt at flowering, I vote for early.  The cactus is pretty though.

We have been promised rain.  Often.  The weather boffins have been lying like pigs in mud.  There have been clouds though, which has made for some pretty sunsets.

And (of course) birds.  The coloured birds have been largely absent, but the corellas and cockatoos have been regular nosey and noisy visitors.  And are welcome.

Sunday Selections

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. 

The meme is now continued by River at Drifting through life.  River has been having some trouble adding photos to her posts and may not be with us today, though I really, really hope she is.

The rules are so simple as to be almost non-existent.  Post some photos under the title Sunday Selections and link back to River.

Like River I generally run with a theme. Today I am featuring the Christmas or orchid cactus (I have heard it called both).  It is one of the easiest plants I know of to grow.  It doesn't mind heat or frost.  It likes a bit of water - but is happy if it doesn't get it.  It doesn't need any particular type of soil - and will grow quite happily in what can only be described as dirt.  And this very forgiving plant produces blazes of colour (it breeds well too).  What is not to love.

You will notice that some of them have pink stamens and some white.  I assume this means that they are different varieties of the plant, but the stamen colour is the only difference I can see.

Unsurprisingly the cockatoos have been known to pull them apart and scatter the pieces with gay abandon.  I prefer this act of destruction to one of their others which is to uproot my tulip bulbs just as they come into flower.