Cactus Blog

June is a big month for succulents in Great Britain.

A local branch of a national organisation for cacti enthusiasts is holding its annual plant show in June.

The Bradford branch of the British Cactus and Succulent Society, which also covers Keighley, is staging the event on Saturday, June 8 at Shipley library.

Are you going to be there, too?

In case you are going, here’s what the library looks like.

Nice!

Who knew that if you attached some balloons to a Beavertail Cactus you could sell tickets to it.

(In) Rodney Graham’s latest exhibition at Lisson Gallery (29 Bell Street, London, UK),… Cactus Fan depicts a scientist pondering a strange object, perhaps a gift: a cactus plant with four vibrantly coloured helium balloons attached to it.

I’m guessing that what we have a here is a scientist, or more specifically a botanist, who is experimenting with the effects of weightlessness in outer-space on the growth habits of a common cactus. However this particular scientist does not have the budget to complete the experiment in space, so instead we get balloons. The helium will have dissipated in a day or two, so the scientist in question must constantly remain on vigil and replace these balloons quickly and efficiently multiple times per week.

We are expanding the gift selection at the nursery to include bird hooks and squirrel pots. Yes!

Bird hooks. We hang little planters off them. They work well with Tillandsias too and they come in Squirrel hooks too. Yo. Now please be sure to understand that we only add these as pure nursery goods. You won’t see us use these hooks for coats. No. Only for hanging plants and plants and other plants too.

Well played! This self watering squirrel in a log pot. We put a fern on top for fun. Fun.

Apparently straw flowers are an Aztec tradition.

Years ago I traveled to the nursery district at Xochimilco, the ancient Aztec “place of the flowers” outside Mexico City…

At Xochemilco there’s a big tradition of gift plants, and the Mexican way of potting them up demands big color. Many of these are set amidst moss or day-glo gravels…

Well, sure, I can understand that. Brightly colored gravel can enhance the natural coloring of the cactus. Seems reasonable.

Since the cactus did not have blooms due to youth or season, the small growers used small dried flax flowers with their needle-like stems. These would be attached by sticking the stem into the cactus flesh for anchorage. Though they may sell better with color, it’s not a sound practice. These punctures can become an inroad for fungus and bacteria to enter sterile tissues every time they’re watered.

Oh that’s not good.

It’s that time of the year in Ohio when the Cleveland area residents who like to purchase some cactus get together and have a show. And they grandiosely call it the Midwest Cactus and Succulent Show. I wonder how the people in MN and IN and IA all feel about that cooptation?

Anyway, on to the details.

(T)he Midwest Cactus and Succulent Society Show and Sale (is this) Saturday and Sunday at Cleveland Botanical Garden…..

The cactus event is getting more space this year. Previously, the show and sale took place in the same room. This year the display will be in one space and the sale in another.

Now that’s is good news.

Cactus enthusiasts are intrigued by the vast variety of the plants’ shapes, sizes, textures and colors, says Hendricks, president of Klyn Nurseries in Perry.

As are we all.

Are you going to the SF Garden Show in San Mateo this weekend? Send me links to your pictures, (or send pictures!) and don’t forget to check out the giant succulent globe.

That’s big! And probably more interesting to view surrounded by crowds of people rather than all alone during the setup. They should really replace that video now that the show is open.

Anne found an article on the Beeb letting us know that Nepenthes can sometimes glow blue.

Yes, blue.

How blue? Well, blue enough that it looks like the carnivorous plants have cold lips.

We get lots of snow in California. Or in parts of California. Like Lake Tahoe. They get lots of snow. Not us. Apparently they don’t get lots of snow in Yucca Valley, CA either, but enough snow that it sometimes snows there like when CNN reports on the snow covering the cactus in Yucca Valley.

Crews rescue man after he falls into a San Diego canyon onto a cactus

SAN DIEGO – …Crews said the 50-year-old man got off a bus a few stops too early and wasn’t familiar with the area. As he was walking along the roadway in an area without a guardrail and no sidewalk, he slipped and fell about 50 feet into the cactus….

Authorities said he suffered puncture wounds from the cactus.

I’m kind of glad they did not include a picture of the man with the article. I mean, sure, it can be humorous to watch someone in, say, a movie fall into a cactus and all, but in real life it would hurt. Although still funny. But hurt bad. And cause people to laugh out loud I’m sure. But no picture.

South Coast Cactus & Succulent Society Lecture
Sunday, Feb 10 1:30p
South Coast Botanic Garden Palos Verdes Peninsula, CA

Peter Walkowiak from San Diego will give a hands-on demonstration on “How to grow and hybridize Euphorbias — Medusa and Caudex forms.” Peter has won many awards for his plants and will be bringing some of those to sell.

Actually that does seem pretty interesting, though not much to do with cactus at all. I guess my headline above is totally misleading – both for its sarcastic tone and the reference to cactus.

This time its the Fat Cactus in San Ramon that is now kaputz.

It had a nice sign, back in the days, though no cacti in front.

But don’t worry, it will be reopening as a hawaiian themed burger joint.

What am I even talking about? Keep me away from the blog!

You can help restore cactus wren habitat! But only if you happen to be in Irvine this weekend, or are willing to drive there ASAP.

Cactus Wren Habitat Restoration
Saturday, Feb 2 9:00a to 12:30p

Help the recovery and movement of the cactus wren in the City of Irvine and surrounding open space areas. The project area is one of several that have been arranged in a line-of-sight fashion in an attempt to facilitate a rebound of cactus wrens. Volunteers will plant cactus using special tools. Bring water, snacks, sun protection, long sleeves, long pants, a hat, and good shoes. Tools, safety equipment, will be provided by Irvine Ranch Conservancy. Pre-registration is required.

They’re so cute! Those cactus wrens….

I see that the San Francisco Chronicle is recommending that you decorate your house with succulents for the holidays. And I thought it was all about the terrariums this year.

As you spruce up your home for the holidays… There are many wonderful hanging plants, but some of my favorites are succulents….

Succulents possess a singular charm unlike any other kind of houseplant, and look fabulous when cascading out of a hanging basket. And there is a surprising number to choose from. One favorite is a plant commonly known as burro’s tail, Sedum morganianum…

For something a little more delicate, there is string of pearls, Senecio rowleyanus…

Feeling romantic? How about substituting a string of hearts for mistletoe, (Ceropegia woodii)…

Finally, for something a bit unusual, look for Hoya compacta, curiously known as Hindu rope.

Cactus Jungle is the only local nursery that grows and carries all the plants they recommend. Do you think they list us at the bottom of the article as a source for these plants in the Bay Area? No.

Ian used to make terrariums for us here in Berkeley, but now he’s making them on his own in Oakland.

Nice!

You can find him on Instagram as @janterrariums and Facebook, too. Or if you hang around bars and clubs in Oakland long enough….

If you wait a couple weeks there’s a craft fair in San Francisco. We’re not represented there, so I don’t recommend holding off shopping at the Cactus Jungle, but for the other stuff – go for it!

SFMade Holiday Gift Fair
December 9, Sunday
Herbst Pavilion at Fort Mason Center, San Francisco
10am – 6pm

Join more than 75 SFMade members, including Heath Ceramics and Bi-Rite Market for this one-day holiday fair.

Cactus and Succulents are often described as being “architectural” but now someone wants you to know they are the heart and soul of modern architectural design. I may be exagerating.

Symmetrical cactus sets off modern design

The orderly nature of modern design appeals to our need for simplicity in a progressively complex world. The simple lines of both modern architecture and interiors offer respite from strip commercial, traffic and media where color and image change faster than ever….

(O)ne group of plants seems intrinsically suited to modern design. It is the cactus…

We often suggest a lineup of simple column cacti to set off a modern house. But not just column cacti will work. It turns out that a lot of Agaves are also just as successfully merged into modern architectural design as the cactus. So there. And don’t get me started on the Dasylirions.

They love them some succulents in Boston, what with the disastrous season for the Red Sox this year. And they’re inviting you to join them.

Succulent Container Workshop with Carrie Waterman
Saturday, November 17 2012, 10:00am – 12:00pm

Make your very own succulent container. Learn from an expert how to plant an attractive container of these wonderful plants. All materials will be provided including a nice selection of succulent plants suitable for a mixed container, pots, special soil mix, plant labels and top dressing. Aftercare instructions will be included along with information about how to propagate succulents and how to exhibit your container at the 2013 Boston Flower & Garden Show!

Put it on your calender.

From Ohio comes a tremendous object. It is a… Succulent & Airplant Christmas Tree.

They describe it as, “a beautiful and fun tabletop Christmas tree created out of echeverias and tillandsias” by Mayesh Wholesale Florist, Cleveland Ohio.

I have one word for it. Oy.

And no, we do not sell these so please don’t ask.

It’s been a decade since the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned to have this cactus listed.

 

Acuna cactus at Organ Pipe National Monument. Courtesy National Park Service

Tony Davis Arizona Daily Star

A small, little-known cactus found in Organ Pipe National Monument west of Tucson faces a “high and immediate” threat of extinction, says the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in proposing to protect it as an endangered species.

The Acuña cactus, topping out at about a foot high, is declining fast, having dropped in numbers by more than 50 percent since 1981, the service said….

The service also proposes to designate 53,720 acres, including 29,500 acres of federal land and 14,266 acres of state land, as critical habitat for the Acuña cactus.

That is one very cute little endangered cactus. Cuteness is not the only factor the government considers when reviewing petitions for listing of species, but it doesn’t hurt.

Phew! I thought today’s theme of cactus-themed bars and restaurants closing was a bad portent, but no! it’s not. It turns out while one cactus restaurant in Ohio closes another in Hawaii opens. Good fortune shines on us all!

Tina Yuen PBN

Cactus restaurant , which recently opened on Kailua Road in Kailua, Hawaii, is part of a trendy food scene in the Windward Oahu town.

Sweet!