I was out doing a bit of the ongoing winter clean-up when I noticed the Opuntia polyacantha was upright again and showing off it's beautiful spikes.
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This is what it looked like back in November when we had our first cold of the season. Rather deflated.
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I've got other opuntia which get the bends and never seem to snap out of it.
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I proped this one up but it's still trying to lay down.
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In fact one section got so heavy it popped off. Here it is rooting and waiting to be planted in the spring...
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The pads planted in the container by the front door are also leaning, hopefully as spring progresses they'll come to.
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I know these sad looking characters will (and as you can see I have plenty more clean up to do).
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Every year the Opuntia humifusa flop and look all pathetic (a reaction to the cold) and every year they perk up and reliably bloom.
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So back to this guy, my favorite plant this week...
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I bought this bad boy at Cistus Nursery last February, the label reads..."Opuntia polyacantha – dark pink flowers. A Tim Harris collection from the amazingly diverse hybrid population near St. George, Utah, this is a very furry-padded creature with white and hay colored spines and cherry colored flowers in mid-spring. Vigorous, forming 2 ft clumps in only a few short years. Easy both in containers and garden with easy drainage and bright sun. Frost hardy to at least -20F, USDA zone 5."
It was just a single pad when I bought it, it's grown three more...
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But wait, what's this and what does it have to do with opunita? On our way back from the Northwest Flower and Garden Show we stopped at the Ft. Lewis Army Museum just south of Tacoma. Andrew has wanted to check this out forever and the opportunity finally presented itself.
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I was surprised to find an opuntia pad encased in acrylic as part of the Lewis and Clark display ...
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Poor guys.
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But back to my feature plant, ain't she pretty?
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Any favorites in your garden this week/month? Please post about them (anytime), then come back here next Friday, the 27th, for the end-of-month favorites wrap-up and share a link...
![]()
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.
This is what it looked like back in November when we had our first cold of the season. Rather deflated.
I've got other opuntia which get the bends and never seem to snap out of it.
I proped this one up but it's still trying to lay down.
In fact one section got so heavy it popped off. Here it is rooting and waiting to be planted in the spring...
The pads planted in the container by the front door are also leaning, hopefully as spring progresses they'll come to.
I know these sad looking characters will (and as you can see I have plenty more clean up to do).
Every year the Opuntia humifusa flop and look all pathetic (a reaction to the cold) and every year they perk up and reliably bloom.
So back to this guy, my favorite plant this week...
I bought this bad boy at Cistus Nursery last February, the label reads..."Opuntia polyacantha – dark pink flowers. A Tim Harris collection from the amazingly diverse hybrid population near St. George, Utah, this is a very furry-padded creature with white and hay colored spines and cherry colored flowers in mid-spring. Vigorous, forming 2 ft clumps in only a few short years. Easy both in containers and garden with easy drainage and bright sun. Frost hardy to at least -20F, USDA zone 5."
It was just a single pad when I bought it, it's grown three more...
But wait, what's this and what does it have to do with opunita? On our way back from the Northwest Flower and Garden Show we stopped at the Ft. Lewis Army Museum just south of Tacoma. Andrew has wanted to check this out forever and the opportunity finally presented itself.
I was surprised to find an opuntia pad encased in acrylic as part of the Lewis and Clark display ...
Poor guys.
But back to my feature plant, ain't she pretty?
Any favorites in your garden this week/month? Please post about them (anytime), then come back here next Friday, the 27th, for the end-of-month favorites wrap-up and share a link...
All material © 2009-2015 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.