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Lotusland — Cactus!

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Behind Madame Ganna Walska's home (around which we explored last week) is the Cactus Garden...

From the Lotusland website: "This extensive collection of columnar cacti was donated to Lotusland in 1999 by Merritt Dunlap, a longtime friend of Madame Walska. Dunlap began his collection in 1929 and grew approximately 40 percent of the plants from seed."

"...The new garden area was designed by Eric Nagelmann on three-quarters of an acre and contains about 300 different species of cacti, grouped by their country of origin. Paths snake between raised beds, converging on an elevated viewing terrace near the center of the garden.

Three hundred tons of diorite boulders were used to create the beds, and stunning formations of basalt create more drama at the lawn entrance and throughout the garden, which opened in 2004.

Notable specimens include species of Opuntia endemic to the Galapagos Islands; several blue, sculptural species of Armatocereus from Peru; and a complete collection of the genus Weberbauerocereus. Accent plants, including boojum trees (Fouquieria columnaris), dry-growing bromeliads, and several Agave species provide contrast and interest."

I was thrilled to see so many specimens in bloom during our July visit.

(that darn smudge is on the inside of the camera lens!)

I neglected to take a photo at the bottom of the stairs, before I climbed to the "elevated viewing terrace"— so this screen shot of their website will have to do...

And look who was waiting for me at the top!

The viewing platform enables you to see the tops of some of the tall cactus, an excellent thing!

These guys look like they just flew in from the Arctic and forgot to leave their coats at home.

Love the fur!

I looked down and spotted this fallen fruit. Andrew disagreed and said it was something a child had dropped.

I couldn't reach it but Andrew did (guess who was right?). After admiring it we left it there for the next person (or animal) who might come along.

I do not like the monstrose/crested Cactus

But LOVE this one...

Just one more Lotusland post to come, the "left-overs"...

All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.

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