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Post by dvg on Jul 3, 2019 12:48:57 GMT -5
A 4" pot of Opuntia fragilis making some new pads.   dvg |
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Post by dvg on Jul 3, 2019 14:55:44 GMT -5
A recent Opuntia flower from another plant:  dvg |
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Post by dvg on Jul 4, 2019 13:02:17 GMT -5
A few years back, our neighbor's golden retriever, about a year old, came by to visit, tail wagging, and knocked 3 or 4 pots of Opuntia fragilis over. That sent detached cactus pads skittering across the sidewalk. The dog managed to not only step on them, but also rolled over them, after her first misstep. In all, she had 13 or 14 pads stuck to her body - she ran around in a circle for a second or two, and then collapsed to the ground yelping. I pulled them out of her one by one, with each one of them then sticking in and to my helping hand... ...and then to the other helper, when it tried to help pull the pads free. These are some of the pots of O. fragilis that she knocked over:  Back row, left and center pots, from Ferry Point Landing, near Donalda, Alberta (and about to flower, for the first time since i've had it). Back row right, is very local to us, growing on a coulee hill, not even five miles away, in Leduc County. Front and center: From Dunvegan, Alberta. Oh, and the long haired cats have enough sense to give these a respectably wide berth, as well. dvg |
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Post by dvg on Jul 14, 2019 12:43:24 GMT -5
Was visiting the site near Gibbons, Alberta yesterday and snapped a few pics of some Opuntia fragilis , in situ there.  Some of these cacti were blooming,  but the flowers are a bit late this year,  due to the cooler summer weather we've been having, though this clump is loaded with soon to open flower buds  Some wild lily flowers were in bloom as well.  dvg |
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flytrap
Full Member
finally... getting some nice sunshine here on the WET coast
Posts: 109
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Post by flytrap on Jul 25, 2020 13:30:27 GMT -5
Thanks for sharing dvg! Beautiful photographs of beautiful plants!
I used to see so many of the Opuntia fragilis along the Kettle Valley walking trails in BC's Okanagan. Always worried about stepping on them as they were so plentiful in some areas.
I planted a few in my Burnaby yard along with some Opuntia humifusa and Cylindropuntia viridiflora in my front yard. They've all grown nicely for the past decade and probably needs some trimming out.
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Post by dvg on Aug 13, 2020 13:09:28 GMT -5
I started this one from seed well over a decade ago, and only had the good sense to put it outside, late last summer. It was outside in winter for some -20°c nights, before mercy was taken and it was then overwintered in the garage's windowsill. This summer it made its first pad outdoors, in full sun. While it looks formidable, the long spines are flexible, and though sharp, if one's skin isn't too thin, the spines will bend when pressed against. The long spines also act as a very effective barrier from the irritating glochids.  Opuntia polyacantha var. erinaceadvg |
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Post by dvg on Aug 28, 2020 14:58:14 GMT -5
Even if it isn't all that huggable...  it's still lovable.  dvg |
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Post by dvg on Sept 14, 2020 14:01:31 GMT -5
With the recent cooler nights here, this one has added more purpling to its pads.  And the O. polyacantha var. erinacea has made a fine set of spines outside this summer.  Dealing with the above spines is preferable to cozying up to this next little bundle of joy.  0. fragilis from the Dunvegan Valley on the mighty Peace River, Alberta. dvg |
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Post by ellsie on Sept 14, 2020 17:58:09 GMT -5
With the recent cooler nights here, this one has added more purpling to its pads. , I noticed that there's a pad in the middle of this picture that looks kind of "wrinkled". Is this a normal trait as the pads mature? Or is it an early sign of too much moisture or dehydration? |
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Post by dvg on Sept 14, 2020 18:14:26 GMT -5
Yes, that's an original grandpa pad - the mature pads at ground level do take on a more rugged look with wrinkling on their pads as they mature in years, and seasonal cues might be getting them winter ready, and then they are very wrinkled come springtime, but in the meanwhile, the newer pads are still nicely plumped. Maybe the the manufacturers of those moisturizing anti-aging creams should be taking a closer look at the active chemical components in Opuntia fragilis pads...  But without getting too close to the easily detachable glochid spines... dvg |
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Post by koifish on Sept 15, 2020 18:57:53 GMT -5
Those spikes look painful. Wouldn't want to fall on that. Very nice!
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Post by ellsie on Oct 6, 2020 17:30:04 GMT -5
What nice flowers, thanks for sharing flytrap ! Just curious if the flowers have any noticeable fragrance? |
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flytrap
Full Member
finally... getting some nice sunshine here on the WET coast
Posts: 109
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Post by flytrap on Oct 8, 2020 19:54:51 GMT -5
What nice flowers, thanks for sharing flytrap ! Just curious if the flowers have any noticeable fragrance? Thanks ellsie... no, I couldn't detect any fragrance on the blooms... but the bees love them! |
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flytrap
Full Member
finally... getting some nice sunshine here on the WET coast
Posts: 109
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Post by flytrap on Oct 8, 2020 23:17:54 GMT -5
Here's another opuntia blooming in the garden. Cylindropuntia viridiflora growing in my friend's garden. He gave me a cutting of it a few years back, but mine hadn't bloomed yet... it's amazing that we can grow these in our yards here on the west coast! Attachments:
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