We’re up in arms at Cactus Island….way up as various cactus mature and put out pups that are growing into gorgeous arms, mostly blue ones at the moment in several species of columnar Pilosocereus from Brazil. Mom’s favorite is the fuzzy dark turquoise Pilosocereus Flexibilispinus trio with lots of arms. It will end up in its own raised stone cairn bed next year in a place of honor at the edge of The Oasis she designed. We’re also up on seedlings with over 14,000 tiny green Caribbean Royen’s tree cactus from this Summer’s yield of eight fruits. Two Fall bloomers are now forming for potential fruits #9 and #10. I’ve…

I feel like I’m 16 again! I think I’m in love, or at least drooling at the prospect of seeds. I went ahead and hand-pollinated the first round of a self-fertilization attempt tonight and will go out later at 3am for the second round. Hoping I don’t step on a diamondback or end up a snack for the oversize pack of coyotes patrolling the area lately for our chickens. These will be clones if the flower goes into fruit and germinated seeds result, and it will be a game changer for the nursery if they give us an armada of seedlings. If not, there’s always next year and the continued…

It has been a spectacular month for growth and transformation with the namesake plants on our farm. I finally have the very first flower buds emerging from the cephalium wool on the Royen’s tree cactus (Sebucan), and I’ve put the word out to growers and botanists who might also have this species of Caribbean island cactus in bloom so that pollen can be exchanged. It’s uncommon in U.S. mainland exhibits and collections so the opportunity to produce fresh viable seeds shouldn’t be wasted. I suspect its blooming season will be a long and gradual fireworks display, luckily. The native Harrisia Fragrans I planted around the East pasture have been putting…

Especially at blossoming and wooly growth times. A 6am seniors-only grocery store run last week surprised us with the tail end of open flowers on these night blooming Cereus Peruvianus/Hildemannianus as we walked over to the Jeep to leave. Made our morning and the rest of the day. The Pilosocereus aff flexibilispinus “Sitio Grande, Bahia” are getting taller and darker blue-green smoky skin, and the similar P. Piauhyensis are trading out lime green skin for dark green-blue complimented by yellow needles as they hit a growth spurt finally. A 6’x6′ square of extra shade cloth is aiding the Harrisia Aboriginum in growing healthier, taller and darker green as would be…