 |
| One of my favorite photographs, showing the multicolor transparent spines of this Fishhook Cactus (Sclerocactus uncinatus) bought from Rio Grande Cacti out of New Mexico. This cactus, also known as the Catclaw Cactus, is native to West Texas, likes it very hot and dry and is hardy to at least 10 degree Fahrenheit. |
 |
| Mammillaria pottsii |
 |
| Heraclides rumiko aka Papilio rumiko |
 |
| Heraclides rumiko aka Papilio rumiko |
 |
| I raised this butterfly, a Western Giant Swallowtail (Heraclides rumiko / Papilio rumiko), in a plastic jar during the winter, to my surprise he decided to eclose on a rather cool day. I took him outside and let him dry his wings in my cactus garden. He hung out for about two hours (which made him easy to photograph) before flying away when the sun came out. |
 |
| Western Giant Swallowtail, (Heraclides rumiko) aka (Papilio rumiko). |
 |
| I spent a long time learning what kind of butterfly this was (since there are several that are very similar). For those interested in some light reading here is the document that helped me come to my final conclusion A new Heraclides swallowtail (Lepidoptera, Papilionidae) from North America is recognized by the pattern on its neck. |
 |
| This little cactus (Echinocereus russanthus) is mostly unremarkable, small marooon colored flowers, but today the red glowing spikes were picture worthy. My new nick name for this guy is Darth Small. |
 |
| Golden barrel cactus, Echinocactus grusonii |
 |
| Fishhook Barrel Cactus, largest barrel cactus native to Texas (far west El Paso area) hardy to 5 degrees. |
 |
| Flowers look like a camp fire. The cactus stem is apparently eaten in Mexico, chopped into small pieces and soaked in sugar. I can't imagine that it would make a good candy but I will have to post pone judgment until I can try one for myself. |
 |
| Coryphantha macromeris, hardy to at least 14 degrees. Macro being "large" and meris "parts" most likely refers to the spines which are quite large for a Coryphantha. I have seen pictures of this growing in clumps three feet across, I wonder how long that takes? It appears to grow about an inch every three years. |
 |
| Nice combination of blooms from late June, most other cactus bloom much earlier. |
 |
| Echinocactus horizonthalonius |
 |
| Echinocereus dasyacanthus (center) and a fruit on the Horse Crippler cactus. |
 |
| Polygonia interrogationis, Question Mark Butterfly, likes to land in my compost pile. |
 |
| Echinocactus horizonthalonius, |
 |
| Eagles Claw Cactus |
 |
| Echinocactus horizonthalonius |
 |
| aka Blue Barrel Cactus |
 |
| A little dish cactus garden. Later this little arrangement would be attacked by red spider mites, killing half of the inhabitants before I discovered the problem. The remaining survivors found a new home in the fireplace cactus garden. Somehow just moving things into a more natural habitat balances conditions enough so that spider mites get added to someone else's menu...ants, spiders, wasps something in nature designed to counter balance a surplus. |
 |
| Astrophytum myriostigma 'multicostatum' hardy to about 19 degrees. |
 |
| Rain lilies Zephyranthes grandiflora (rosea) and my prized seed grown Heart-leaf Hibiscus. |
 |
| I purchased this cactus at Wildseed Farms in Fredericksburg, Texas. Wildseed Farms is a great day trip from Austin and a fun destination nursery that has hard to find native wildflower seeds, a large selection of pottery, garden art, ice cream, and occasionally cactus. |
 |
| This cactus came to me unlabeled but my best guess says its part of the Lobivia ancistrophora ssp. arachnacantha clan. It is surprisingly hardy to about 18 degrees. Originally I was bit over zealous related to its hardiness and I propagated about 20 cuttings and was growing them "hard" in outdoor pots. When 18 degrees came around all the smaller ones died and only this large well established one survived, lesson learned, small offsets require winter protection. |
 |
| Apparently there are many other colors of Lobivia arachnacantha (white, yellow, pink, orange), I would love to have some more of these. It is a guaranteed bloomer and usually displays flowers several times a year. It also freely produces more of itself which is rare for a hardy cactus with colorful blooms. |
 |
| Arachnacantha phobia? Apparently the spider-like spines give us the variety name. |
