Ice on Cactus is Nice (mostly)

This South American cactus, sold as a "Koko Cactus", most likely an Echinopsis of some kind froze solid rather quickly.  If you have a better guess on the ID please send to me.

In this picture, a week later, its clear to see the damaged tissue has begun to rot and has moved into a decline that will leave only a crispy cactus shell by spring.  Note to self:  never pay good money for a cactus that has unknown origins / heritage.

Hunker Down - Cold is Coming

Vervain, lightning and a living rock.

Verbena halei  (Texas vervain) - This Texas native loves the cactus bed environment.





Ariocarpus fissuratus - An incredibly slow growing native cactus that lives in far South and far West Texas.  This small cactus could easily be 25 years old.  I have had it for 4 years and have not seen any appreciable increase in size.



Ariocarpus fissuratus

Fireplace / Cactus garden

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   Texas Blazing Star (Liatris mucronata) foreground, Snow on the mountain (Euphorbia marginata) background.

Takeover

Purslane (Portulaca oleracea), taking over the garden. Tried eating as much as I could and remove the rest.  Some years we hardly have any and other years conditions are in its favor and it takes over.


Cinnamon Bunny Ears, Opuntia Microdasys Rufida, although this plant looks lovely from a distance in reality its a nightmare in the garden, the irritating cinnamon glochids readily detach in a cloud of "dust" ruining any glove or piece of clothing that comes in contact with it.



Escobaria hesteri   



Astrophytum capricorne



Astrophytum capricorne

Red-Tailed Hawk

I think this is a Red-Tailed Hawk but the bird was much bigger than hawks I typically see around our neighborhood.

More butterfly wings in back-light

Gulf fritillary (Agraulis vanillae)

Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)

Queen butterfly (Danaus gilippus)