Tis' the season ..for cactus blooms Pt.#3 Spring stragglers, and Monsoon harbingers

[Silas_Sancona]

..After a couple week lull, the surprise rain event we had on the 16th kicked all the remaining spring flowering Echinopsis to their final show of the season, and stimulated the first blooms on my two main cacti sp. which flower in response to the increase in humidity Monsoon season brings. Unfortunately, the quick change from cooler and wet back to hot and super dry caused a few of the Echinopsis to produce flowers which wouldn't fully open, or had burnt petals as they attempted fully opening, despite being positioned in the shade house. Even so, i was able to pollinate and await to see what might set fruit. 


Repeat offenders, ahem, bloomers... Echino /Tricho X 'First Light' and X 'Sorceress' I have had that hybrid since 2012 and this is the first year it has flowered a full 3 cycles. 



Aptly named Tricho X 'June Noon'.. Soon to be repotted




Echino/ Tricho X 'Red un-named' Thought these were E. candicans pups id rescued until the the red color to swelling buds made it obvious this was something i didn't realize id had in the collection.. Like the "Tulip -type" flower presentation.. May have been effected by the heat ( flowers could have opened more) We'll see in coming years. *( Sabal M. and Coccothrinax seedlings in the background of picture #2)




Like 4th of July firecrackers, Cochemiea poselegeri, from Baja Sur exploded with buds and flowers within 2 days of the rain. Hoping i can get it to branch more this year. Typically Hummingbird pollinated. A steady hand and paintbrush work just as well. Love the hooked, Maroon colored spines.




And the first flowers of the season on Sonoran native Mammillaria grahamii, one of the showiest of the summer-flowering Nipple cacti. Typically flowers in response to summer rain, sometimes through September. Want 10 more of these, lol..  Fruits are supposedly edible and sweet like Strawberries. 



.....Enjoy,

-Nathan