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Saturday, December 29, 2012

SERIOUS CACTUS ENVY

On Monday we were invited for Christmas Eve dinner in Round Rock. Isn't it supposed to get colder the further north you go and isn't Round Rock north of Austin? So why do they have these wonderful cactus growing in their garden?


My jaw dropped when I walked into their back garden and I saw these.






These cactus are so happy in its surroundings that they are making pups.


Of course I learnt long ago that my garden is a 'frost bucket' which makes it impossible for me to entertain growing these wonderful cactus unless they are in pots. There they will have to stay.

12 comments:

Shirley said...

Cactus envy most definitely. Nice collection. I would hesitate to plant those out and I'm about a hundred miles south.

Some look like they are protected by a roof and being near the house. It's all about your microclimate.

danger garden said...

I share your envy...we always want what we can't have!

Victoria Summerley said...

Amazing cacti! Actually, I'd just settle for a day of sunshine at the moment...

David C. said...

Impressive cacti, plus the planting they are part of (bulbines of some sort ?). They are young, though...it will be interesting to watch those over time, in colder periods, then wetter periods. I tried Oreocereus and Echinopsis, and each died in fairly mild winters following wet periods. I remember a past CTG episode with a nursery in your area growing South American columnar cacti. Very fun!

North...ha! Still the same climate zone and Round Rock isn't exactly much north, like say, Wichita is!

Rock rose said...

Ah yes David. I have my doubts too. So far we have had no wet although we have had cold. I had barrel cactus in pots for years and then one winter we had wet then cold and guess what, they rotted from the inside out. They were just hollow forms. To have these I guess I would have to move to Arizona. I have difficult micro climates.

Rock rose said...

Yes but you seem to manage really well with all your exotic looking plants.

Rock rose said...

Yes you are right. My spot for these plants in winter is in the house.

Rock rose said...

So sorry about your rain and flooding but you must be keeping warm, in your cozy cottage, by your new stove.

Linda/patchwork said...

Very nice cacti.
I'm in a similar 'frost bucket' here. It gives us yet another challenge. I had a barrel cactus that did the same as yours.

Just have to keep trying, I guess.

David C. said...

The nice thing is your friends or you, may be warm enough when damp, that you can pull such things off. Our "mild" is still quite a bit cooler than your "mild". And rocky soil might also help in your case. Not to mention a few large containers?

Sandra Gardener said...

Happy New Year, Lancashire rose — thanks for the lovely images.

LindaCTG said...

My oh my! How lovely! Happy New Year to you and your beautiful garden.