Category Archives: Succulents

Hedgehog Cactus

22 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Flowers, Succulents

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Easter Flowers

Easter Flowers

Hedgehog Cactus - Echinopsis

Hedgehog Cactus – Echinopsis

Echinopsis is a large genus of cacti native to South America, sometimes known as hedgehog cactus, sea-urchin cactus or Easter lily cactus.

They grow only in situations where the soil is sandy or gravelly, or on the sides of hills in the crevices of rocks.

None of the species need to be grafted to grow freely and remain healthy, as the stems are all robust enough and of sufficient size to take care of themselves. The only danger is in keeping the plants too moist in winter, for although a little water now and again keeps the stems fresh and green, it deprives them of that rest which is essential to the development of their large, beautiful flowers in summer.

Echinopsis

 

Naboom

30 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by in Gardens, South African Endemic, Succulents

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Naboom detail

Naboom detail

Naboom

Naboom

A few years ago while staying at a B & B in Kwazulu Natal, I took the smallest slip from a really neglected plant, never thinking for a moment that it would grow into this magnificent plant.

The Naboom (Euphorbia ingens) are easy to grow low maintenance plants, which make a wonderful addition to a rockery or succulent garden.

The flowers attract butterflies, bees and other insects, which collect pollen and nectar from them, pollinating the trees in the process. The seeds are a good source of food for many fruit and berry eating birds. Birds also like nesting in these trees; hole-nesting birds such as woodpeckers often use dead sections.

The latex of this tree is extremely toxic and can cause severe skin irritations, blindness and severe illness to humans and animals if swallowed.

 

Kitty Hawk

28 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in compost, Flowers, Succulents

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Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk

I purchased this Orchid Cactus Kitty Hawk from The Green Cathedral some years ago. She has rewarded me every year with a stunning display.

The name ‘Green Cathedral of South Africa’ is derived from a media publication and, until August 1 2011, used as an alias for ‘Soekershof; Private Mazes & Botanical Gardens in South Africa’; located in the tranquil Klaas Voogds area near the small town of Robertson. Since August 2011 Green Cathedral of South Africa resides in Stanford, Western Cape as does a precious collection of plants.

I dedicated this post to Herman Van Bron who is the custodian of the Green Cathedral.

Kitty Hawk

Kitty Hawk

RELATED ARTICLES :

Orchid Cactus http://aristonorganic.com/2013/11/18/orchid-cactus/

What a spectacle

27 Tuesday Aug 2013

Posted by in Bulbs, Colours, ecology, Flowers, Gardens, South African Endemic, Succulents

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a ruin in the fields

a ruin in the fields at Papkuilsfontein

Namaqualand is home to this Spring miracle.

After the winter rainfall, Namaqualand dons her coat of many colours and for a brief moment, the wildflowers invade the countryside. Countless poems, novels, paintings and prose have been dedicated to this annual shower of God‘s colour.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

Namaqualand is quite popular with both local and international tourists during early springtime, when for a short period this normally arid area becomes covered with a kaleidoscope of colour during the flowering season. This is known throughout South Africa as the Namaqualand daisy season, when orange and white daisies, as well as hundreds of other flowering species, spring up from a previously barren landscape.

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