3 days on the Rose Cactus - revisited

Cluster of Buds

The Rose Cactus (posted : 30th Oct 2010) looks threatening  with those long thin spiky thorns. Whenever  I look at it, it seemed to be saying, " Don't come any nearer  ..." .  I thought I would place  a pot of the Rose Cactus just outside the kitchen window to stop the cats from climbing into my kitchen.  One can see the ugly marks the cats left when  they scaled the wall to the window ....! For a couple of months, I did not  see the cats again.  Then one afternoon, I saw one of   the cats peering at me coldly through the window, and it seemed to say , "  You silly  human, no thorny plant is going to keep me out for long! " This crafty cat must have learn how to avoid the thorns ....! Well, I guess I will have to rethink  a  new strategy or  just keep the windows closed.

Somehow even though the rose cactus plant have bloomed numerous times before,  they are no less appealing to me, in fact if possible they look  as exquisite each time .  So each time I see the buds, I stand charmed  - even more so when they appear in a cluster.

Very captivating indeed !

One is ready to bloom

Top View

It bloomed a couple of hours later .....

Side View

This single bloom actually lasts just a day, by evening the flower  will close only to re-open briefly again the next morning.  So on the second day, its job is done, and it starts to wilt.  Sad to see this happening, but that is the circle of life ... .Soon another bud will open to take its place, sometimes two or more might open simultaneously.  One gets to enjoy the blooms until all the buds are done... how long will that be ? Well,  I need to monitor and find out !  Another virtue of being a gardener,  we learn to be more observant .... :- ) !