Anne Elliott's photos with the keyword: Easter Cactus

Here, it's the kind of day when a bright splash of colour feels good . Yesterday afternoon, I finally washed all the dust, dried slush and build-up of dried mud off my car - driving the gravel backroads transforms ones vehicle in the blink of an eye, whether mud or clouds of dust. As always when I do this, the weather has changed from beautful sunshine yesterday to overcast dreariness today. There is also snow in the forecast for some of the upcoming days. This is another photo from my archives - this time, this beautiful Easter Cactus flower has no waterdrops on its long, narrow petals. Taken at home on 3 May 2010. "The Easter Cactus is Rhipsalidopsis gaertneri. In some respects it is superficially similar to Schlumbergera (Christmas Cactus). However, it blooms only once each year, in April (about Easter) and its flower is very different. It is not nearly as popular as the Schlumbergeras because it is rather more difficult to grow well, and it has the disconcerting habit of shedding its phylloclades (stem segments) at the slightest draught, or whenever over- or under-watered. It may refuse to bloom for no apparent reason. Enthusiasts tend to lose patience with this one, which is a pity, because it is quite magnificent in spite of all that." cactus.biology.dal.ca/paulS/christmas/christmas.html en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hatiora_gaertneri

This is a macro of the very centre (stamens, anther, can't remember what is what, lol?) of an Easter Cactus flower (Hatiora gaertneri), taken in my kitchen. I haven't checked today's temperature yet - not sure I really want to, lol, after our -36C (-33F) windchill temperature of yesterday! All I know is, I need colour - warm colour : ) And many of you do, too, no doubt. So, keep warm, everyone! "An Easter cactus is a unique, jointed cactus plant that blooms with brilliantly colored flowers once a year in the Easter season. It is a type of succulent cactus known as an epiphyte, which has adapted for survival in the jungle. The Easter cactus is indigenous to Brazil, and is commonly grown as a houseplant in cultivation." www.wisegeek.com/what-is-an-easter-cactus.htm It's back to saving more of my endless photos today. Having had to deal with three different computer problems the last 2-3 weeks, it has scared me enough to make me start on the long, monotonous chore of backing up photos to my external hard drive. I do it one small folder at a time, lol, which no doubt will have a few of you shaking your head.

Couldn't resist this small Easter Cactus plant when I went grocery shopping the other day : ). Thought it would make a change from the more usual photos of Christmas Cacti flowers. Such a pretty flower when seen up close, and such a gorgeous colour. Seem to remember it was snowing, raining and very windy when I bought it, LOL. "These plants are originally forest cacti, growing as epiphytes at elevations between 1000 and 1700 meters (3300 to 5600 feet) above sea level in the Organ Mountains north of Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil, South America.... Many modern holiday cactus cultivars are hybrids between Schlumbergera truncata and S. russelliana, first bred about 150 years ago in England." From Wikipedia.

I just had to take a few photos of the very centre of an Easter Cactus flower, of the stigma (with bokeh stamens) - I think it's so pretty. The flower itself is maybe an inch in length. We are in the middle of a dreadful Wind Storm, with extremly high winds and snow - definitely a day to stay home (Wind Warning in effect)!! In fact, I think I'll go and make myself a mug of hot coffee right now : )

Another photo of one of my Easter Cactus flowers - so different from the flowers of the Christmas Cactus. Later: just realized that, all being well, I should be going on a strenuous, full day hike tomorrow (as long as it doesn't rain), so thought I'd better add my Happy Mother's Day wishes to all of you now, instead of when I get back late tomorrow. Hope you have a happy day! cactus.biology.dal.ca/paulS/christmas/christmas.html