Blooming Friday -- Christmas Cactus

This is Christmas Cactus, Schlumbergia bridgessii. (Note the smooth stem segments.) This wonderful plant has unfortunately pretty much disappeared from commerce. A generous fellow gardener sent me rooted cuttings three years ago. Thank you again for sharing your beautiful cactus.

Thanks to Katarina at roses and stuff for hosting Blooming Friday.

The Rites of Winter

January 1st does not really have significance for me as far as New Year's Resolutions and parties. Rather, it is the date by which I like to have seeds which require cold stratification ready and in the fridge. They are the seeds of woody plants -- dogwood, redbud, snowbell, and roses -- and iris. A lot of people wintersow, but I prefer this method. It works for me and is the best way I know how to celebrate the new year.

It's still a miracle to me what comes from those tiny little seeds.

Rosa rugosa alba

Iris virginica blooms its second year from seed.

'Therese Bugnet' seedling

Japanese iris

Rosa rugosa rubra

'Foxi Pavement' seedling. It looks exactly like its parent.

Blooming Friday

The warm weather we had this week really brought out a lot of the Prunus mume buds. These flowers survived temps down into the '20s last night. Even when the flowers, do get zapped, there's always more buds to open when there's warmth to draw them out.

Thanks to Katarina at roses and stuff for hosting Blooming Friday.