Saturday, December 1, 2012

Its shy side



The Christmas Cactus revealed just a scant group of leaves this year. In the last two years, perhaps only two scrawny leaves have been appended to its stalks. Maybe it doesn't like the bright southern exposure we've given it for the last few years.  This photo was from last weekend, which puts the timing of the opening of the first flowers about two weeks earlier than last year, and a week earlier than two years ago.

The flowers seemed to favour the sunny side.  This angle is the same angle I've photographed it compared to prior years, yet this time, the blooms are nearly all on the opposite side.

The blooms aren't as extravagant as in prior years despite better living conditions than in prior years:  a bit of fertilization in the spring, no pests, and no flooding.
2011
2010
2009