Anticipation /ænˌtɪs·əˈpeɪ·ʃən/a feeling of excitement about something that is going to happen in the near future (
Cambridge Dictionary)
Cactofloranticipation /ˈkæk.toʊ.flɔːr.ænˌtɪs.əˈpeɪ.ʃən/
a feeling of excitement about cacti flowering in the near future (Gerhard Bock)
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Cactofloranticipation may be an unfamiliar term, but it describes something familiar to anybody who’s ever grown cacti: watching flower buds grow and waiting, with an increasing degree of impatience, for them to open. When it finally happens, it’s a glorious moment that is achingly short-lived.
Here are a few recent examples of cactofloranticipation in my own garden.
‘First Light’ is not only one of the most beautiful echinopsis hybrids, it’s also one of the most floriferous. It flowered first in
May, then again in
June, so this is the third time this year.
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| August 28 |
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| August 30 – still not quite |
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| August 31 – finally open in all its glory |
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| August 31 |
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| August 31 |
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| August 31 |
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| Eight hours later, the flowers are closed up again – for good |
‘Flattycake’ is supposed to have flat, disc-like flowers. As you can see, the flowers are anything but that. Looking at the body of the cactus, you’ll see that it’s grown so fast that it’s split open in several places. Maybe ‘Fattycake’ would be a better name?
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| August 28 |
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| August 29 |
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| August 29 |
Echinopsis ‘Salmon Queen’
This hybrid might be small in stature (5" tall by 4" wide), but it’s a fierce flower-making machine. Four flowers opened up a few days ago, and a few more are in the budding stage.
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| August 28 |
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| August 28 |
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| August 30 |
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| August 30 |
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| August 30 |
Echinopsis ‘Apricot Glow’
The flowers of ‘Apricot Glow’ deliver exactly what the name promises. Only one flower this time, but seeing how there are two pups emerging next to the momma, I’m expecting a bigger show next year.
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| August 28 |
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| August 29 |
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| August 29 |
‘June Noon’ is a standout with its yellow-and-white flowers. It’s also one of the most enthusiastic bloomer: This is the fourth wave this year, even though there’s only one flower this time around compared to four
in May.
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| August 27 |
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| August 27 |
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| August 28 |
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| August 28 |
Echinocereus stoloniferus
As the species name suggests, this small cactus spreads by underground stolons. That’s cool, but not all that important to me. I bought it because it has yellow flowers, not a common color in hedgehog cacti. Unlike echinopsis flowers which fade the same day they open,
Echinocereus stoloniferus flowers last three to four days.
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| August 28 |
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| August 29 |
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| August 30 |
As a bonus, here are some cactus flowers that appeared seemingly out of nowhere. I guess I didn’t pay enough attention to notice the buds ahead of time.
Another wonderful small echinopsis hybrid made by Bob Schick. The colors of the flower changed quite dramatically between 7:30 when it started to open and 11:30 a.m. when it was wide open.
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| August 31, 7:30 a.m. |
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| August 31, 11:30 a.m. |
Unlike the man-made hybrids above, Echinopsis oxygona is a species that occurs naturally in southern Brazil, Uruguay, and northern Argentina. Its flowers may be more subdued in color, but they’re no less beautiful. It’s no surprise that Echinopsis oxygona is widely used in making echinopsis hybrids.
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| August 31 |
Formerly Mammillaria wrightii, this small cactus is native to New Mexico as well as the Mexican states of Sonora and Chihuahua. I put it in the ground earlier this year, and it’s quickly formed a nice-sized clump. The magenta flowers are quite large for a mammillaria.
By the time you read this post, I bet there already are new cactus flowers getting ready to pop!
© Gerhard Bock, 2023. All rights reserved. To receive all new posts by email, please subscribe here.
Mindblowing
ReplyDeleteI would be afraid to leave home in case you missed the event. Such gorgeous colours. The flowers are so out of scale with the size of the plants but no way a passing insect is going to miss them.
ReplyDeleteI know! I've missed two waves this year because I was out of town.
DeleteJust stunning! The flowers are simply gorgeous. I added several echinopsis due to your last post about them - but I don't know that I will get any payoff/blooms until next year.
ReplyDeleteThe taller Trichocereus hybrids take a little longer to flower, but the smaller Echinopsis hybrids can bloom even at an early age.
DeleteThe flowers are beautiful, especially the Echinopsis "First Light." It looks like a bouquet of flowers with the base of the cactus being the vase.
ReplyDeleteYes!! That's exactly what my wife said (bouquet of flowers).
DeleteYour garden makes me happy! Thanks for capturing these fleeting blooms and sharing with us. I propose your new term be added to the dictionary 🙂
ReplyDeleteThank you!!!
DeleteAlso interesting to learn that some cacti flower several times a year - I had assumed they just flowered once annually. Another reason to add a few more to my (limited) collection - although I’m not sure if your flashy hybrids are available here in Aus.
ReplyDeleteAustralia has pretty strict laws on plant imports, right?
DeleteI have most of these but I love them all!
ReplyDeleteOh my, so glad I saw these beauties. Sunshine for the soul.
ReplyDelete