Pink flower ka-power
Several rosy-cheeked flowers are standing up to the Death Star during this hot midsummer. The ones I’m enjoying most, because the plant is new in my garden, are these satin-petaled, carnation-pink flowers that appear every couple of weeks on a mammillaria cactus.
A spiny stoic cactus, just enduring. And then — boom! A crown of pink flowers with golden stamens appears overnight like a floral halo. Hello, you beauties!
The watermelon-pink crepe myrtle in the back garden is blooming its heart out too. True, a parade’s worth of confetti-like flowers litters the deck stairs below it. But the mess is worth it, to have something looking so happy about our 101-degree days.
A few in-ground bouquets of candy-pink rain lilies (Zephryanthes ‘Labuffarosea’) have also popped up lately, starry-eyed over trace amounts of rain, or maybe just the smell of it in the air.
These pinkies are helping me get through summer. What color is your summer garden?
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I didn’t know that this cactus would bloom so often. What a beauty. The rain lilies remind me of the Surprise Lilies that are now popping open in our garden. It is always a sweet surprise.
I didn’t know the cactus would bloom so often either, Lisa. Perhaps my occasional watering combined with our extreme heat and sunlight is what triggers it? —Pam
Right now my flame acanthus and Turk’s cap are keeping the hummers happy. So right now I’m very fond of orange. Love that little cactus though. The flowers are so vivid!
I think of those as red, maybe red-orange, and they’re doing great in my garden too through these hot summer days. I echo your praise for them! And I bet the hummers do too. —Pam
Those rain lilies are such a sweet surprise! In keeping with the pink theme, my Jacobinia (rose colored) have been blooming. They looks so tropical but made it through this last winter just fine.
That sounds pretty, Joellen — more pink power! By the way, your link didn’t work, unfortunately, so I removed it. If you want to try to leave it again, feel free! —Pam
Is that a fish hook cactus? Those blooms are wonderful. And to think some people/stores paint/dye their cacti. My rain lilies opened on Sunday – they always bring a smile to my face, even if we didn’t get rain sprinkles for more than a minute!
Darrell at Living Desert Ranch sold it to me as a mammillaria cactus, but those spines do look fishhook-like, don’t they? And yes, I love those rain lilies for accepting with grace whatever amount of rain they get. —Pam
Your garden is pretty in pink, Pam! Beyond my cutting garden, my garden is mostly shades of green, gray and tan at the moment. Even the mimosa tree’s fuzzy pink flowers have turned brown.
I’m glad your cutting garden is still providing some color for you, Kris, during CA’s golden season. I bet that you can’t wait for fall’s cooler temps and rain, like me. —Pam
The sweet and delicate flowers on cacti always make me smile with the thought that even the prickliest character has a sweet/soft side. Your heat sounds a bit oppressive. Maybe you need a summer place here on Puget Sound where our highs seldom exceed the 80’s and our nights cool down very nicely.
That is EXACTLY what I need. If only! —Pam