My Opuntia humifusa plants are blooming! Gives me such joy. The neat thing about these cacti is that they are native to eastern north america! They can survive brutal wet winters as far north as Ontario, and perk up as soon as it gets above freezing. The flowers do not self pollinate, so I walk around with a small paintbrush collecting pollen from one and brushing it on another.

🌵 🏵️

#botany #cacti #cactus #Opuntia #OpuntiaHumifusa #cactaceae

I took a picture of Opuntia, commonly called prickly pear or pear cactus, on the island of Elba. This flowering plant belongs to the genus Opuntia in the cactus family Cactaceae. The genus is named after the Ancient Greek city of Opus, where an edible plant grew and could be propagated by rooting its leaves.

#Opuntia #pricklypear #pearcactus #Elba #Cactaceae #photography #AYearForArt #colors #contrast

🌎 Cacti are facing a range of threats, but there is hope for their conservation. By implementing effective policies and conservation strategies, we can protect these incredible plants for future generations.

https://doi.org/10.1093/aob/mcad040

#Cactaceae #ClimateChange #PlantConservation (10/10)

November 28, my Christmas cactus plants are already in bloom. I think this is the earliest I've seen them flower. These plants make a lovely natural holiday decoration - they just do their thing automatically at the right time of year.
#Christmas #Christmascactus #Schlumbergera #epiphyte #cactus #Cactaceae #wintersolstice