This has been a floriferus month!

So many blooms to enjoy this month. Some I have shown already but many are hidden away in my files.

This week was a first for Echinopsis werdermanii sown in March 2006 - lovely pink

I think I have only once before ever had blooms from Mammillaria baumii, but this plant bloomed earlier this month and is flowering again now.  This is one of the smallest.

My ten-year old Mammillaria albicoma has blooms on one head only - hoping the rest will follow suit before the season is done.

Several pink/purple mamms showed their colours:

Mammillaria insularis (sowed 2008)

Mammillaria sheldonii-like

Mammillaria matudae (sowed 2006)

Mammillaria hubertmulleri (sowed 2008)

Mammillaria boolii (sowed 2007)

I am expecting some Turbinicarpus to open up this weekend so I will share those when I can.  Such tiny plants with such powerful blooms - always lovely!

Working on the little ones

Today I managed to "pot up" a tray of seedlings - mostly about a year old or so, from the sowing pot to a 128-cell tray (about 1" square or slightly smaller).  I'm looking forward to seeing these grow up without mishap, although I know that losses can't be avoided.

A variety of species, with a few Turbincarpus, Echinofossulocactus, Coryphantha, among others.

And while I know that it is not good to deliberately create uknown and unrecognised hybrids, I couln't stop myself from cross-pollinating these two Lobivia hybrids that were blooming this morning.  Hoping to get fruit with viable seed to grow MORE babies.  Love these Lobivia flowers!

I've been such a bad blogger!

Haven't added anything to my blog for over a year!!  I feel like a bad blogger, but there is opportunity to make up.

What can I write about tonight?

I have been having such success with blooming cacti this summer - especially since I FINALLY built my planthouse and have moved most of my plants in.  This was in May when it was substantially complete and only a few plants moved around.  It is now getting full and I need to get two more tables made to add to the seven that are in there now.

They really seem to be liking the environment, and it is so much easier to appreciate the plants when I don't have to be peeping under a table and through a mesh cage.

And just so that I include a specific cactus before I close off, this is Turbinicarpus polaskii blooming in May this year - in a 2" square tray.  I note that my last post last year mentioned that this was one I was nurturing.  Success!!

And another that has been nurtured carefully to bloom this April - Astrophytum asterias

Now I have so many blooms to share, I do need to do better at blogging regularly.  It is easy to talk about these babies that I grow from seed - to bring to bloom is such a rewarding feeling.