Sticky Situation

So pleased to see my little cactus sprout two flowers this year! I got this plant from the SF flower and garden show three years ago from a cactus vendor whose shop is called Sticky Situation. The guy described this cactus as "velcro" because it sticks to you with its tiny hooks. 

First year, I got one flower. Same deal the second year. This year, two!

My Pretties

So, this is what's going on in my backyard lately. 

 I was happy to see my little clam shell succulent blooming with these white flowers.

This one is breaking free and branching out.

 Passion flower still blooming through the summer.

 This one is so cool. I feel kinda bad because I bought it as a gift, but I don't think I can part with it. I don't even think this person likes succulents, actually. It must stay with me.

The fuzzy flowers are so sweet.

I am not really a blogger. It's a miracle I remembered my password to get back in here. Instagram is more my speed. Snap a pic, play around with the filters, and "share." That's about all I have time for these days.

Until next time...

My Old Man

I've had this little old man cactus for years. I cannot remember how many. It does not grow bigger, but every year it gives one beautiful flower. This year I was excited to see three blooms!

Big, strong flowers!

Pretty hot pink! Great job, Old Man!

They Had Me at Ola

Well, actually it was the beautiful toucan among the colorful tropical backdrop that caught my eye when I saw the gorgeous ad for the annual Macy's Flower Show. This year's theme was BRASIL - Gardens in Paradise. The show featured all kinds of crazy and beautiful bromeliads, tillandsias, orchids, anthuriums, heliconia...and more. I  made a lunch hour trip to Union Square to check it out.

Here are a few of my pics:

Nice display of tropical flora and fauna.

A toucan made of flowers and plants. This is right up my alley.

Awesome lime green anthuriums.

Tropical Gorgeousness.

A very large and impressive toucan!

These were quite popular. I saw several ladies checking them out, trying to decide which one to take home. $30 bucks and up? I wasn't too impressed.

Epiphytes and birds share a suspended log at the Union Square entry of Macy's.

This is a bad pic, but you get the idea of the tropical forest they had going on top of the cosmetics section.

Cactus Flowers

You almost feel high just gazing at them.

These neighborhood cacti are putting on a spectacular show this year! I noticed the buds starting to pop out last week. Then I started to see small crowds of neighbors and dog walkers stopping on the corner to admire these beauties, so I knew they'd started to bloom. I walked down the street after work the other day to take these pics. The flowers are so exquisite!

These aloes get in on the blooming action as well.

Stately tall cactus

This is one of my favorite front yards!

Neighborhood Flora