This is one of four cereus cactus flowers in bloom this morning. This time of year. one or more of these opens every day. Within hours the flowers wilt, eventually fall off leaving a portion of the stem that will grow into the fruit of this cactus. Click on the image to enlarge (notice the pollinator inside).
I’m not sure about the name of these tiny orchids, but they come in purple, yellow, red and this shade of persimmon. I have had all four come out on our California patio this year. They grow from stems that extend out of the leaves and form clusters of several inch-wide flowers. Click on the image to enlarge.
Last year, I posted a photo of this echeveria succulent on the patio. Then, it had fewer of the colorful little flowers. I guess it likes it here. I probably got this at the local garden shop last year.
Desert Tropicals describes the echeveria genus:
Echeveria is a large genus of succulents in the Crassulaceae family. They are native from Mexico to northwestern South America. The genus Echeveria is named after the 18th century Spanish botanist Atanasio Echeverria Codoy. Several of these species are outstanding garden plants. A large number offsets heavily and are given the common name of ‘Hen and Chicks’.
Click on the image to enlarge.
I got these a while back to plant in the front porch planters. Today, they were looking very, very red. Click on the image to enlarge.
While shopping at the garden center today, I decided to take a photo of flowers on a lantana bush. Just as I was getting set to shoot the photo, a sachem skipper butterfly landed on the flower. Click on the image to enlarge.
I bought a dozen bright “Hot Princess” roses when we shopped today. I put them in the vase with the yellow “Isabel” roses from last week and the colors compliment each other perfectly. Click on the image to enlarge.
The first (I hope not only) Golden Torch cactus flower opened up last night. I took this photo of it this morning. I say I hope not only because last year there were a half dozen of the little flower-pods by July and this year I only see the one. Click on the image to enlarge.
