It was late afternoon when I stepped into the glasshouse and saw the new cacti. Low shafts of sunlight gleamed through the semi-translucent forms of the nearest plants. 
I had never seen anything like these before!
A whole collection has been donated to the Botanic Garden, and is waiting on trestles to be labelled and arranged.
My limited knowledge of cacti is on this occasion fortuitous. Sometimes it is better to think in shape and form rather than species ...
... To revel in texture, light and shade ...
To marvel at the rhythm of exquisite pattern ...
I look back as I leave the glasshouse, not wishing to miss a last sun-edged glimpse of these extraordinary beings.
20 comments:
What a marvelous way to see those cacti...as "nature's sculptures." Indeed they are, and your images are stunning. Another exquisite post!
Thank you so much, Diane! There are many more of those wonderful cacti in the glasshouse.
Wow, they are so beautiful. It's amazing how many sizes and shapes they come in! I love your photos!
Sweet collection of cacti! Odd to then see your shot of tulips - minor horticultural whiplash! Thanks for stopping by my blog. The leopard spotted plant is Ledeboria socialis. I got it as a little bulb-like cutting from a friend. Now I have a few dozen. Easy to grow if frost isn't a problem.
Thank you, Catherine! There are so many fascinating cacti in the collection, including some really miniature ones too.
'Minor horticultural whiplash' - I like that phrase, Garden Wise Guy!
Thanks for the info on the Ledeboria, I shall see if there are any around here.
Thank you for stopping by Keewee's Garden. I had to come on over to see what you are doing, and I am stunned by the layout and colors of your blog. It is a piece of art. Just beautiful.
I also love cacti, but do not have the space to put any.
Thank you Keewee, I am honoured that you like my blog!
I too do not have space for cacti - I'm so glad to be able to visit the Botanic Garden!
Hi, great to meet you...thanks for visiting and commenting on my blog. Your cacti photos are wonderful and I've enjoyed reading (start to finish) your mural..what an honor to showcase that..you are very talented! Very cute how the bunny got in there...lol. My nephew is named Phoenix.
Lynn
Thank you Lynn! I'm honoured that you read my mural posts start to finish.
The bunny is currently somewhere on the trestle among the new cacti - no doubt it will turn up in future photos!
Amazing plants! Thank you for visiting me today. I would Love to be able to see a hedgehog in the wild! :-)
Thank you Shady Gardener! I'll try and get some photos of the hedgehogs to put on the blog, when they come out in the warmer weather.
thank you for stopping by my blog! I've been looking over your photos, and I'm almost ashamed to post mine. Wonderful images... thank you for sharing them with us.
Thank you Claude! I'm honoured that you like my images. I've just been looking at your blog again and admiring the planter you created. Wish I could grow prickly pear and agave in a planter outside here!
What wonderful cactus photos! Cacti and succulents are my favorite pastime, so I never seem to get enough of them and enjoy seeing others' photos of them.
Aiyana
Thank you Aiyana! There are many more wonderful cacti at the Botanic Garden and I love to go and see them.
I decided to look over your blog after your helpful post. What a discovery! Your blog and your paintings are beautiful, Phoenix. Your desert mural will inspire and expand the experience of each visitor to the desert glass house. Just wonderful.
I’m a sucker for succulents and cactus, too. Sometimes they almost look unreal, amazing rhythm and balance in their structures. And dangerous! As I’m sure you have discovered by now.
Thank you Bill. The mural has now been used for lots of school visits which will hopefully inspire the children and teachers!
The structure and form of plants has always interested me - cacti more recently - trees from as long ago as I can remember!
Cacti are interesting plants that are easy to grow indoors. I had a standard poodle puppy that would find eays to eat my cacti, even the prickly ones by spitting out the spines.
That sounds very drastic, Barbara!
I have heard that some animals, for instance giraffes, are able to eat certain prickly plants, and also hide their babies among them.
My boxer would occasionally chew the window sill, but not the plants on it!
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