Sunday, November 23, 2008

Today's Flowers - Holiday Cactus




Holiday Cactus

(click on photo to enlarge)


One of my friends called me last week to tell me that her "Thanksgiving Cactus" was in bloom, and asked if I would photograph it. I really like the pink flowers on this one.



The common holiday cacti (Thanksgiving Cactus, Christmas Cactus, Easter Cactus) are composed of several closely related species in the genus Schlumbergera and the species Hatiora gaertneri, (often called "Zygocactus" in older works). They are originally forest cacti, growing as epiphytes at elevations between 1000 and 1700 meters above sea level (3280 to 5575 feet above sea level) in the Organ Mountains north of Rio de Janeiro in southeast Brazil, South America. They are called "Flor de maio" (May Flower) in Brazil. Many modern holiday cactus cultivars are hybrids between Schlumbergera truncata and Schlumbergera russelliana, first bred about 150 years ago in England. (Source: Wikipedia)



Today's Flowers is a weekly Meme created by Luiz Santilli, Jr. and may be found here. Please visit to see others' lovely flower photos. If you have a flower photo of your own to share, please join us.

24 comments:

abb said...

Such a pretty cactus! Love that pink color - I've never seen that color. One of mine is red and the other hot pink with a few red thrown in. Nice pic, Pat!

Richard Lawry said...

I have never seen a pink one either. It is very pretty. Thanks for sharing. I hope you have a good Thanksgiving.

An Arkie's Musings

Cow Pies & Mud Pies said...

I have not seen the pink one either! Very pretty. One of my favorite plants is my Christmas Cactus. I just bought an Easter cactus yesterday at our church bazaar. Can't wait to see it bloom!

Maria said...

What a pretty picture of your Holiday cactus! Great capture! The colour of your cactus seems to be unique, mine is white with pink pistils (? I mean the tongues!), and I know red ones, but yours is different!
Have a nice week!

Anonymous said...

Yes. Brazilian Flor de Maio. Beautiful flower and color.

DeniseinVA said...

Your cactus is so beautiful. I remember my mother having one with red flowers and she called it a Christmas Cactus. Great photo, thanks for sharing it.

Anonymous said...

That's really pretty. I forget that cactus often produce such nice flowers.

Rose said...

My mom had the Christmas cactus...so beautiful. Your picture brought back memories for me....

Unknown said...

they are beautiful aren't they?

Anonymous said...

pretty cactus! nice color baby pink..thanks for sharing..

Carletta said...

Such lovely delicate petals!
I know she was pleased with this - it's beautiful.

Anonymous said...

That is beautiful! I've not seen it in pink as well. Thanks for sharing:)

Cheers,
Yen

This Is My Blog - fishing guy said...

Pat: What a neat capture of the Christmas Cactus blooming early.

Louise said...

This is a really beautiful one!

Mckay K said...

Your friends Holiday Cactus is lovely. I know that the holidays are not far behind when I see these beauties in bloom.

Rune Eide said...

And I thought a catus was a catus! Thanks for setting me right!

Dr.John said...

I had a parishoner with a cactus like that but it only bloomed every third year. But that yearshe would get so excited.
The picture and explanation brought the memory back. Thank you.

Jeannelle said...

Very lovely cactus flower and photo, Pat!! How nice that you were called in to take the bloom's portrait!

I hope you and your daughter are having a wonderful time together!
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!

Sandi McBride said...

I love the Christmas Cactus...I love this pink one, too...thanks for sharing
Sandi

Hilary said...

Lovely plants, those. My mother-in-law always had them and they all bloomed beautifully this time of year. A bit of a deeper pink though. Beautiful, Pat.

JC said...

Beautiful. Happy Thanksgiving

Luiz Santilli Jr said...

Pat

Marvelous flower!
Very well captured!
Thanks for posting in TODAY'S FLOWERS!

Luiz

rhymeswithplague said...

Pat, a very happy Thanksgiving to you! I hope the cactus is still blooming away.

Paula said...

Hello Pat - Broken Y here! I just love Christmas Cactus - I had one that bloomed twice. My other plants beg me to give them to someone with a green thumb - I must have been partial to the cactus!

Merry Christmas to you!
Blessings~
P.