(click for larger view.)
The title of the post sounds like I’m about to talk about a new film by Zhang Yimou, or by Wisit Sasanatieng, but I’m not. Just wanted to share this lovely flower that emerges in the second half of the day in a sea of “tiger jaw” succulent leaves. The Tiger’s Jaw (faucaria tigrina) cactus plant* produces them from time to time (usually only one or two at a time) and it is always a delight to see them… they stay closed for the first part of the day and then emerge for a late show, and do this for a few days before being spent. Then I wait until the next time. Beauty enhanced by (relative) rarity, once again.
-cvj
*Frankly, Velociraptor’s Jaw might be a better name…
Thanks for stimulating my curiosity about my mystery flow–after some google detective work I I think it was a Stapelia. This is especially delightful as the milkweed family is my favorite plant family.
Yes, it’s that sudden appearance of an odd flower, and then the short duration, or disappearance, that really makes it so magical…
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Lovely! I have some mystery mixed succulents I inherited from someone who moved and I still remember the first time one of them flowered, with this extravagant, giant flower that just seemed to appear out of nowhere–magical.
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Great!
That would be popular on both sides of the Atlantic! When the girls are older, I’m very much looking forward to showing them the wonders of California.
Next time you come out this way, be sure to bring plenty of your rain. Please.
Ah! yes. Actually, if anything, it got drier since then! Back then the Winters at least would bring a serious amount of rain, very useful for the cycle of renewal in a garden (and of course replenishing the water supply)…. but since then the Winters have been pretty low on the rainfall too, and so… gardening is much more of a challenge, to put it mildly.
I remember how dry it was when I visited. I think the second time (?) coincided with the fire in Griffith Park.
Well, if it’ll help temper your envy, know that the outdoors here is becoming more and more hazardous to growing things easily for much of the year… Too much relentless baking sunlight, not enough clouds and rain. (Cacti and small-leaved things do ok, of course, but many other things simply burn without erecting shade of various sorts… although mercifully we’ve had a nicely mixed May.)
I’m very envious that you can grow these outdoors!
I do and it doesn’t, in that order!
Oliver:- I seem to recall you have a collection of succulents yourself, right? Does this variety feature in it?
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Flower of the Tiger’s Jaw http://t.co/SuqJVQQO1k via @Asymptotia