Hi everyone, I’ve not been on here for a while due to not being very well but thought it was about time I showed me face and let you know that me and Black Sheep are still alive and kicking.
It has been an awful winter, so now that it is over and the weather is improving I am trying to make the best of it and get on top of all the jobs that need doing in the garden. It’s surprising what effect a bit of sunshine has on making you feel better and persuading you out into the garden.
Most of you that know me know that I grow cacti for a hobby. On going into the greenhouse this morning I was greeted with my first cactus to flower this year. I thought you might like to see it. It put a smile on my face and I hope it cheers you up a bit as well. There are also signs of others coming into bud which should be flowering over the next few weeks.
I hope everyone is keeping well.
John aka 🐑🐑🐑🐃🐑🐑🐑
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PastMeBest
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I am absolutely delighted to see you. 😀 It's been ages and I do hope that you and your wife are doing better now. You were missed. And your black sheep. 🐑💓
The cacti has cheered me up no end. It has such a beautiful flower. I have one cacti. It has no flower. I bought it at the 100 ten shop, equivalent to your pound shop. It grows very slowly and does not seem to respond to my talking to it or singing. Perhaps that is the problem. 😒
Anyway, I hope you do pop in more often. It's just great to hear from you.
Hi Cas, it’s great hearing from you. I seem to have lost touch with you and everyone else with all the things that have been going on with me. Now that we are having warmer weather my health seems to be more stable so I am trying to do a bit more when I can. I just have to watch that I don’t overdo things, especially having Wifey to look after.
I am pleased that my cactus picture cheered you up. Hopefully this will be the first of many of my plants to flower this year.
I wonder what sort of cactus you have? Maybe you could email me a picture of it. I think you already have my email address and if not let me know and I’ll PM it to you. I talk to my plants and they seem to do alright but I wouldn’t chance singing to them, Too Risky!!!
Hello John. My cactus is very small and ordinary looking. I think the soil is wrong for it, but it hasn't died yet. 😒 I don't think I have your e-mail address. If you don't mind seeing my rather insignificant cacti, then yes, please send me your address.
I really look forward to you being here more. Warmest wishes to you and your wife. xx 🙋🐕🐑🍺
Hi sassy59 it is good to see you are still on here. I know how much support you give on a daily basis to those in need. It doesn’t go unnoticed.
The flowers on this cactus are a bit on the small size compared to some that I have flowered, but they are still beautiful.
I’m hoping the sun keeps shining as well. I’ve been in and out of the garden for most of the day just pottering about. I feel like I have achieved something for a change.
Dear Kate, it seems ages since we last spoke. Not your fault though. When people know you are unwell they tend to keep their distance for fear of pestering you. Anyway, it is also good to hear from you. I wonder if you still do your lovely drawings? I treasure the ones you did of me and Black Sheep.
Speaking of Black Sheep, he is still with me and is as mischievous as ever. The main reason I grow cactus is that they are one of the few things he can’t eat. The spines keep him at bay. He won’t like me telling you but he is terrified of hedgehogs. He thinks they are cactus with legs and runs a mile when he sees one in the garden. What a Wus!!!🙄
How lovely to see you again PMB. Sorry that your winter’s been so awful for you and also for Wifey, I expect. It did seem to go on for ever with so many horrible bugs around, but you’re right being out in the garden does lift one’s spirits. It’s nice to feel the sunshine again. I’m finding it a bit daunting that there’s so much to do - maybe a rest in the potting shed with a Guinness and a pork pie would be a good idea. I love your cactus 🌵. What a joy and a reward for the green fingers. Say hello to Black Sheep,and take care of yourselves. Sue xxx
Hi Sue, another name I remember from past postings. It’s good to hear from you.
It hasn’t been a very good winter this year for me. Hopefully I can now put it behind me and look forward to better things. Wifey hasn’t been too bad this year, compared to previous winters. She is looking forward to a decent Summer as long as it isn’t too hot. Having COPD, Wifey doesn’t like too much heat. Suffering from Pulmonary Fibrosis I find I tolerate the warmth much better than the cold.
I have enjoyed pottering about in the garden today. The sunshine really does make me feel a lot better. I was that busy I forgot to take a Guinness and Pork Pie break. I’ll have to make up for it tonight. 😬😂
I’m pleased you liked my cactus photo. I’ll have to put a few more on during the summer.
I said “Hello” to Black Sheep for you but he was too busy eating the lawn for him to answer. I suppose he does have his uses.😊
Oh hello again, it's good to see you're back! Lovely cactus flower - can we look forward to seeing a few more? Don't get carried away In the garden, start slowly and don't do too much.
Hi Magpuss , your good advice has been noted. With Wifey to look after I can’t afford to do anything stupid. I think I have learnt over the past couple of years that I can’t do what I used to be able to do.
I am sure I will be putting some more cactus photos on when they flower. If you think this one is good, wait till you see some of the others in flower.
Lovely to hear from you.
Hope you have a good weekend.
John aka 🐑🐃🐑
thankyou,i like the cactus plant and pink flowers.well done.
Midge and I are having to slow down. No tomato seeds sown this year and campervan sits unused since last year, but I expect we will bounce back once the sun manages to shine for more than 2 days running.
Oh its great to know the black sheep is back!!! I was wondering where PMB has been of late. Glad to know you are feeling a bit better now we've got better weather I bet more of your cacti will be shown to us- such strange but clever plants really. Good to see you back on track!
Hi SquirrelsHolt , the nature of our illnesses means that we all have our ups and down from time to time. Unfortunately the past 6months or so haven’t been all that good for me. My positive attitude has really helped me though and hopefully I can enjoy a bit better and more stable health for a while.
Most people think that cacti only grow in deserts which couldn’t be further from the truth. Some cacti do grow in deserts but they also grow in grassland, up mountains in the snow line and even up trees. Different cacti require different growing conditions and you need to know what they are if you want to succeed in growing them.
Great to hear from you again, but sorry that you have not been well.
That photo of the cactus in flower is so uplifting ......I bought my daughter a Euphorbia Obesa ....it just sat there all winter, now it's starting to split so maybe it will flower too.
Hi knitter , I am pleased you found my cactus photo uplifting.
The Euphorbia Obesa that you bought for your daughter isn’t actually a cactus it is a succulent. They make good houseplants as they are relatively easy to look after. Don’t expect too much from the flowers though, they are produced during the summer and are tiny.
I have a couple of small Euphorbia Obesa and if they flower I’ll post a photo of them.
I have also been wondering how you were, to the fifth crack of thunder here in Southampton. Keeping up the tradition of two pork pies and an aspirin here
Hi 2greys , I was wondering what you meant when you said “to the fifth crack of thunder” until a couple of hours later we had thunder and lightning and a bit of rain. I thought it was a small price to pay for having such a wonderful day. I woke up to glorious sunshine this morning so it looks like we are going to have another beautiful day.
I am pleased that you are keeping up the tradition of two Pork Pies but not sure about the aspirin. I much prefer a glass of Guinness. When you get as good as me, you will be able to graduate to two Family size Pork Pies.😋
Hi Bev, lovely to hear from you. It’s nice to know that I have been missed. I’ll have to make an effort to get on more often.
Pleased you love the cactus. I like to see other members garden pictures and what they do with their gardens. It makes the site more interesting and takes your mind off illness for a while.
Hi Carnival567 , it’s good to hear from you. You must have the special touch if you are managing to keep your cacti alive. The main reason people can’t grow cacti successfully is that they overwater them. Sometimes a little neglect is helpful in keeping them alive.
Good morning John, So good to see you posting again,really missed seeing PastMeBest for such along time,what a beautiful cactus, Very best wishes, Bulpit
Hello Shirley, I am really glad to put last winter behind me and now that we seem to be getting better weather I am looking forward to getting in the garden/greenhouse more.
My chest is pretty settled at the moment, John, but the vertigo is a problem. Ah, well, it's like drinking too much Guinness without the expense. Lol! Love the sheep! xx Moy
Hi PMB, good to see you posting again, the cacti is beautiful. I, too, have had a bad winter, worse than ever before, and are just now beginning to feel a bit better . I have been popping in from time to time but not saying much until recently as I really wasn’t up to it. The sunshine 🌞 certainly helps to lift the spirits and being able to get in the garden and watch my hubby pottering about has been a joy. Hope you’re feeling better now, take care. X
I’m sorry that you haven’t had a very nice winter but pleased that you are now feeling a bit better. Just like yourself I have been popping in now and again to see what has been happening. Now that I am feeling better than I was I may get on more often and post a few more pictures.
The weather was great here yesterday and I managed to get in the garden and do a few jobs. It looks like we are going to get some rain this afternoon but we are going out visiting relatives for dinner so I’m not too bothered if it rains or not.
Hi pastmebest, thank you for posting this lovely flowering cactus, it is lovely, does this need to be in the greenhouse or can it be planted in the garden? My daughter took me to the Cardiff flower show last week and the amount of lovely catcus blew me away. I thought they were a boring plant until I saw how colourful they are and just how many flower, so am now thinking of having a little rockery. Glad to hear that you are feeling better and hope the year will be good to us in bringing lots of sunshine. Irene x
Hello Irene, the plant in the photo is a Mammillaria Carmenae. Most Mammillarias are quite easy to grow, tolerate low temperatures and are free flowering. They don’t tolerate frost though so are not suitable for an outdoor rockery. Some cacti can tolerate freezing temperatures in their own habitat because the air is very dry, but over here where the humidity is a lot higher they wouldn’t survive.
One of the things that attracted me to growing cacti is the huge variety of types there are.
Hi.... Now that was a nice surprise to see your M. carminae, husband has M.. spinosissima and bombycina... in flower... Next wiill be the Rebutia..... Happy days.
Hi Jo, I also have a couple of Mam Sponosisima. One is a solitary growing one and the other is a clumping one that has smaller heads. Both flower well. I also have a few Mam Bombycina that are free flowering.
I had a look in the greenhouse this morning and one of my Rebutias should be flowering tomorrow.
Hello John. How lovely to hear from you. I hope that you and wifey are in better health now that the long, dreary winter is over, and what a beautiful sight to greet you when you visited your greenhouse. It's amazing what a bit of sunshine can do, and I wish better times for you in the months ahead. Just go easy on the pork pies and Guinness 😁. Best wishes to you both, and I look forward to hearing an update from you soon. Take care. XXX
Both myself and Wifey are enjoying better health at the moment. I don't think we had all that good a summer last year and I have hated this winter. I am glad to see the back of it. Hopefully this summer will be a good one.
I have a greenhouse full of cacti and succulents and am often surprised by something flowering unexpectedly. I entered my local Cactus Clubs Yearly Photo Competition in September last year. You were allowed to enter 3 cacti and 3 succulent photos. I was amazed when I won first and second place in the cacti section and first place in the succulent section. Apparently I am the first person to ever win first place in both classes at the same time. I didn't use a fancy camera either, just my iPad.
My Pork Pie and Guinness diet is what keeps me going. It should be available on prescription.😬😂
I'm sure you will see an update from me in the near future.
Hello John , I'm so pleased to hear that you and wifey are enjoying better health, and hoping that we can all look forward to a good summer this year. A bit of sunshine makes such a difference.
Very many congratulations on your outstanding achievement with your beautiful cacti and succulents, you must be very proud.
If the NHS can stretch to pork pies and Guinness, do you think that they might also consider Hagen Daaz Belgian chocolate icecream? 😁
Looking forward to more photographs of your lovely blooms.
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