There are four cereus cacti tucked into the southwest corner of our deck, staggered on plant stands of varying heights. Over the course of the summer, they’ll bloom every five or six weeks–always at night–but last less than a day, before the flowers wilt and die. On occasion, the cacti bloom in concert. And when that happens, it’s quite a show.
Papery albino-white petals collide with each other, separated only by bunches of light-green stamen. The flowers’ elegance contrasts nicely with the prickly, often goofy looking, cereus. Monica and I aren’t the only ones who enjoy the display, either. All sorts of insects devote their mornings busying themselves with collecting pollen when the cereus blooms.
