Ecology, botany, and the weird true thing you didn’t notice. Sometimes rocks that glow.
Joined September 2009
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Those spikes look mean… but these flowers are absolutely beautiful! 🌵✨
This edible prickly pear (Opuntia) is showing off with these bright yellow blooms in the Texas sun.
Fun fact: those sharp spines are actually modified leaves… an evolutionary trick to cut down on water loss and keep hungry animals away.
Nature nailed the contrast: tough and prickly on the outside, soft and vibrant on the inside.
Anyone else growing prickly pear? How often do yours bloom, or what’s your favorite cactus flower color? Show me yours!
#PricklyPear #Opuntia #CactusBloom #GulfCoastPlants #NativePlants #PlantParenthood
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Glow-in-the-dark used to be radioactive.
Strontium aluminate. A lab-made phosphor, not something dug out of the ground. Invented in 1993 to replace the radium paint that used to make watch dials glow.
It's about ten times brighter than the old zinc-sulfide glow. Light charges it, and it leaks that stored energy back out in the dark.
The UV is just for drama. In one study, blue light charged it better.
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Four-inch pot and already stealing the shelf.
Monstera deliciosa 'White Monster.' That cream stalk is the variegation, and it's showing up in the stem before the leaves have even caught up.
Give it a year.
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Last night's plant was supposed to be full of holes. This one's supposed to be half cream. Both pay for it.
Variegated fiddle leaf fig. Look where the brown edges are. Cream parts. Every time.
Not a disease. Cream tissue has little to no chlorophyll to protect it, so when it's hot, dry or too bright, it scorches first.
Green does the work. Cream just looks good.
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Results are in: this leaf is 90% holes. The losing side is already demanding a recount…
Democrats look at this plant and see something falling apart. Republicans look at it and see something falling apart. Finally, bipartisan agreement!
Monstera obliqua. Paper-thin leaves, more hole than leaf. Yes, it's supposed to look like this. Everybody mixes it up with adansonii. Adansonii is the tough one. This one crisps in dry air.
I saw it for the first time ever and had to bring it home. Do you like it?
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Saw this at the flea market today and had to take a pic to share. Those little green claws on a baby prickly pear pad?
Leaves.
Cactus spines start as modified leaves. On new growth you can still catch them soft and fleshy before they harden into the needles. Same spots (areoles) later punch out the spines and the tiny glochids that stick to everything.
Not magic. Just evolution: drop the big leaf, keep the defense, let the green pad do the photosynthesis.
Pad grows. Leaves shrivel. Spines stay. Sheesh.
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Delicious homemade prickly pear ice cream from the syrup I cooked up this past weekend. Highly recommend!
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Made some delicious prickly pear tuna syrup yesterday!
It’s very easy to make!
Step 1: harvest the fruit and burn off the little pokey bois and throw em in a pot…
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Step 4: add equal parts sugar to juice and simmer for 20 minutes. Then take off heat and add citric acid to taste!
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No more hints until we get some guesses. But the prize is now increased to $20. Only one guess allowed per person!
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It’s a versatile red variety, and can also be used for sparkling, white, rosé, and probably port-style wine…
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Adelynn rescues plants that stores are ready to throw away and brings them back. I’m donating $1,000 to @adelynnsplantrescue via X Money so she can save more of them.