“Christmas” cactus

So, since my blog is about holding on to the memories, I thought I’d share one of mine with you today.

When I was growing up, my mom always had plants on a table in the Living Room window; specifically African violets and Christmas cactus (there was also an Aspidistra which was smuggled from Scotland to America in my grandmother’s umbrella, but that’s a story for another day…). One year, a disease wiped out all the African violets, but the cacti were safe.

When I moved away into my own apartment, my mom gave me a few cuttings of her Christmas cactus plants so I could start my own. Let’s just say that was a fairly long time ago. Mine grew into decent plants and I shared cuttings of them often with my friends. Funny thing happened, though. All of a sudden, my Christmas cactus started blooming all the time. Thanksgiving? Check. Easter? Check. Somebody’s birthday? Check. Yup, it blooms periodically all year long! And since I mixed several plants together into one big pot, it sometimes blooms simultaneously in fuscia, white & coral! It is a sight to behold.

I noticed a day or two ago that the plant was blooming again. Of course! Thanksgiving is right around the corner. What self-respecting Christmas Cactus wouldn’t bloom in November? (Update: I have since realized that there is such a thing as a Thanksgiving cactus. And an Easter cactus. So maybe mine is not so special after all!) So today I took a few photos of the blooming cactus. Not my best work, but they remind me of a beautiful memory.

Enjoy your memories, too!