In Time For The Holidays!

  Growing up on the farm, I was always surrounded by plants.  Pop had enormous fields that were always planted in something and he took pride in keeping the yard in bloom.  He had that proverbial "Green Thumb" that people say about those who can make plants flourish.  Mom, on the other hand, always said she had a "Black Thumb".  She was quick to declare that anything she planted never grew.  In fact, she insisted that plants died under her care.  Whether this was a fact or whether she was secretly avoiding the planting duties of the farm was never to be understood.  So Pop took care of all of the plants....except for one.

  Mom's pride and joy was a Christmas Cactus that was always kept on the front porch.  The screened porch provided the perfect conditions to allow the plant to do well.  Of course, Pop always fertilized the plant when needed but Mom did water it.  In late November, she beamed when the bright red buds began to show. The month of December saw the cactus in full bloom and it was moved into the living room where it sat through the holidays.  

  I was always fascinated by the plant.  It was rather peculiar looking as far as plants go.  The "leaves" were nothing more than flattened stems that would break off in one inch segments if treated roughly.  Those same segments could be stuck in dirt and rooted to make new plants. The blooms (red on Mom's cactus) were like none I had ever seen.  They were shaped entirely different that any of the garden plants.  The plant was beautiful!

  Back years and years ago, Mom had given a small rooted plant to me but, alas, over the years, the plant withered and died.  I was saddened by the fact that I had not cared properly for it.  Years went by without me thinking of a new plant.  This year, however, I have not one but two Christmas Cactus plants.  Mark bought these for me and I am happy to report that they are doing well and have a couple of blooms for the holidays!  Hopefully, I can figure out how to care for these so I will have mine for years to come and they can become covered with blooms like Mom's always was.