Cactus flower

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 11:54 am

... with addition of little bee.

Camera model Olympus SP-320
Date/time 14.06.2006/10:54:53
Exposure time 1/640 s
F-number f/4
ISO 64
Focal length 8 mm

cactuspic · Post by **cactuspic** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 2:51 pm

Great shot Nikola. How much did you have to pay that pollen-coated bee to visit your flower?

The yellows and golds just glow against the rich wine reds. Lovely. (Even though I couldn't tell, I like it better for being a cactus flower.)

Irwin

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 3:50 pm

No need to persuade that bee.

I think it is Opuntia. Here is the whole plant.

Ken Ramos · Post by **Ken Ramos** » Wed Jan 17, 2007 5:09 pm

You know that is really nice.

How come you still got all that nice weather over your way Nikola?

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 3:38 am

Ken Ramos wrote:You know that is really nice. How come you still got all that nice weather over your way Nikola?

Ken, actually this photo is from my summer vacation (June 2006).

But must say this winter we have unusually warm weather here. No serious frost or snow, daily temperature about 6/14 Celsius (morning minimum/afternoon maximum - last days)
Meadows full of flowers and bees still busy!

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:50 am

Yes it is an Opuntia Nikola, one of the Cylindropuntias. Maybe Irwin will know what species, but I would have to try and look it up as they are a bit too big for our greenhouses so not grown here much.

DaveW

MacroLuv · Post by **MacroLuv** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:26 am

Thanks Dave!

This one is growing freely outside. Haven't you (UK) temperate climate thanks to Gulf Stream?

DaveW · Post by **DaveW** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 6:45 am

Supposed to have a mild climate for how far North we are due to Gulf Stream. Main trouble is our wet winters, because cacti will not stand freeze thaw, freeze thaw and being wet when it freezes again. Some do manage to grow the odd one outside in sheltered spots but it is not common.

However, due to global warming, Britain now seems to be getting milder winters, but you occasionally will still get a bad one to finish the plants outside off.

DaveW