7 years in the making...

[azrussell132]

Over the last decade I have collected quite a few cacti of all shapes and sizes. I have had this particular cactus for almost 8 years now. It hasn't always had a good life. It's pot has been knocked over by the wind twice. It has almost died on me 3 times for various reasons. I finally found a safe spot in my yard and it has been doing extremely well for the last 3 or 4 years. I once showed a snapshot of it to a landscape guy who told me it would eventually bloom when it was in perfect health and at the right age. After 8 years of hand watering and constant attention trying to keep it alive here is how she repays me...

It should be open all the way tomorrow. I'll post another pic of it. My tripod is not tall enough to reach the bloom so I had to shoot this handheld. Thanx for looking.

***UPDATE*** Thank you all for your comments. Here are the rest of the pics. I didn't have much of a background to work with so please excuse the glass door frame in the pic. I do not currently have the PP skills to improve that but will work on it in the future. She opened full bloom in the middle of the night. Pic #2 and #3 where taken at 2:55 in the morning when it was at it's fullest bloom. I just had this gut feeling that it was a night bloomer and was only going to be at it's best in the middle of the night. I was right, as you can see in the last pic shot in daylight, the life is already fading out of the bloom. Amazing...8 years and only ONE night of glory. Hope you enjoy and thanks for looking.

[KMA Dakota]

Absolutely wonderful!! Great picture and hopefully well worth all you've put into getting it all these years.

Thanks for the post and will be looking for the one with the Grand Opening!!

Dakota

[Fymoh]

Lovely, can't wait to see more pics. Raising plants is tough - I was surprised once when an experienced gardener said that if you take to much care for the plant it becomes lazy and has no need to bloom. Plant bloom because they have a need to stay alive and keep the species going. If they are pampered to much they become to lazy and they just grow leaves.

[jazzology]

I thought it was a night blooming cirius at first... the petals are too big. Good thing, those guys blooms last one night. I dread them blooming this year now that I have a camera with a time lapse function

My longest surviving cactus which is really a south African succulent is a euphorbia that has followed me for at least 25 years... I don't ever remember it blooming. good job and nice pic !

J

[Athena]

What an amazing flower. I'll look forward to seeing it's progression. Congratulations on getting it to the point of flowering.

[Jim C]

Very well done. Bring on the full flower.

[golfer]

Nice photo. You are a patient person. Then wine is ready in IT's time.

[Laycey]

Can hardly wait to see it in full bloom. Congratulations on it's blooming.

[azrussell132]

Thanks for your kind words Dakota.

[azrussell132]

Originally Posted by jazzology

I thought it was a night blooming cirius at first...

You were right about the night blooming part...lol.

[KMA Dakota]

AZ

Thank you so much for the rest of those shots. Man is that a beautiful flower or what? You did a great job and now have some absolutely fantastic memories as well.

Thanks again!

Dakota

[YosemiteJunkie]

Very beautiful blooms. A shame it's only once every few years. My brother has one that he says only blooms once every 50 years. To long of a wait for me...
Great shots.

[LordV]

Well worth the wait- lovely flower
Brian V.