The Start of a Pencil Cactus

me: "Knock-knock"

you: "Who's there?"

me: "Pencil"

you: "Pencil who?"

me: "Pencil fall down if you don't wear a belt."

♥

 

My Grandma Bessie had such a green thumb. She was forever "taking starts" off of plants, rooting them and planting them in containers and getting them to grow like crazy. I remember her having coffee cans tucked here and there in her flower beds filled with Wondering Jew and also pencil cactus.

 

 

The place where Carrie and I go for pedicures has great big potted plants all along the front sidewalk and they are overflowing with pencil cactus. I think of my grandma every time we go there, and each time I mention that I'd like to find a pencil cactus plant to grow on my own. I check my local nurseries from time to time, but have yet to find one to purchase.

 

 

Well, about a month ago we were there and in a spur-of-the-moment decision I decided to take a few little pieces of the pencil cactus to see if I could start my own. I'm a little embarrassed to admit this on my blog - I hope it won't sound like I was stealing something. I promise that the huge, gigantic pencil cactus was in no way harmed by my slight pruning. {I've tried to justified this in my mind and I'm still not 100% convinced that this was the "right thing to do"...}

But at any rate! I am happy to report that my little starts have taken root and are happily growing along side the ice plant in my turtle planter. I have visions of this growing into a huge cactus that will eventually need to be transplanted to another container. I know Grandma Bessie would have made it happen! Maybe she'll send me some good gardening vibes from heaven - assuming that she approves of how these starts came to be mine.

♥