MacKenzie Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 (edited) This going to be huge because there is so much to share. It all starts when I discovered my night blooming cereus was going to bloom this evening. Slowly over the evening it opens starting about 7-8 o'clock and finally fully open about mid night. There is a rather nice fragrance throughout the house during this show. This is 6AM the next morning. It is just hanging straight down and will soon dry up and turn brown. About 24 hours later from the start of opening it looks like this. Now that I'm up early, let's get a pix of the salad bar that I've been posting greens from. It is about to be emptied and I'll start a new batch. Since I'm on the way to feed the critters might as well get a pix of the chipmunk and squirrel trail. Hard to believe they made this trail. For breakfast one of my favourite summer time meals, fried leftover yellow beans, potatoes and onions. I love this stuff. Lunch time. I'm saving myself for dinner so this is really light. Heirloom green beans that are huge about 8 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide. They were very tender and mild tasting, I liked them very much. Now for dinner- chicken shawarma pizza. The dough, started it last night. Spread on some pizza sauce and layered on the slices chicken shawarma and hot Thia peppers, mushrooms next and then cheese. Some Tiny Tims from the garden. Ready to bake, Baked @ 460F for 15 mins. Could have done it a little hotter. Plated. End of a very long story. I hope you made it to the end. Edited August 6, 2016 by MacKenzie 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 Nice pictures all around. You've talked about that flower before - very kewl. Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shuley Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 That flower is insanely beautiful and I can't believe it only lasts 24 hours!!! That pie looks fantastic. Now I want pizza so bad! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aussie Ora Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 Everything looks great Outback Kamado Bar and Grill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted August 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 CK, you are so right, I would have posted pixs last year. I've had this plant for many years and last year was the first time it ever blossomed for me. I was thrilled stayed up late to see the whole show. I looked for the little sign of there might be a blossom this year and thought I did see it but weeks went by and I couldn't find it. Then all of a sudden it is huge and going to open. It blooms only at night so you have to stay up to see it or miss it. Thanks, Shuley and Aussie, can't beat pizza on the KK with that baking stone unless it's thin crust on the new carbon steel one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeramicChef Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 @MacKenzie - what a lovely montage! Thanks for the lovely pictures. The pics of that bloom are just beautiful. I just had a cactus the bloomed briefly, about 3 days, and then gone. It seems all beauty is fleeting. And as always, those pics of your cooks leave me breathless and drooling. Wonderful post! Kudos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted August 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 Thanks, CC. I had fun doing it all. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dstr8 Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 Nice post @MacKenzie! Now I'm at least a little educated on cereus! In addition to all the food you posted up about...your "salad bar" very much caught my attention and interest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted August 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 Thanks, dstr. It is my first year for the salad bar and I just started it over for another round. It is self watering but I find it is very hot on the deck and I usually do add water every second day. Even though my garden is not far from the deck I find if I can just go out the sliding glass door and walk a few steps to the salad bar I'm not apt to put more greens on the dinner plate. I bought it at Lee Valley but the unit is made in the USA, not screws, mails or any fasteners necessary to put it together. Here is the link http://www.leevalley.com/en/garden/page.aspx?p=74022&cat=2,44663,71822 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinD Posted August 6, 2016 Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 (edited) Epiphyllum is the name of the flowering cactus... My brothers and I each have a piece from a cactus that my father once had and the plants are probably along the line of 35 years old . We each get a bloom or two each season, here is mine from earlier this year... It is time to replant mine in a new hanging basket and I have to admit I rather neglected it lately so it has been in my backyard in a corner getting rehydrated... Edited August 6, 2016 by KevinD 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted August 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 6, 2016 (edited) That is gorgeous, Kevin. Mine is in a pot and it's about 4-5 feet tall. The plant itself certainly lacks something but more than makes up for it with the blossom. I keep mine inside and sometimes I put it out during the summer but I have to be careful not to sun burn it. Edited August 6, 2016 by MacKenzie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ckreef Posted August 7, 2016 Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 Those are really nice plants with the special flower that makes you glad you cared for it. . Kevin - 35 years old - not sure if I'll even be able to grow my son for 35 years but I'll try hard - LOL Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KevinD Posted August 7, 2016 Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 We've got a lot of memories tied up in our fathers "Epi" - he used to wait and wait for it to bloom and as already noted, it typically does so only once a year. When I was responding to MacK, I could hardly believe it was that old - time goes by so fast… Here's to many happy years and memories for you and your entire family! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CeramicChef Posted August 7, 2016 Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 This cactus is about the only thing that has ever flowered in my year except for the weeds! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacKenzie Posted August 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2016 Oh my goodness that blossom is out of this world beautiful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tinyfish Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 All those flowers look wonderful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tony b Posted August 8, 2016 Report Share Posted August 8, 2016 Yes, passing down plants is a nice way to remember them. I have a Christmas cactus that was started by the Mother-in-law many years ago. It blooms almost every year between Thanksgiving and Christmas. My Sister-in-law has a piece from it as well, and we always make a point of calling each other when it blooms. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
