Remember these guys? Well....now, a few months later, they have turned into these guys, just below....
If you recall, I said those pods in the top picture---not-quite-flower-pod-thingy's---would become round balls with those little tops that you see above. These are seed pods. And the seeds are really fruit! Yes, the inside of these are edible....Here below is another view ---a closer shot---of these amazing wonders.
Natures designs are utterly fascinating. Look at these hairy spike things that have formed on this now and are coming out of it at a length of about 1/2 inch to one inch. Talk about a protective covering....And I think these are there so that as the fruit gets closer to being ripe and ready that no bird or other small animal can get too close to it without risk of great great pain....I could be wrong...but I know these spiky things are there for a reason. So, back in January and early February those pod-thingy's were little buttons, like you see in that second photo from the top. Then those that developed and turned into the larger pod-thingy's that you see at the very top, eventually, as you might recall, flowered beautifully.
And here is another view of this very beautiful flower...a different flower at a different angle in better light....
And then after they closed up, we began to see this bulbous thing which began to form at the semi top of the flower and where the actual flower itself had been, now was closed up...(the flower having only been open for less than a day....talk about striking while the iron is hot, camera-wise, that is)....we see that that portion of the bulbous thing remains smaller...
And that now, August---whatever date I took these most recent photo's----these are now round seed pods. The design on these is so extrordinary...the small round puffs with seams...plus those spikes. Amazing!
And in the above picture you can see the contrast of where these little buttons that never developed were....and now seven months later, what they have become. I think of all the plants in my Cactus Garden, George's flowers have the longest evolutionary period of growth. When these seed pods burst open, I will try to get some pictures of that. And, incidentally of all the flowers and possible flowers that did develop, only three came this far. The rest fell to the ground before they turned fully into the round seed pods. Here is the third one...just a little behind in it's growth cycle than the other two up top...
The protective---or whatever they are---spiky things have just begun to develop. I love the tops of these where the flower had been open...it looks like you could just take it between your two fingers and pull the seed pod off...I'm not about to do that, of course...I want the joy of seeing this evolutionary process to it's end...and maybe, even tasting the fruit before the birds get to it....
More To Come
Update: I apologize to all of you blog buddies that I haven't gotten around to visit much these last days....I haven't been feeling very well and so have not been on the Internet as much as usual...I will try to be better when I feel better...Thanks for understanding....
-
had this to say:
Feel better!
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 12:34:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
You definitely have some beautiful and unusual plant life, don't you? I love seeing them. I hope you feel better. Don't go gettin' sick on my now. You need to stay better for me! lol. Thanks for your kind words, by the way. You made me feel much better. Thank you my friend.
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 1:33:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
They are amazing shots, again!
And take good care of yourself, that's the important thing. Hope you feel better soon!- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 1:37:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
What wonderful close-up photos you take! Nature truly is a beautiful process and you have captured it wonderfully. I am so sorry to hear you have been feeling unwell. I do hope you feel better soon. I am currently feeling sorry for myself as I am recuperating after surgery so I'm feeling a bit battered and bruised. I am using this enforced time of rest to catch up on my blogging though. Thanks for sharing your garden with us - it really is a marvellous place.
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 1:53:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Thanks for your 'Get Well Soon' wishes. It realy is appreciated. I'm sending my own right back to you and hope you feel more yourself soon.
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 2:13:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
I hope that you feel better soon, Naomi. George never ceases to amaze me.
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 3:43:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Hi Naomi.. Would a visit to the doctor help? Or have you been already? Sure hope whatever it is goes away soon so that you feel well again quick!
What does the cactus fruit taste like??- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 4:23:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Darling Naomi,
I wonder if George thinks you're as fascinating and beautiful as he is. Of course we all know you are but George really does have a lot of personality---even if he doesn't talk much.
I'm so sorry you're under the weather. Jack has been in bed with bronchitis and is very slowly on the mend. I can't understand how you live with your lung disease. It's so debilitating. My thoughts and prayers are with you always!
lovingly,
lucy- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 5:02:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
dear naomi, those are just a testament of how much love goes into taking care of all of them. hope you feel much, much better. hugs and kisses all the way from the philippines! ;)
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 5:15:00 AM PDT
-
had this to say:
Can't blame you for that. I have to take some time myself here soon!
George should have been called Georgette....he is too pretty to be a boy!- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 5:26:00 AM PDT
-
had this to say:
Naomi I am awful.
I meant to leave you good health wishes and cheers before I departed.
I do hope you are back to your wonderful cheery self soon.- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 5:27:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Oh! They are real beauty!
Hope you feel better tomorrow. Take Care.- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 6:02:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Hi, I am Gattina from Belgium Sonia (Bresil) contacted me because of my blog about Petra and she suggested me to contact you. So here I am ! I am also cancer, I paint, love travelling and writing (as you can see) and of course my cats ! So I have one travel blog and two for cats. One is for my white cat Arthur, because he is in, or makes always troubles. In the other blog I write about cats in general and show some of my paintings. I like your pictures very much although I am not so for cactus (but sometimes I can be one). But your pictures awake the painter in me.
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 7:56:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Woooooohoooooooo on catching them!
Amazing! Fascinating!
Thanks!
My thoughts and prayers are with you to get well soon.
*^_^
(=':'=) hugs
(")_ (")Š from da Raggedy one- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 8:11:00 AM PDT
-
had this to say:
hope you feel good soon - i have been really enjoying your pictures - sorry to be anonymous
r from UK- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 9:42:00 AM PDT
-
had this to say:
Please take care of yourself. You have 19 days left to get ready to party on Emmy night.
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 10:17:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
I hope everything is alright with you. Feel better real soon. I wonder if the fruit is sweet?. I wish I could grow some of these gorgeous species you share with us. I think they wouldn't do well with our winters here though.
Take care, rest bunches..
Angela :-)- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 10:24:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
That little one at the end looks like a prickly, tiny baby pineapple. :)
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 10:35:00 AM PDT
-
had this to say:
It's so neat to see the progression of the flowers/pods on George.
Get well soon!- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 11:36:00 AM PDT
-
had this to say:
I recently discovered your blog and have spent several hours reading your archives! I'm enjoying it so much. Get well soon!
Sharon- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 11:41:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Oh, I hope you get to feeling better real soon Naomi. You take care of yourself now!!
Love Georges' flowers. They look like little pineapple shapes, or that's what they remind me of! Very pretty and nice to know what George is up to!- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 12:28:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Hi there, I was here awhile back via Wendy, and decided I wanted to come back to see what you were up to. Those pics are beautiful. Are those in your yard??? You said that the inside is actually a fruit, and edible. May I ask what kind of fruit it is? Those are so neat! I have never seen anything like that!
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 1:18:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
I can see that you truly DO LOVE these unusual cactus plants. Therefore, you make us love them too :) Nice photos.
Get well soon.- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 1:58:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
It does look like a baby pineapple!
Great shots.
You take care and feel better. No apologies necessary to anyone, I'm sure.
~S- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 2:36:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Neat photos!
Hope you get to feeling better soon!- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 3:10:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Hope you are feeling better. I visited the Brooklyn Botanical Garden and thought of you in the desert section. They have a corpse plant that is going to flower.... check out the webcam online. It should be any day now. www.bbg.org
Back home now, we loved New York, I only wish we could have stayed one more week or two or three or that I had the money to buy an apartment and live there.- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 3:55:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Gentle hugs Aunty Em, feel better !!
BTW I am bringing you Cadburys chocolate does that help ?- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 4:15:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
That is soooo amazing! What a beautiful plant! The flowers look so fragile!
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 4:26:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Hi Naomi! Just stopping by to say hello. I'm sorry that you're not feeling well and hope that you're back on your feet soon. We'll send good thoughts your way.
Thanks for sharing your "George" photos with us!- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 5:46:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Great photos as always!!
Have you tried the fruit before? What is it like?
Feel better soon!- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 8:09:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
here is a big pitcher of virtual feelgood juice to make you feel better instantly! try to take it ezzzzz and get well quick! You are indispensable both to blogland and to us, the non-bloggers who are inspired and energized by your delightful writing!
- Tuesday, August 8, 2006 at 10:59:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
I'm sorry you're not feeling good & hope you're better soon.
Now that is so interesting to see George in various stages around the year. The buttons, bulbs & flowers are so fascinating when you see them in this light.- Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 1:07:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
For someone who is not feeling good and feeling sick, you take beautiful photos. Don't do too much and just lay down and have a very good rest. We all care.
Those cactus are really beautiful. I never liked cactus until I met you. You made me change my dislike into like. It is very amusing how mother nature can be kind but also can be mean when abused. I know you may not have the time for this but just in case, here is a short message from me.....Let us make the difference by joining the virtual march for stop global warming. I know we can't completely stop the global warming as it is already happening now, but we can prevent it from progressing further by joining the virtual march for the stop global warming. We can make a difference. If you'd like to join the virtual march for the stopglobalwarming, just go to my right sidebar. You can find a banner of the stopglobalwarming.org and a signup form. All you have to do is fill up the form, and Voila! you're a virtual marcher.That is all to it. No strings attached. Help me make the whole world know that we care of what's going to happen in the near future so others will do too. I alone can't do anything, but with all of you I know we can do something and make that difference.
Just email me when you decided to join. Thanks again.- Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 3:37:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
[sends virtual hugs]
And there you were, cheering me up on my blog without a word! [looks stern]
How wonderful that George is a Grandpa!!
Look after yourself, and keep that Emmy date in firm view on the horizon. Both you and Wendy deserve a nice trip/visit etc! Is she gonna show off her gown to you before the show?
cq- Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 5:53:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
So, if they're edible, what exactly do they taste like? :)
- Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 10:21:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
You really take wonderful photos! Feel better soon.
- Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 11:33:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Cool pix! Thanks for the update. I've been meaning to post pix of the purple flowers on my cactus, but just when I think they look good and I should get my camera, we get either a torrential downpour with winds and the flowers are no more, or we get hit with a horrid heatwave, and I stay indoors and miss the blooms and only see them when they're on their way out. Eventually I'll get those pix I suppose.
- Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 12:15:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Not feeling well? You take care of yourself and get the rest you need!! We'll be here when you feel better!! *HUGS*
- Wednesday, August 9, 2006 at 12:43:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
Naomi....I've been unusually busy myself and not getting all my blog friend reading in, so I'm very sorry to hear you're not feeling well.
Loved seeing George again...he sure is special! Just like you are....so please feel better soon.- Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 1:30:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
....Hope you feel better soon....
Such wonderful pictures you are sharing with us now....- Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 1:31:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
I hope you feel better soon! Take care of yourself and keep growing those wonderful plants!
- Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 2:04:00 PM PDT
-
had this to say:
It all looks rather erotic, but also like: proceed with caution.
I hope you'll be feeling better soon!- Thursday, August 10, 2006 at 3:24:00 PM PDT
- had this to say:
Just dropped by to wish you well adn hope you are feeling better soon.
- Friday, August 11, 2006 at 10:00:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Dear Naomi, I hope everything is alright with you and that you feel better very soon!
Have a nice weekend!- Friday, August 11, 2006 at 10:35:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Hope you're feeling (much) better.
GREAT photographs as always... You should have your own TV show with this... or maybe a book on cacti...- Friday, August 11, 2006 at 11:12:00 AM PDT
- had this to say:
Hi fellow old lady :) Got here from the Queer Chef's Comment Whore who sends you greetings from Paris and would like you to go back and play the comment game again so Chas gets up to 100 comments before he gets back.
I'm glad I visited your blog, I like the things you write about. Is this cactus the edible type? Sorry...every plant I see, I want to eat. lol! :D- Friday, August 11, 2006 at 12:34:00 PM PDT
x4
