Friday, June 6, 2008

Blessings Friday: Queen of the Night



Each year the Tucson Botanical Gardens hosts a “Weird Plant Sale” which I always try to attend.


I’m popping over there late this afternoon to see what fun plant I can find.


Years ago I bought a Night-blooming Cerus (Peniocereus greggii). It looks like a bunch of dead branches for most of the year but transforms itself in the summer by blooming on one night only. It is also called Queen of the Night or La Reina de la Noche. This plant is a type of cactus.


Ours bloomed Monday night. It has an exquisite but subtle scented flower that opens for one night only and then closes forever when the sun comes up in the morning. The scent of the flower attracts the Sphinx Moth which serves as the primary pollinator and sometimes a bat will visit.


Nature is certainly amazing; I hope your weekend is just as full of wonder!

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

That plant reminds me of the Dennis the menice movie... Have you seen it? It's where the old neighbor guy waits for weeks for his plant to bloom at night for only a few seconds... They wait and dennis does something to mess up the whole grand momment when the flower blooms.... I know , crazy....nice to meet you, Susie H

Thimbleanna said...

How funny is that -- a weird plant sale? I'll bet you see some really interesting things. Your bloom sure is pretty!

Kristie said...

Let me know when they have the "Immortal Plant Sale." I need plants that can survive my tender mercies.

Gumbo Lily said...

What an exciting plant -- one bloom, one night! Can't wait to hear about what you find at the Weird Plant Sale this year!

Jody

Unknown said...

The flower is beautiful! I'm going to have to see if they have a weird plant sale around here, sounds fun! Although maybe it's better if they didn't, as I am not known for my green thumb...

Rosemary said...

Hi Junie,
That is a very interesting plant.
What fun!!
Have a great weekend,
Rosemary

Anonymous said...

How lucky to have a weird plant sale. For me the stranger the plant the best to buy. My Mom brought back (shshshsh) some clippings from Germany many, many years ago from my Grandmother's flowers and last summer I was a lucky recipient of more clippings. I treasure them because you don't see a lot here and they came from my Grandmother.
I just love your plant and how great that you got to see it bloom.

Hugs!!!!

CathyJean said...

Weird, but beautiful!

Mrs.Kwitty said...

That is way past cool!
Smiles, Karen

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

That is such an unusual plant! God and nature has it's reasons for its existance, I'm sure :-)
What did you buy this year? Can't wait to see!
Happy Sunday!
Hugs, Pat

Rosie's Whimsy said...

How very cool. There are just some things you can grow in a tropical climate that the northern woods can't just touch. WOW!

((hugs)) Rosie

Saucy said...

My mother and father often speak of visiting an artist friend in New Mexico once on the one and only night of the year when that plant was in bloom. Imagine their luck! They still reminisce about the scent and the timing of their visit.

Unknown said...

I have missed popping in here! What a lovely post! Come by and visit when you can! Lot's of hugs!
Robyn

Anonymous said...

Oh June, this reminds me of a novel I read at least 10 years ago: Cereus Blooms at Night. It was a great novel but, be forewarned if you decide to read it, there is a troubling scene within its pages. I don't think I will ever forget that novel. See how this triggered that for me?

Diane