Wednesday, December 07, 2011

A Tribute to Auntie Edna


This is Aunt Edna, my most beloved houseplant. I get all silly about her, every Christmas.


A gift from my Mom, back when I was in college. The poor dear drank a lotta beer* back then and, apparently, developed a taste for it!

She's graced me with gorgeous flowers every holiday season since we lived in the dorm.


Edna was a cutting off my Mother's Christmas Cactus. Who was born from a cutting off my Grandmother's Christmas Cactus.


She's a more important holiday tradition (for me) than a tree, having brightened up many a crappy apartment during my younger years.


Try as I might, I cannot capture a great photo of Auntie Edna from afar. Making me wonder if her beauty is an optical illusion based solely on sentimentality? She has mesmerized me for 25 years. And, shows no indication of slowing down.

Growing Tips:
* No more beer for the old gal. These days she's content with groovy, organic tea.
* Cool temps, bright sunshine and turn her loose every once in awhile. She plays outdoors in my garden (under a shade tree,) all summer long.



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11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! I have never seen such an amazing specimen.

Melanie J Watts said...

Your aunt Edna is amazingly beautiful. I have never seen such a huge Christmas cactus.

Friko said...

Well I never; 25 years?
Mine always shrivel up after five years or so. I probably don't treat them well. Beer? Really?

Lisa at Greenbow said...

Aunt Edna is a beautiful ole gal. I think you captured her beauty with the far shot. At her age probably a small glass of wine would be the drink of choice.

Kate/High Altitude Gardening said...

Thx, Patricia ~
I'm pretty proud of the old gal.

Hey, Melanie ~
She's in desperate need of repotting but not until the blooms are done...

Hi, Friko ~
Well I don't know if beer is a good idea (an 18 year old gardener doesn't know any better!) However! An English gal such as yourself must enjoy a daily spot of tea? I think that's what makes Edna very happy. I pour the last of my (unsugared) tea into her pot almost every.

Lisa ~
I think you're onto something! Perhaps both us ole gals will toast this season with a glass of vino this year. :)

Bonnie K said...

What a beauty! I bet she would enjoy sitting on my porch with Grandma and Grandpa. Mine hangs in there, but does not flourish.

sweetbay said...

Auntie Edna is gorgeous. A few years ago I got some cuttings from a fellow forum member of the same sort of smooth-stemmed cactus and I love it. Always waits for New Years though lol.

Unknown said...

Aunt Edna is gorgeous! You have a great holiday tradition - full of family and fond memories.

Jessica said...

I've never seen a cactus like this before, it is absolutely beautiful! I can see why it would be your favorite part of the holidays. It definitely would be mine!

natertots11 said...

I guess I see what you mean about not being able to capture Auntie Edna's true beauty with an afar shot but I can tell she's a real beauty! That is an awesome tradition, one of the coolest Christmas Traditions I've heard of. Auntie Edna is the grand-daughter of your Grandma's cactus! That practically makes you sisters! Right?

Nate Armstrong

Cynthia said...

Your Christmas Cactus is gorgeous!

My Great-Great Aunt Amalie had a Christmas cactus that was left to her son when she died- in the 1950's. He died and the cactus went to another relative who owned a floral shop. I believe that Christmas Cactus is STILL alive (or fresh starts of it perhaps) and last time I saw it, there were more than 300 blooms. In the right conditions, those plants can live darn near forever!