Pink flower ka-power

July 25, 2017


Several rosy-cheeked flowers are standing up to the Death Star during this hot midsummer. The ones I’m enjoying most, because the plant is new in my garden, are these satin-petaled, carnation-pink flowers that appear every couple of weeks on a mammillaria cactus.


A spiny stoic cactus, just enduring. And then — boom! A crown of pink flowers with golden stamens appears overnight like a floral halo. Hello, you beauties!


The watermelon-pink crepe myrtle in the back garden is blooming its heart out too. True, a parade’s worth of confetti-like flowers litters the deck stairs below it. But the mess is worth it, to have something looking so happy about our 101-degree days.


A few in-ground bouquets of candy-pink rain lilies (Zephryanthes ‘Labuffarosea’) have also popped up lately, starry-eyed over trace amounts of rain, or maybe just the smell of it in the air.


These pinkies are helping me get through summer. What color is your summer garden?

I welcome your comments; please scroll to the end of this post to leave one. If you’re reading this in a subscription email, click here to visit Digging and find the comment box at the end of each post.
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12 responses to “Pink flower ka-power”

  1. I didn’t know that this cactus would bloom so often. What a beauty. The rain lilies remind me of the Surprise Lilies that are now popping open in our garden. It is always a sweet surprise.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I didn’t know the cactus would bloom so often either, Lisa. Perhaps my occasional watering combined with our extreme heat and sunlight is what triggers it? —Pam

  2. Beth says:

    Right now my flame acanthus and Turk’s cap are keeping the hummers happy. So right now I’m very fond of orange. Love that little cactus though. The flowers are so vivid!

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I think of those as red, maybe red-orange, and they’re doing great in my garden too through these hot summer days. I echo your praise for them! And I bet the hummers do too. —Pam

  3. Joellen says:

    Those rain lilies are such a sweet surprise! In keeping with the pink theme, my Jacobinia (rose colored) have been blooming. They looks so tropical but made it through this last winter just fine.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      That sounds pretty, Joellen — more pink power! By the way, your link didn’t work, unfortunately, so I removed it. If you want to try to leave it again, feel free! —Pam

  4. Is that a fish hook cactus? Those blooms are wonderful. And to think some people/stores paint/dye their cacti. My rain lilies opened on Sunday – they always bring a smile to my face, even if we didn’t get rain sprinkles for more than a minute!

  5. Kris P says:

    Your garden is pretty in pink, Pam! Beyond my cutting garden, my garden is mostly shades of green, gray and tan at the moment. Even the mimosa tree’s fuzzy pink flowers have turned brown.

    • Pam/Digging says:

      I’m glad your cutting garden is still providing some color for you, Kris, during CA’s golden season. I bet that you can’t wait for fall’s cooler temps and rain, like me. —Pam

  6. Peter/Outlaw says:

    The sweet and delicate flowers on cacti always make me smile with the thought that even the prickliest character has a sweet/soft side. Your heat sounds a bit oppressive. Maybe you need a summer place here on Puget Sound where our highs seldom exceed the 80’s and our nights cool down very nicely.