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The flower buds on Crassula tecta give a warning that winter is coming.
They were right.
This was the view from the window this morning, looking down at the garage roof. Some of the Opuntias and Echinocerei in the cold frames look to have a coating of snow. The hardy Sedums have somewhat more, as does the Cylindropuntia imbricata (arrowed). It's not quite as upright as it was yesterday.
Cylindropuntia imbricata does naturally droop as winter approaches, as it partly dehydrates to increase the concentration of natural anti-freeze in its tissues. Other Opuntias such as compresssa and humifusa do the same, to a greater degree. They eventually perk up in late spring.
There are actually 2 imbricata plants in the pot, Ray. One I grew from seed, it spent its first few years with winter protection; the other was acquired when a friend tired of it growing outside in his garden. Many years of being completely unprotected. They survive it rather than flourish in it.
The amount of work that went into this was unreal.
Finally finished it a few weeks ago.
Made from scrap pieces left over from my greenhouse restoration project.
Hopefully it doesn't get too hot in there when the sun shines as the top part is sealed.
Plenty of wind and rain about the base alright.
It's more or less the second winter outside for the Aporocactus.
The dog that I posted about elsewhere dug it up and I had to bring it back inside last winter.
It has some markings that it picked up over the summer. Might be scorch.
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