Those of you who follow this blog know that we publish certain posts under the category, “Slice of Life.” “Slice of life” stories attempt to portray what day to day life is like here in San Clemente, Ecuador. This post will show pictures of some new plants in our yard, but could qualify as a slice of life as well.
First the slice of life story:
I ride my bicycle over to a small store in San Jacinto a couple of times a month to get some items for Mary. The woman who runs that store is perhaps ten years older than I am and has lived in San Jacinto her whole life. I often will sit and visit with her for a few minutes before returning to San Clemente. She never is rushed and often tells me about San Jacinto history. Occasionally she will give me some extra vegetables or fruit and will tell me how they should be prepared.
One day several weeks ago this kind woman gave me two big slabs of cactus leaves. (I admit right up front that I do not know cactus terminology and these things that I am calling leaves might very well be called by some other name.) My friend told me that I could eat them or plant them. I was not too keen on eating them, so I asked her how I should plant them. She gave me the, “silly gringo” look that Ecuatorianos often give me when I ask a question that has an obvious answer and responded patiently that I should stick it in the ground and water it.
The point is that this is not uncommon. Most of the people we meet here are kind, loving, and generous people who patiently explain things and give us fish, vegetables, fruit, and lots and lots of love.
Anyway, these grey-green colored cactus leaves were about ten to twelve inches long, about a half of an inch thick, and roughly oval shaped. I brought them home and showed them to Mary. We learned from internet searches that these are a type of prickly pear cactus which indeed produce edible leaves and pear-like fruit.
We were not too sure about what we would do with these things, so I put them outside the back door on a table where they remained for a couple of weeks. Finally Mary and I figured we had nothing to lose by sticking them into the ground as instructed. I selected as spot along the parking lot area where we already have some succulent desert plants and simply stood them up in the dirt and watered them.
As I planted them I noticed that one of the leaves had two small flower buds on the top. I watched those “flowers” become two additional leaves with spiny growth all over the outside. After a couple of weeks I went to check these new plants again and I noticed new tiny blossoms on the other big leaf. This time I got my camera out to document the growth and development of these new buds.
This is what the two cactus leaves looked like on July 7th. The new leaves are growing quickly on this the left plant.
And on this the right plant you can just see the new buds on the top.
A close up of the new leaves on the left plant clearly shows why these plants are called “prickly!”
I already knew how quickly the little buds become new leaves, so I went out each morning this last week to take close-up shots of the developing buds. This is a close-up of the buds taken on July 7th:
Not too much change was seen on July 8th:
Nor was there much difference on July 9th:
But by July 11th I could see the small buds flattening out and starting to get their leaf-like shape:
This morning I took this picture of the small leaves clearly showing how they are turning into leaves.
This close-up shows that these new leaves will deserve their “prickly” title as these former flower petals become brittle spines.
I do not know if Mary and I will ever actually be eating these little cacti, but we are having fun watching plants that are new to us grow and develop here where…
Life is good in Ecuador!
I walked into cactus once….spent several hours trying to find the numerous sources of prickly pain in my leg. The new leaves on the cactus in your first photo make it look a lot like a rabbit (or Mickey Mouse). Cute!
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That is exactly how I described the new growth to Mary (Mickey Mouse Ears). I am pretty sure the new ones will be almost identical based on their placement on the older leaf. We continue to be intrigued with watching things grow here. We will try to avoid getting stuck!
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Fascinating! Life is flourishing in Ecuador!
🙂
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Thanks! We never had cacti in Ohio and really do not have much experience growing them, but they should grow here as you can see them growing in the wild up on the hillsides. Bet you do not have any in your yard in New Jersey!
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Actually there are some growing on the beach in the sand! I think I did a post on them once. Yup… http://firstandfabulous.wordpress.com/2013/10/22/share-your-world-2013-week-37/
And I have had them growing in my house. Love them. But I didn’t know they’d take like yours did. Good to know.
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Whoops! Pardon me.
We sure did not see them in Ohio where it gets much too cold for something like these cacti.
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I don’t know the name of these, John, but they grow to be gigantic…kind of like trees. A neighbor gave us two of these cacti, but we planted them in a shady spot a couple of years ago and they aren’t doing well. They need lots of sun, which is difficult to find in our shaded property. Beautiful pictures. I’d be embarrassed to take pictures of mine.
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Well, they will get plenty of sun in the open spot where I planted them. As advertised, all it took was sticking the leaves in the dirt and some water. I will let you know if it gets really big.
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they are certainly happy where you planted them; i wonder if their flowers will be those heavenly-scented night-blooming ones.. and if the fruit will be the equally-wonderful pitajaya (sp?)…
time will tell!
z
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They do seem to have taken to the spot without stress. We will see what develops! I am sure I can get some feedback from our friends on how to use the fruit and leaves, but meanwhile it is filling a spot with green life!
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We have eaten that as a salad and it is very good. They must be pealed and then boiled. I would like one of the plants in our yard.
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Sounds good – we will let them grow and see what comes of it.
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That is such a cool plant to grow.
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It should be fun to watch them grow!
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Cacti are my favorite plants. They are the easiest plant to take care of. (Did my thumb look green to you the last time you saw it – I think not). However, I did kill a cactus once. I think I over-watered it. it could happen.
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I will keep that in mind, but our soil drains pretty well, so we should be okay.
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[…] […]
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[…] It also reminded me of a post we published last July entitled, “Stick it in the Ground and Water it” See: https://johnandmarylivingitupinecuador.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/stick-it-in-the-ground-and-water-it/ […]
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[…] Quite a few months ago a friend gave us a couple of large “leaves” from a prickly pear cactus plant. I asked her what I should do with them and she said I could eat them or plant them. Her planting instructions amounted essentially to, “Stick them in the ground and water them.” See: https://johnandmarylivingitupinecuador.wordpress.com/2014/07/13/stick-it-in-the-ground-and-water-it/ […]
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