The Cacti Survived

I had been wondering what the cacti around the house would look like when we returned this season. The javelina seemed to enjoy nibbling on them last summer, so I wasn't sure if anything would be left.

The javelina seemed to have left my plants alone this summer. They all survived and had an amazing growth spurt in spite of the lack of moisture in the area.

 The aloe plant one year ago...

 The aloe plant this November. The color isn't as nice, but it has more shoots and did bloom last spring. It also has babies...there are two new plants on the right.

 This 'rippled' prickly pear was planted on the east side of the house. The javalinas had left it alone last summer (2010) and it did bloom this spring. It may have been about six inches tall when it was planted.

This is how much it has grown! It is looking so good and healthy. It is less than a foot tall, but look at all the 'ears'!

The agave americana from a November 2010...

The agave americana this November. It did very well over the summer. It also has a number of new shoots. I think I counted six.

This is the fire stick (pencil cholla) from last season. It took quite a hit when it froze last winter. We trimmed out an area of dead branches. I wasn't sure how it would look this season. It was about 18 inches tall when we left. (In the top/left of the photo, notice how the rippled prickly pear is propped with a rock because the javelinas had done so much damage, it was barely in the ground.)

It is now 36 inches tall and quite a bush! I am waiting for the tips to turn orange. That is how it gets its name: fire stick.

This is the 'rippled' prickly pear the javelinas found so yummy last year. The above photo shows how the javelinas ate one whole area of the cactus. It now looks kind of pathetic and leans, but it is alive and 'whole'. It also bloomed this spring. (See April blog post)