Tucson Christmas Cactus
December 15, 2007
Post Tags: Bare-Tree , Tucson-Christmas-Cactus
Tucson has its own version of a lot of things. The Christmas Cactus is no different. You know it is getting close to Christmas when these start showing up. They appear like morel mushrooms in the spring, one moment they aren’t there and the next, Bingo!, there they are.
Just like the morels would grow around the base of a dead elm tree you will often find these Christmas cactus growing in Gated Active Adult communities.
Now I have to stop right here and say that is as far as this analogy goes. There is no similarity whatsoever between a dead elm tree and a gated “Active” adult community.
There are also tell tale signs around our house that Christmas has gotten here much faster than anticipated. It also proves that the best laid plans of Christmas Elves don’t always get carried out.
As exhibit “A” we show this beautiful Christmas Tree that now stands in our Great room. It has stood there quite regal for the past two weeks. We spritz this tree several times a day, we water it every day and every other day we supply it with 7 up.
But what we haven’t done is decorate it. I have been assured by the Christmas Elf’s that this will take place tomorrow night. I have received this same assurance on a couple of occasions only to be trumped by the ringing of the cell phone and a quick trip to preview or show a home as just one example.
This is one nice tree, we really like it the best of any we have picked out for the last four years. Last year was okay, but after a week we were afraid to light the tree for fear it would possibly set the house on fire.
The needles laying under the tree every morning that needed a scoop shovel to pick up were one of our first clues that this tree wasn’t doing very well.
When one of the cats brushes by the tree and you hear a branch snap you know this is not a good sign. We have not turned on the furnace in the house until this morning to keep the tree from drying out. I’ve seen world traveler sitting at the table like Pocahontas in a blank trying to stay warn but refusing to turn on the heat. I suggested it once but the only response was “NO, the Tree”.
Today the tree was spritzed before the furnace was turned on. But after one cycle that made the house smell like a waffle iron the furnace was turned off. Okay, the waffle iron smell came from the waffle iron.
Tomorrow I’ll write about the humming bird and Tucson Real Estate. So far they just seem to be looking.
December 16th, 2007 at 9:50 am
Why’s your Christmas cactus drinking 7 up…?!:-) Give him some eggnog – might like it better!;-))
December 16th, 2007 at 10:02 am
It’s bare tree drinking 7 up. I’m not sure what the cactus has been drinking but by the very nature being called a succulent does make me wonder if he hasn’t been drinking something, either that or his hat is just “stuck” on something and he can’t get it off.
December 16th, 2007 at 10:36 am
Years ago we would get an 8 foot live tree. Aren’t they fun?
Then we got an artificial tree but you still had to spend hours taking it up and taking it down.
Now we have a two foot tree that comes out of the box with all the bulbs and fiber optic lighting. It goes up and down in five minutes. That is what I call fun.
And if I want the smell of a tree, I can go get a hanging car air freshener. Ho, Ho, Ho
December 16th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
My Christmas Cactus bloomed this summer but you have given me a great idea. Put a little santa hat on it and voila!
December 16th, 2007 at 6:33 pm
Linda,
Great I love being a source for ideas. Have a great holiday.
December 16th, 2007 at 6:34 pm
Jim,
I like where you have arrived. A two foot tree might be a little tall, but I think I could live with one that size easily.
January 4th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
“you will often find these Christmas cactus growing in Gated Active Adult communities”
And for the best demonstration of mixing SEO/search phrases into interesting blog content, I award the Golden WP/Blog Trophy to…Dave Smith!
I couldn’t help but laugh! You keep me coming back for more Dave!!
January 4th, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Thanks Lydia,
You are always welcome here. : )