Gymnocalycium mihanovichii friedrichii

This small, deep purple cactus native to Paraguay has grown a second head, and the smaller head is sending up even more flowers than the main head. Gymnocalycium mihanovichii friedrichii prefers filtered light or bright shade.

This particular plant was overturned and tipped out of its pot by some animal. I rescued it from the baking sun and left it in a shady spot in my To-Do pile, where I proceeded to neglect it for weeks: no soil, no pot.

Finally I potted it up in the spring, placed it where it gets morning sun. It's rewarded me with flowers from March to (at least) late August. This plant is a trouper!

Coryphantha elephantidens in magenta-and-pink glory

This 3-inch, pink and magenta bloom surprised your guest contributor (Sentient Meat) this week, a shining beacon from the patio rooftop where it was living with a few other sun-soaked and rather neglected cacti and succulents. (Los Angeles has been hot for a couple weeks and the plants on this roof are all looking a bit worse from the relentless exposure.)

The bud had gone overlooked, but it was impossible to overlook this flower. This is the first time I've seen this cactus in bloom. It was purchased without a label, but I believe it's Coryphantha elephantidens. I love the color gradient from light pink at the edge the petals to deep magenta at the center tips.

After such an attention-grabbing display, the plant was moved to a more sheltered existence on the deck. Sometimes it pays to show off.

Coryphantha elephantidens showing deep pink flower and beginning to branch and clump