Nerves and Distractions

Last week, I shared a genuinely phenominal wildlife habitat in my very own neighborhood.  My yard is also a NWF certified wildlife habitat, which I am very proud of, although it's certainly not the masterpiece I posted about.  We work hard to encourage wildlife of all types to visit or live in our yard. 

This week, I'll know if I have reached another goal...

to be a certified Florida Friendly Yard.   

 Susan at Central Florida Gardener posted about this program not too long ago, so I won't go into great detail.  However, I must admit that I'm pretty NeRvOuS about this.  I don't want to be disappointed on my day of reckoning.  Everyone will know how it ends up because I'll either post about my sheer delight or lament about my deep disappointment and failure.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!!

So, to keep my mind preoccupied until my much anticipated evaluation, I purchased a plant.  HA!!!  Imagine that!!!  I saw it planted in a yard that was hosting a garage sale and enticed the homeowner to sell me a pot for $2. I had no idea what it was but thought it looked unique.

After some research, I found out it's called a Slipper Plant, Devil's Backbone, Jacob's Ladder, or Red Bird Cactus.  It's officially named Pedilanthus tithymaloides.  There are both solid green (like mine) and a variegated leaf version.  The variegated leaf apparently turns pinkish in the cooler winter months.  I don't have a photo of a variegated type, but Mr. Subjunctive of Plants are the Strangest People does.  You can read all kinds of interesting info about this sensational succulent on his blog.

Some of my leaves have a bit of red veining in them.

 The plant is called Devil's Backbone or Jacob's Ladder for the zig-zag habit of the thick stem, and Slipper Plant or Red Bird Cactus for the red blooms that form in late winter and early spring.

These two photos are courtesy of Onalee Isreal. 

You can find out more about the Slipper Plant and others

that she sells on her website, Onalees Seeds and Plants. 

Note that this plant is not a cactus at all.  It lacks thorns, but is drought tolerant, thriving in dry conditions.  It's a native to dry tropical forests in Florida, Mexico, Central and Northern South America and the Caribbean.  Florida Gardener also writes about interesting stats and photos of the Red Bird Cactus.

Note to all you Greenies out there... the Pedilanthus Tithymaloides is also a possible RENEWABLE FUEL SOURCE

that can be used in place of gasoline!!  Yep...that's right!!! 

The fuel source is the milky sap produced when the stems are broken. 

Bummer for me...milky sap in plants typically means a horrible allergic reaction

which I have experienced more than enough times

since moving to my tropical paradise. 

It'd be nice if this toxic substance could be put to good use!

Finally, just to keep me distracted, I thought I'd show you my cacti blooms. 

I recently posted a shot of the buds.

Here it is in full bloom!

So keep your fingers (or paws) crossed!!!

Courtesy of Commons Wikimedia