Orchid Cactus And.....

I have done a good amount of research on these and why they are called orchid cactus continues to elude me.  They have been listed as  epiphyllums, but the consensus is that they are misnames because the flower looks like it a separate plant from the leaves.  Some say it's really a schlumbergera.  Whatever!  The flowers are big (about 3-4 inches long) and beautiful.

I took the photos below over a period of three days.  This particular bloom was hidden at the back of the plant so I didn't get the first three or four days.  The blooms open slowly, over six or seven days.  The buds start as a funny little lump in notch of a leaf.

The leaves below the flower in the first photo are those of a Christmas Cactus.

I may post more later, but for now  I'm off to change the D.E. in the pool filter and do some glazing.

Enjoy your day, and as always, thanks for stopping by............*s*

Another Frog

WOW!  An entire week plus, without posting.  I've been busily recycling clay....trying to get ahead so I can get some more done on the tiles for the stove surround.  I'm using terra cotta, but I want it to all be of the same consistency.  Much easier to do a project when I reduce as many variables as possible.

I was looking at more of the little tree frogs.  The more I looked the more I want to make them.  This little guy is purely experimental.  I need to work on the feet.  I love the little ball tips of the toes.  Also I have made my colors too light.  It doesn't show in the photo but my guy is mottled in shades of gray and gray-green.

When I start a project I like to look at the real thing and photos, and perhaps, do a few sketches.  Then I put everything away and work from my rather faulty memory.  I find I get a lot more personality and gesture if I don't continually reference the actual creature.  Next I'll put the photos away again and go for another round.

Just what I need.  More frogs!

  

I like this little guy splayed out in the spring sun.  He looks so content.

Meanwhile, what I think is an orchid cactus has put out a bloom.  Wish I had seen it earlier.  It was at the very back of the plant.  I'll try to photograph it each day as the flower gets bigger.  More on that later.

We had about an inch of rain last night.  The plants are happy, but more mowing is in order.

It's going to be up in the high nineties, low hundreds tomorrow in southern New England.

Stay cool....thanks for stopping by...........*s*