Hello there to you all,
I came across this passage in a book I am reading at the moment called The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay. Essentially it is the story of a young boy growing up in the 1930s and 1940s in South Africa.
One of the characters he meets is a Professor of Music who also has an abiding love for all things cactus. Below is a quote from the book - I thought you may like to share it?
Anyway, here goes... the Prof. is talking to the child's mother.
"...God and I have no quarrels, madame. The Almighty conceived the Cactus plant. If God would choose a plant to represent him, I think he would choose of all the plants the cactus. The cactus has all the blessings he tried, but mostly failed, to give man. Let me tell you how.
It has humility but it is not submissive. It grows where no other plant will grow. It does not complain when the sun bakes its back, or the wind tears it from the cliff or drowns it in the dry sand of the desert or when it is thirsty.
When the rains comes, it stores water for the hard times to come. In good times and in bad, it will still flower. It protects itself against danger, but it harms no other plant. It adapts perfectly to almost every environment. It has patience and enjoys solitude.
In Mexico there is a cactus that flowers only once every hundred years and at night. This is saintliness of an extraordinary kind, would you not agree? The cactus has properties that heal the wounds of men and from it come potions that can make man touch the face of God or stare into the mouth of hell. It is the plant of patience and solitude, love and madness, ugliness and beauty, toughness and gentleness.
Of all plants, surely God made the cactus in his own image? It has my enduring respect and is my passion..."
I hope you liked that piece of writing.
Do you grow any cacti in containers? Let us know which ones, why and how etc. Do you have any favourites?
Cheers for the nonce,
Last edited by Lestie4containergardens; 04/04/14 02:08 AM.
