Saturday, April 27, 2013

X is for Xerophytes


    The dictionary says that a xerophytes is a plant which is adapted to survive in the desert like a cactus.    When I was about 12 or 13 my family took a trip to Colorado and just across the border into Nevada.  On that trip my mom found some lovely cactus along side the highway growing wild.  She decided she had to have it and dug up some starts and brought them back to Indiana with her.  She planted them outside the back door where they thrived until my Dad decided to mow them down one year after she died.

      My mom often complained that my Dad didn't know a weed from a flower because once he climbed onto his lawn tractor he mowed down everything  in his path.  I have vivid memories of her chasing his lawn mower yelling all matters of obscenities and waving her hands in exasperation.  She called him every name in the book when he was mowing down her precious flowers.  After he let her chase him a bit he would stop the tractor and scream "What?"  My Dad had selective hearing.  If he chose to he couldn't hear a mouse fart.



     It seems I went off on a tangent again reminiscing when all I really planned to share was a picture of a xerophytes specimen that I photographed.  

22 comments:

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    1. EvalinaMaria, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!

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  2. Got a kick out of your recounting your mom getting mad at your dad for mowing down the flowers. All that triggered from a xerophyte, eh? heheh!

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    1. Writercat59, Oh yes. Funny how one thing triggers another. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!

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  3. Gotta love a good rant! That was a fun story...I can just picture your mom running after the lawn mower.

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    1. Zoe, I am so pleased you enjoyed my story. It used to be pretty comical to watch. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!

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  4. That made for an amusing image though. lol

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    1. JoJo, I am so pleased you enjoyed it. Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!

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  5. Sweet story:)) I could probably grow those plants in Texas...

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    1. Tayla, definitely! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!

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  6. A great memory you have of your mum and dad.

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    1. Sally, so pleased you enjoyed reading it.Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments!

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  7. Cacti. Great little critters. The world needs more of them. Especially those with a dry sense of humour.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting

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    1. Rob-bear, LOL, thank you for stopping by and for your comments!

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  8. They do have the most beautiful flowers, don't they?!

    Cheers from Brandy at http://brandysbustlings.blogspot.ca/

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    1. Brandy, they sure do! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  9. I'm sure she was screaming from heaven.

    http://joycelansky.blogspot.com

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    1. Joyce, I can just imagine. LOL If she could have struck him with a lightning bolt she would of. LOLOLOL Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  10. Sad that your dad cut all the cacti down. We have native plants here in Aus that are good at withstanding the harsh weather conditions (i.e. extreme heat), and are easier to care for. I guess they're a bit like cacti, but not really.

    My mum's partner has a little cactus garden. :)

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    1. Trisha, It is sad. After he died the property was sold and the house and grounds demolished to make way for a drug store. That made me sadder than losing the cactus to tell the truth. It would be interesting to see the plants native to your country! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments! ♥

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  11. Lovely flower. Smiling at the story of your Mum and Dad. All men have selective hearing!

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    1. Corinne, LOL isn't that the truth!!! Thank you for stopping by and for your kind comments. ♥

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