Plants I'm Growing: First Blooms--Beavertail Cactus (Opuntia basilaris) April 24, 2015)

The potted beavertail cactus (Opuntia basilaris) in the side yard bloomed today. The plant has only a few buds on it this year, like last year, but they're always pretty. This is a very early flower for this plant. The cactus bloomed on May 9, in 2009, on May 29 in 2010, on May 18 in 2011, on June 3 in 2012, and on May 17 in 2014. I can't find a record for 2013, but this plant usually blooms in mid-Mayor later.

The Cocktail Glass Collection: Fagiani's in Napa

Another neon cocktail glass--this one at Fagiani's in Napa (813 Main St., in an interesting old building). The glass here appears to be a ready-made, as I've seen ones of identical shape before (in fact, the last example I posted appears to use the same glass or a very similar one--Mario & John's Tavern, in Petaluma). Still, the effect with the Fagiani's script is not bad.

To see others in this series of photographs, click on the "cocktail glass collection" label.