The lowly cactus: I bet you think you know all about it, right? Wrong. Scott Calhoun knows all about cacti, and his stories aren’t for the faint of heart. We’re talking expeditions into the Mexican backcountry, peyote, and of course the prickles. But underneath that prickly exterior lies something ancient-something more elemental than you find in most plants-AND something that makes a great margarita. Put that in your pipe and smoke it.
I’m meeting Scott in person next month in Tucson. There have been promises of prickly pear margaritas. I’m holding you to that, Scott. Thanks also to Kaveh Maguire for help with the intro on this one.
Why not love cacti?
You’re stuck growing the shorter, aggressive spreaders because all the nicer big ones rot and die over the winter. And forget about weeding out bindweed if it gets in there. It’s staying in there. And you’ve never lived until a jab from a spine gives you a bone infection. Also, cacti society meetings can look like Asperger’s night at the Elk Lodge.
All that being said, cacti are the greatest. plants. ever.
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Oh this will be a great interview, you’ve got the right person for sure. Go Kaveh! He would know! Although I’ve tried not to resist the cactus craze, I fear that I’ve just given in to their collectibility - now dedicating two entire benches to just cacti collections.
@Matt, I picture your garden overflowing with benches on which to put cacti! Try some of that Opuntia in the FG post in the ground too. My only complaint about it is that I can’t find more of it for sale in person around here.
Blog post on my latest @FineGardening podcast: under your potted cactus’ prickly exterior lies the spirit of ADVENTURE: http://t.co/UPW0BYXr
Nice interview @ cacti. It pricked me awake early this morning. :)
Ha! Glad to hear it, Charles.
I finally got around to listening to this podcast on the very long flight back from London. LOVED IT! I think I may have laughed out loud a couple of times, which is always nice when surrounded by strangers who will then wonder about your for the next 7 hours as they’re trapped with you and have no way out.
Ha! Laughing out loud is the HIGHEST praise in my book! Thanks, L / dg, and so glad you enjoyed it.