A friend gave me a cutting of a 'nightflower' plant over 20 years ago and it had never flowered. I took a piece from home and planted it on our rural block years ago and it grew many leaves, but the same as at home, it never flowered.
Last Saturday (the first time in 4 weeks due to wet season floods) we went to our block and I noticed 3 big buds on this plant - much excitement!!! First time seeing these buds I had no idea how close to flowering they may be. Long story short, I sat and waited after dark for them to bloom and bloom they did. I felt so privileged to be witness to these 'nightflowers' blooming. So worth it. The flowers were huge and gave out a subtle scent/perfume, more than incredible, I sat for several hours in the still evening quite stunned at the synchronicity of being there at the time of flowering as in the morning they were spent. They reminded me of the lotus blooms, being so large.
When I got home I Googled, as I had never found out the real name of this plant or how often they flowered. I found this, even more amazing!!
It is commonly referred to as Queen of the Night, a night-blooming cereus cactus. The flowers only bloom at night for one night and only once a year, so I was so fortunate to have watched these open, 3 flowers in all. As I sat with them a scent imbued the air - a very delicate and different perfume. Such beauty often shown only to the darkness of the night.
Last Saturday (the first time in 4 weeks due to wet season floods) we went to our block and I noticed 3 big buds on this plant - much excitement!!! First time seeing these buds I had no idea how close to flowering they may be. Long story short, I sat and waited after dark for them to bloom and bloom they did. I felt so privileged to be witness to these 'nightflowers' blooming. So worth it. The flowers were huge and gave out a subtle scent/perfume, more than incredible, I sat for several hours in the still evening quite stunned at the synchronicity of being there at the time of flowering as in the morning they were spent. They reminded me of the lotus blooms, being so large.
When I got home I Googled, as I had never found out the real name of this plant or how often they flowered. I found this, even more amazing!!
It is commonly referred to as Queen of the Night, a night-blooming cereus cactus. The flowers only bloom at night for one night and only once a year, so I was so fortunate to have watched these open, 3 flowers in all. As I sat with them a scent imbued the air - a very delicate and different perfume. Such beauty often shown only to the darkness of the night.