1. Austrocylindropuntia subulata. 2. Despite being a high-altitude species it is a bit sensitive to cold, the leaves can fall off at "fridge temperatures", and they are said not to be frost-hardy (I have not tried myself). 3. Yes, they like sun. 4. Depends so much on heat, humidity etc. As many opuntioids they want more water in summer than most other cacti. If the leaves shrivel it is time to water. 5. Easy (for a cactus). 6. Don't know, probably several decades. 7. No, because it looks like it has been grown from a cutting. 8. Cuttings! 9+10. Yes, they offset, both at the base and higher up. 11+12 (what is the difference between maturity and flowering size?). It is not as much the age as the size. I'm not sure of exactly how big they need to be. They do flower in cultivation, but they don't come as easily as on many other opuntioids. Oh yes. In nature up to 4 meters. With time, yes.

I'm not worried about the weather being funky hurting the balance. Because funky weather is part of the balance. I'm just glad we had a freezing cold spell at the beginning of winter. Hopefully that kills off the mosquitoes for next summer. Dirtgirl, why don't you call the DNR and ask them why they took those trees down? I know they can't put them back up, but it would just be nice to know their reasoning. And then ask them if they're aware that now the big guys won't have anywhere to nest there. How cool to see an Osprey.......and then to see it take a fish! We're having a warm spell too. Hopefully this doesn't mean we'll get a bad storm in March. My 2 little carolina wrens are still sleeping at night in a little tuck in the tarp over the front of the chicken coop. One night, only one of the was there, and I was worried. But the next night the other one was back. Speaking of carolina wrens......let me try to post a pic I took last year of some carolina wren babies in a nest in my barn. In fact, these might be the ones sleeping near the coop now. I can't wait to hear those chorus frogs and peepers in the spring. Here's the babies:

marilyn_sue... my neighbor had a very pretty one that belonged to her MIL. She never used it, then someone suggested to her she should take it to a florist and have an arrangement made for it. She did, pulling the colors from the tureen, and she now puts it on display on her sideboard. It is just beautiful there & such a great idea! Of course it could still get broken, but chances are not as great as actually using it. (ask me how I know that!lol)

and have her clear everything from the computer and you'll have tons of memory.