All Pink and Beautiful

I didn't go out today as I had a lot of things to catch up on for our holiday. Now the flight home is booked as well and we return on August 6. Hopeful the weather may have warmed up over on the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast, as I have heard it has been really cold for this time of year. I am going to meet up with a Flickr friend in Brisbane for the first time. And also another Flickr freind from the North Island is going to be at the Gold Coast again at the same time as we are. We meet up last year as well.

My Christmas Cactus has just started to flower and this shot is its first flower. With it being wet today I didn't go for a walk as I had planned and when I saw this lovely rich coloured flower I thought it would make a good blip.

Origin of the Christmas Cactus
The Christmas Cactus were originally forest cactus which grew in southeast Brazil, South America. The grew as an epiphyte which is a plant that derives moisture and nutrients from the air and rain. It usually grows on another plant but not parasitic on it. 

The name of the Christmas Cactus causes some confusion regarding the plant. The word 'cactus' is generally associated with a desert plant which are heat tolerant and does not require much water. The Christmas Cactus is a tropical plant which needs appropriate care and maintenance. Christmas cactus keep their blossoms longer in cooler temperatures and require watering when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.

The Christmas Custom, Origin and History of the Cactus
Some origins date back to the pagan traditions and customs of the ancients. Other symbols, customs and traditions have specific religious significance to the Christian religion and the Nativity of Jesus Christ. And finally there are many new, non-religious customs which have emerged due to increased prosperity and the commercialism of the festival in the modern world. The Christmas Custom of giving a Christmas cactus plant as a gift is a relatively modern notion due to cactus blooming at this time of the year, it has no religious symbolism.
For more information on the Christmas Cactus.