March of the Foliage

Lots of leaves have emerged since the last Foliage Follow-Up.

The pomegranate leaves weren't out at all a month ago, but they're mostly green already.

The citrus trees are adding to what made it through winter. Our Ujukitsu lemon is winning so far:

And our new roses seem to love their new home. In addition to the Reine des Violettes in my Bloom Day post, we have a new fortuniana, now also in bud.

Our prickly pear, which I think is an Opuntia engelmannii, shriveled up during the winter but is "turgiding" back up again. You can see where the folds were while it was temporarily crumpled.

Wade at Yucca Do explained to me that many cacti expel most of their fluid before they go dormant to help them survive freezing temps.

Comments

[Pam/Digging]

That's interesting about the opuntia. Mine have never done that in winter---perhaps it doesn't get cold enough here---but I've seen them lying crumpled in more-northern garden bloggers' gardens. A good survival mechanism.

Thanks for participating in Foliage Follow-Up.

[bangchik]

Cacti have checklists to deal with for winter. I guess they will absorb and store as much for hot summer. ~bangchik

[Cindy, MCOK]

Martha, I'm seeing tiny leaves on my Mexican Lime but it's not as far along as yours. I need to get out there and prune the dead tips next week. The Pomegranate leaves are just beautiful ... every time I see one I tell myself I should find a place for it in my garden. I just had an idea about that as I typed! Hey, thanks!