Sic transit gloria mundi

Emma found a cactus being thrown out on a skip in a house clearance several years ago. She rescued it and brought it home. We nearly didn't keep it, but our son got quite attached to it (not literally) and it stayed.

Sitting quite happily in the sunny room at the back of the house, it hung about just being an ordinary cactus. Until one day, three years ago, two small off shoots appeared.

Within a day they had lengthened to about eight inches.

The next they blossomed out into the most remarkable white flowers. And then 24 hours later they had died away. We were quite astounded.

Every year since, around this same time this remarkably brief but extravagant spectacle takes place. It's as magical, but not as unexpected, each time.

We noticed these budding yesterday. This morning they had extended out a good six inches. Then by this evening they were open into these beautiful white flowers with delicate yellow stamen. As lovely as every year.

I am posting this blip late evening.

By tomorrow morning when I see them again they will have gone.