APRIL BLOOMING FLOWERS

Little Giant 14940294 Whiskey Barrel Planter

Your garden becomes a rustic retreat in minutes with the Little Giant Whiskey Barrel with Planter. An antique hand pump replica sits atop a round half whiskey barrel, creating a charming water feature. The top of the barrel features one large reservoir with five circular areas separated from the main reservoir. These 4 inch diameter by 4 inch deep indentations offer housing for your small plants, flowers, or herbs for a bold and functional accent. The faux weathered wood finish with metallic looking bands adds a realistic appearance to the resin unit. The antique pump also features a metallic finish for a more authentic feel. The included 115 gallon per hour pump with built-in flow control connects to the tubing running through the hand pump. The small statuary pump draws water from the reservoir and pushes it through the tubing. The water then gently spills back into the barrel from the mouth of the hand pump. Control the amount of water circulating through the unit using the built-in flow adjuster on the pump. The sturdy resin and plastic construction will tolerate the heat of several summers for an enduring accent. Add country charm to your yard with the Whiskey Barrel with Planter. One year limited warranty.

Ferocactus, meaning "fierce or wild cactus,"are always cylindrical or barrel shaped and are usually among the largest cacti of the North American deserts. All members of this genus have prominent ribs and are fiercely armed with heavy spines. In some species, one or more central spines are curved like a fishhook, accounting for the common name Fishhook Barrel Cactus.

Barrel Cactus flowers always grow at the top of the plant. They bear no spines and only a few scales. Fruits become fleshy and often juicy when mature, but are not usually considered edible.

Native Americans boiled young flowers in water to eat like cabbage and mashed older boiled flowers for a drink. They also used the cactus as a cooking pot by cutting off the top, scooping out the pulp and inserting hot stones together with food. The spines were used as needles, awls and in tattooing.

The pulp of barrel cactus has been widely used for making cactus candy (thus one of its common names, Candy Barrel Cactus), but this has also accounted for its destruction and, therefore, protected status in many areas.

In an emergency, the pulp of the stem can be chewed for its food and water content, but obvious care must be taken during such an operation. The taste can vary greatly depending on species.

Natives refer to all species of Barrel Cactus as Biznaga, Bisnaga and Viznaga. There are a number of species of this genus, most of which grow in central Mexico and Baja, California. Four species are recognized growing in the deserts of the American Southwest.

With the return of the snow and the cold it was time to offer our feathered friends a little support in getting through the winter. The barrel in our yard becomes a feeding frenzy for sparrows, tits and many other birds looking for something to eat.

Not only good for the birds but also entertaining to watch.