Exclusive backyard tour of an amazing private cactus collection | Phoenix, AZ

[@cookiescacti]

It seems my video editing software mangled the text on the CACSS show & mini sale info. Here's the unmangled info: Location: Desert Botanical Garden | Dorrance Hall | Phoenix, AZ May 15: Plant drop-off May 16: Plants get judged May 17-19: Show open to the public A DBG ticket is required to see the show since the show is located within the garden.

[@TheMichelob]

That lithops table is unreal! Makes me want to buy 200 more lol. Awesome video. Really enjoyed this one.

[@cookiescacti]

Yessss!! To 200 more lithops!! I'm so glad you enjoyed this one!

[@kimmy6304]

It's such a vast and impressive collection, thank you so much for taking us along! I especially loved to see how he grows them so hardcore! Like, he definitely doesn't baby his plants, but they seem to be thriving in those rather harsh conditions! Ah, I'm really impressed. I kept saying "wow!" out loud 😄💕

[@cookiescacti]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this backyard tour, Kimmy! My jaw drops every time I see it (even though I've only seen it twice lol, two jaw drops). I also love seeing how he just keeps everything out in the open like this and using shade cloth to control the light intensity. Since my setup is similarly exposed, although slightly more protected because of those darn birds, it gives me hope!

[@greatnorthernexotic]

So many amazing copiapoa specimens! 😍

[@cookiescacti]

Right?? I think he has one of the largest poa collections in this area. It also gives me relief to see that poas can live in this super hot climate.

[@billgolightly7203]

Great video, thanks for taking the time. Love to your kitty.

[@cookiescacti]

I'm giving Cookie a nice pat for you now, Bill! 💚🙏

[@carolync4862]

WOW! Spectacular collection. Thank you for taking us along.

[@cookiescacti]

I'm so glad you enjoyed the tour! Is it Carol or Carolyn?

[@carolync4862]

It's Carolyn.🙂@@cookiescacti

[@CactusCaffeine]

His backyard is a dream! That bed of lithops…. 🤤 ❤🥰 I can’t believe he can keep all those alive even with the Arizona summer heat. Mine mostly gets petrified. 🫣

[@cookiescacti]

That's what I love so much about seeing collections like this that are local. There are some genuses of plants that are supposedly no good in Phoenix but this collection clearly proves otherwise!

[@dnawormcastings]

Lots of different types of beautiful plants

[@cookiescacti]

So many! Such a treat to be able to see. 💚

[@millieclark1085]

Thank you, amazing garden.

[@williamalvey632]

Really enjoyed thanks for sharing with us what a brilliant collection

[@cookiescacti]

I'm so glad you enjoyed seeing this amazing collection, William!

[@barbie_t]

Incredibly amazing collection 😍 Thank you for sharing it with us ❤

[@cookiescacti]

You're very welcome, Barbie! I'm glad you enjoyed the tour!

[@JamesEndo1]

What an amazing collection and display! Very intrigued how he grows outside and his system to protect from the excessive sun, cold, and rain. Thanks for sharing this inspiring, attractive, and integrated garden collection! 🥰❤🌵🌺

[@cookiescacti]

I'm always amazed at how he just uses shade cloth layers to control sun intensity but then mostly leaves the plants exposed to the elements. It makes me hopeful that I can continue putting minimal effort into my grow areas 😂 (laziness in full force) I'm really glad you enjoyed this one, James!

[@JamesEndoSanJoseCARealEstate1]

So inspiring!!! Thanks@@cookiescacti

[@oxanaosmak1304]

Just amazing 🤩

[@cookiescacti]

💚💚💚🙏🙏🙏

[@anthonyterlizzi2405]

I really like collection tour videos. Always inspires me to buy more stuff I don't have room for :D

[@cookiescacti]

You and me both, Anthony! 😁

[@ceciliaarchibold8187]

Amazing amazing! And well organized!! Thanks ! Great job

[@cookiescacti]

This was a fun one! I'm so glad you enjoyed seeing this collection, Cecilia!

[@zcoanmcoan1534]

I love when you do these! Have you ever thought of doing a vid with Miles Anderson?

[@mikec1096]

Thank you!

[@cookiescacti]

You're very welcome! I'm glad you enjoyed this one, Mike!

[@mikec1096]

@@cookiescacti It was really nice to be your guest today. It felt like I was there. The video is perfect as it is, but as an idea perhaps you could do a mini interview with the owner of the collection as well. For future content. All the best !

[@cookiescacti]

@@mikec1096 that would've been nice. When I asked him for permission to record he said "yes, as long as you keep me out of the video" 😂😂😂

[@icebiker3]

Thank you for the tour. I like to look at other people's gardens because I don't have to take care of them, they do. What are those two white spine cactus at 25:05?

[@cookiescacti]

😂😂😂 I like the way you think! I think those are Copiapoa krainziana

[@getboredateverythingo.o1833]

Wonderful dream collection!

[@cookiescacti]

It's just amazing! I have another video where I chat with the owner of this magnificent plant collection. Cactus conversation with a master grower, or something like that 😁

[@getboredateverythingo.o1833]

@@cookiescacti Yes I've watched it too!

[@MariaSweets5]

Wow so many lithos and mature plants. Makes me wonder if all my seedlings will make it that far and what I will do with all of them lol. I wonder how he waters the huge cluster ones, maybe bottom watering.

[@cookiescacti]

Are you growing lithops from seed, Maria? Do you grow them the same as cactus? That watering info he posted specified frequency but not how he waters, that's a good question. I wonder if he top waters just due purely to the quantity and density of the plants but I don't know

[@MariaSweets5]

@@cookiescacti I’ve grown lithops from seed but no long term success yet. I think they are cool looking, my bf thinks they are gross lol.

[@lucindaagustin5194]

WOW THOSE LITHOPS ARE AWESOME

[@cookiescacti]

Right?? Such a treat to see this collection!

[@philliesphillips6346]

Thank you it was amazing and those Stone looking cacti I didn't realize you could grow here that's really cool too

[@cookiescacti]

Are you in Phoenix too? It is really cool to know they can thrive out here! Same with the Copiapoa. I always heard they'd melt in the heat but this proves they can do well!

[@philliesphillips6346]

@@cookiescacti yes I live in Fountain Hills and haven't gotten a lot but want to add. Wanted to know if you've ever done a thing on Matt's cactus farm or Old West cactus farm?

[@stevenburke7960]

OMG, those Copiapoa Cinerea, so beautiful. I want one so bad. The few I’ve seen haven’t been for sale and I can’t imagine how much $ they would be if they were.

[@cookiescacti]

Me too! My only hope is for my own seedlings to reach some sort of maturity some day... Otherwise, the prices are crazy on mature plants!

[@SERHII_KOSTENKO]

Неймовірна коллекція! Красиві дорослі рослини. Абсолютний порядок. У мене виникла думка, що це їх родинне захоплення. Дякую.😊

[@SERHII_KOSTENKO]

Тобто що це збирали ще батько та дід.

[@brendajeffcoat5770]

Hello from Australia I’ve never seen such a large collection.I’ve been collecting for about 40 years and the plants I’m interested in are the columnar cacti .My plants are grown in the open.I also am interested in the plants that other people overlook.

[@cookiescacti]

Hello from Arizona! I always love seeing other people's collections and setups. What part of Australia are you at? Does Australia have native succulents - I've always wondered!

[@brendajeffcoat5770]

@@cookiescactiHello again I live in Sydney on the east coast of Australia and the second question I don’t know whether australia has any native succulents.

[@danielantoniozd26]

So cool!

[@cookiescacti]

💚💚💚🙏🙏🙏

[@kayenicholls5473]

What a great collection I am of to my first cactus sale/show in a month time I can't wait to see what I can buy I am hoping that some of the sellers will have seeds as well as plants

[@cookiescacti]

Wowowow, which show? Are you entering plants??

[@kayenicholls5473]

@@cookiescacti no l don't have any thing big enough as I am not a member but hope to join at the show I am in Australia

[@brendajeffcoat5770]

@@kayenicholls5473I’m in sydney. The northern beaches. I’ve been collecting for about 40 years.

[@kayenicholls5473]

I have just started to collect again I had a lot back in the 80 but then picked up again about 4 years ago I grow from seed when I can but trying to buy mature plants to produce my own seed I had a couple of success this year it is hard to find mature plants here in Tasmania I am going to my first cactus show in a few weeks and hope that I will be able to find some bigger plants and some seeds.

[@brendajeffcoat5770]

@@kayenicholls5473buying mature plants is very expensive.I use to get my plants from mail order catalogues and it was real fun.

[@mrspeachi4378]

This collection is absolutely incredible!! I wish I lived in the desert where having a yard like this could be possible. I’m also really looking forward to getting to watch this year’s CACCS show and sale video. Do you know how many plants you are planning on entering?

[@cookiescacti]

It is so much fun to see what can grow well in Phoenix. Ive always heard that Copiapoa don't like the Phoenix heat but clearly they can do well out here if cared for properly (and I bet it applies to other genera too). I'm planning to bring my "new" camera with me this time for some better movement and picture clarity. Hopefully lots of silly Jenny commentary to go along with this video too 😁. I keep changing my mind on what plants I want to enter into the show. So far at least 3 or 4 plants. Maybe I'll try the seedling category again, although I'm not quite sure what the judges are looking for after the results of last year.

[@BrendaRuiz06]

Amazing ❤❤❤

[@cookiescacti]

I'm so glad you enjoyed this backyard tour, Brenda! 💚💚💚

[@douglasrodrigues1322]

really amazing!, did he say anything about the soil mix?

[@cookiescacti]

I'm glad you enjoy this one! His soil is something like a mix of pumice and soil from the grounds of Tucson, but I don't remember the exact ratio.

[@garygilliam1890]

Does this person sell plants to the public if so I am interested

[@cookiescacti]

I don't think he sells. From what I can see he collects and grows for the love of the plants. He often shows his plants at the local show & sale and donates plants to the club sometimes.

[@rvicpena]

❤❤❤

[@cookiescacti]

💚💚💚

[@zpeckler]

17:28 Holy crap, is that Echinocactus polycephalus?!?! That thing must be ANCIENT! That species is my cactus cultivation “white whale.”

[@cookiescacti]

I don't know! Do you think it is?? He had some really cool plants in his garden!

[@zpeckler]

@@cookiescacti That was my best guess based on a couple features: straight spines, clumping, and what looked like wooly fruits tucked in close amongst the spines. Could be a variety of Ferocactus that I'm not super familiar with, but there aren't that many Ferocactus that clump, and the wooly fruits are way more of an Echinocactus vibe. Of course it's pretty tough to ID a plant from a video, so if anyone else has a better guess than that I could easily be wrong.

[@cookiescacti]

@@zpeckler if I run into the owner of this garden in the future, I'll try to remember to ask him!

[@philliesphillips6346]

What's a fish hook tool

[@cookiescacti]

I have a link to a video I did on the tool in the video description. It's a tool that ppl use to remove hooks from fish when fishing. It happens to work spectacularly for picking up cactus pots.

[@joshualennox3599]

Oh my God

[@cookiescacti]

May our gardens follow in these footsteps

[@joshualennox3599]

LO f’n L to their neighbors barking dog coming out of the cool sweep at the end

[@cookiescacti]

I had to make sure I included that in the video. Very very important!