Getting on with the new roof... This is the cactus house roof from above, considering it had sharp metal roofing sheets with nails poking out bouncing off it, it did ok. Only a few gashes that needed repairing.
You are not allowed to put soil up there and grow plants, correct? Do you bear watching by those that know better or have you a (haha) plan?
Not allowed to grow anything on the roofs? Bah! Here people have grass roofs on houses, cottages, boat houses, outbuildings, and a lot of nice things grow there, even trees. They're not supposed to be there of course, but a lot happens in a hundred years or so if one doesn't keep a close watch.
I'm replacing the metal sheets with Sandtoft clay tiles... It'll be an ideal habitat for House Leeks, now who do we know around here that sells House Leeks?
Exactly! House leeks were traditionally planted on roofs to protect against lightning, fires, storms, and witchcraft. It's also an old medicinal plant, and is said to be a gift from Jupiter. The custom is said to originate from King Charlemagne (Charles the Great) of France who demanded it be planted on the roofs of all his buildings. The custom spread north, but since Norway didn't have a lot of house leeks we used Rhodiola rosea, Goldenroot, instead. And there she went again, rambling on... Sorry. You're welcome.
In South Texas, there is a cactus called "grey beard". Is that possibly the same as your Austrocylindropuntia vestita ? Ours is very picky as to heat and dryness. Would you believe we can't grow it outside because we aren't hot enough?
Unlikely that it's the vestita, that comes from Argentina but there is the Echinocereus viridiflorus that lives only in the Big Bend Ranch State Park Could it be that one @marlingardener ? https://aneyefortexas.wordpress.com/2013/03/23/greybeard-cactus/
