I transplanted my cactus from -

a dry hillside in the highlands of No. Truro. Took several small plants one year and put them in a fairly dry garden that abutts the foundation near my back door and gets good sun most of the time. It's the first place to thaw in the spring. I never thought they would survive the much colder weather up here in the mountains of Western Mass. You wouldn't believe them now - they have spread and grown and almost taken up the whole area - and when those beautiful yellow flowers are out - so pretty.

Everyone exclaims over them because they're so shocked to see them in this climate. Every winter they shrivel up and lay down flat and look dead - but that's what they're supposed to do. If they kept their water and were nice and plump like in the summer, they WOULD freeze. Then first thing in the spring, when the rains come, up they stand, filling up nice and plump again. It's always a little miracle for me to watch them in the spring.

Pat - I've always wondered how you would use them for recipes - with those little lethal prickers. BTW, thanks for the hint on scotch taping them - I'll try it next time!