This Nova Scotia man's Christmas cactus has been in his family for a century
A cactus is known to live a long life, and one Nova Scotia man says his has been in the family for a full century.
For 78-year-old Art Isner, his Christmas cactus is full of life and memories.
“I can remember it being in my grandmother’s parlour,” Isner tells CTV Atlantic. “I might’ve been somewhere between five and eight.”
After Isner’s grandmother’s passing, the Christmas cactus made its way to his family dining room in Chebucto Road home in Halifax.
“When mom was no longer able to look after the house, it came down here,” said Isner. “And it was not a spring chicken when I first saw it.”
Isner says his grandmother probably kept the cactus trimmed, but it wasn’t in the best shape.
“We decided we’d put it out in the garden, and we thought a little extra sun and all that would be good for the plant,” said Isner, adding, “We forgot about the deer.”
By the time Isner realized his cactus had become a popular snack for the local wildlife, the plant was “pruned quite severely.” Suffice to say, that was the last time Isner put the plant outside.
Since then, the love and care Isner has given the cactus has allowed it to grow another three to four feet.
A Christmas cactus like Isner’s is a popular cactus of the Cactaceae family that blooms indoors around the holiday season in the Northern Hemisphere, and most are now considered hyrids.
In 2016, the Daily Herald newspaper in Chicago reported a woman in Lisle, Illinois also had a 100-year-old Christmas cactus.
What’s in store for the future of Isner’s Christmas cactus? He’s not sure.
“I’m not real sentimental about such things as plants and so forth. The only people you could give it to would be my grandchildren,” said Isner. “Grandchildren are not interested in this stuff, so I don’t know what’s going to happen.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canada outlines national action plan to fight auto theft
The federal government is launching what it calls its 'national action plan' to combat auto thefts, which will include stronger penalties for thieves, and increased information sharing between police agencies, government officials and border enforcement.
U.S. Supreme Court rejects appeal from former Guantanamo detainee Omar Khadr
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal by a Canadian-born former Guantanamo detainee who was seeking to wipe away his war crimes convictions, including for killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan.
What is BORG drinking, and why is it a dangerous trend? An expert explains
If you've been to a party lately and haven't seen someone drinking a BORG, you're likely not partying with college students.
Iran's president and foreign minister die in helicopter crash at moment of high tensions in Mideast
Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and the country's foreign minister were found dead Monday hours after their helicopter crashed in fog, leaving the Islamic Republic without two key leaders as extraordinary tensions grip the wider Middle East.
Michael Cohen says he stole from Trump's company as defence presses key hush money trial witness
Former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen admitted Monday to jurors in the Republican's hush money trial that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company as defence lawyers seized on the star witness' misdeeds to attack his credibility.
The world's best airline is paying staff a bonus of 8 months' salary
Singapore Airlines will reward its employees with a bonus worth nearly eight months of salary, a person familiar with the matter told CNN on Friday.
Woman, 35, in critical condition after her truck collided with a Via Rail train near Montreal
A 35-year-old woman is in critical condition after the pick-up truck she was driving was struck by a Via Rail passenger train Monday morning in Quebec's Monteregie region.
Investors watching posts from 'Crypto King' in the wake of fraud, money laundering charges
Former investors of the self-styled “Crypto King” say they are watching his social media accounts and worried his displays of wealth are signs he’s spending their money, even now, as another large expense tied to Aiden Pleterski has triggered a previously unreported lawsuit.
Almost 2 months after it destroyed Baltimore's Key Bridge, the Dali cargo ship has been moved
The cargo ship Dali is being moved from the site of its catastrophic collision with the Francis Scott Key Bridge in a crucial step toward fully reopening the busy Port of Baltimore.