Some Interesting Cactus Pictures

I thought this was interesting as cacti don't really need supplemental watering. These healthy looking specimens are flowering nicely at Tovrea Castle.  I doubt the spigot is ever turned on for them, it just looks as though it might be the cause of their robustness.

This is way (WAY) north Phoenix in Deem Hills looking south.

This barrel was flowering nicely just this morning.

Barrels can look weird when stressed.  I don't think they have the same support structure as saguaros, but they can get to be 7 feet tall.

This little fishhook pincushion was blooming probably only a day or two after a summer monsoon rain.  Note the resurrection fern all greened up below it.

This dead saguaro frames a cholla and another young saguaro.

This large saguaro from Deem Hills is up the slope a bit and away from all the new developments - except the new trail that goes right past it.

But new or old, it seems that devlopment and saguaros are not good mixes.

The holes are very likely from gun shots long before the area below was even  graded for development.  This is also along the new trail, but we found out that the new trail followed an old foot path up the hill, so it is not so surprising to find this kind of damage. Not pleasant, either.

Nighttime Beauty

There is a bloom about this large that is on a thinner cactus called Queen of the Night. I have a very small one in the yard.  I'll take and post daytime pictures of the two...This is also out front and I thought about shooting the bud as it looked like it would open soon.

Here it is shortly after sunset.

Here it is fully open around 9 p.m.

Apparently this is Harrisia jusbertii

It was still open in the morning

This is the Queen of the Night

It is very small right now, but as it grows it doesn't really get much thicker so it will need some support.

More Cactus & Cactus Flowers

I'll start with this agave stalk since I mentioned that sometimes they get plants and seeds growing on the stalk and here is proof:

The Totem Pole Cactus is an interesting one.

 It is an abberant, or monstrose, form of the Senita and is spineless.  They are rare in the wild but are easily cultivated, so now they are fairly commonplace as landscape plants.  To the right is evidence of how easily cultivated these are.

Here's a close up of the stem and absence of spines.

Quite the opposite is the Teddybear Cholla (aka Jumping Cholla).  It has a pale yellow flower, but in this picture I was focused on the bird skeleton inside. (Click it or any picture to see larger)

I understand that roadrunners will hang snakes and lizards from cacti in order to be able to come back at another time and have another meal - other scavengers won't be so quick to snatch it away. I am not certain, but I would think it makes sense, that roadrunners also eat small birds. 

Here's a nice shot of the flower and a couple of buds.

This is an unusual pink flower from a Santa Rita variety. 

I have some Santa Ritas out front that have yellow flowers with red centers. I would imagine that many cacti have been cross-pollinated over the years to produce a large variety of unique cacti. I also have no doubt the practice continues and we'll see new and unusual varieties for years to come. Look how many different roses have been produced over the years!

Here's a Prickly Pear I planted from a cutting a month or two ago.  Nice reward.

This Cholla flower is a deep pink with a waxy coat on the petals that make it shine in the sunlight.

Cholla

There are a number of types of cholla. This one is either a buckhorn or staghorn. Fairly close either way and right now I'm too lazy to look up the difference. (I'm leaning toward buckhorn).

One with three unopened buds.

With a partially opened bud.

The native bee dives right into the flower and practically swims inside. Look how full the pollen sacks are on the rear legs.

Hedgehog

Here is the first of the native cacti to bloom in the spring. One of the richest in color as well.

One of my coworkers thinks if anyone needs proof of the existence of God, they just need to look to this beauty and they would have to realize that nothing this striking could come about by pure chance.

Golden Barrel

You generally see the golden barrels about 6" across. It takes them quite some time to get about knee-high, but then they start to flower.

Here's a look at the growth center. Flowers come up in a spiral around the center, though I don't think I've ever seen a complete ring of flowers on one of these.

And the close up shot. Really a nice flower that is often lost amidst all the yellow/gold of the spines.

More Cactus Flowers

Can't hardly go to the gardens without a few cactus & flower pictures. Today was no exception. Enjoy...

Unusual Flower

Stopped in at the Desert Botanical Gardens today for a quick look at their new cactus & succulent displays. This was one of the plants in the succulent portion. This one probably isn't more than 8" tall. Not terribly unusual in and of itself, though it is interesting.

It was the flower that caught my eye. A strange looking one that looks as though it would be more at home underwater. Then there were the strange green bumps - individual flowers? seed pods? Who knows, but definitely interesting!

This aloe was also interesting, not so much for its leaves, which are different from your typical aloe - say aloe vera perhaps, but for its flowers.
These are the flowers. I noticed there were ants all over the stalks on this. I'm not sure if they show when you click on the photo, but there are several ants here.

Simply Amazing!

Alright now, this is a super shot. It is a small Fishook Pincushion (Mamillaria) in full bloom. I don't think I've ever seen them bloom this full before. At least I hope I didn't miss it if they have!

I spoke with a photographer from the early days of Arizona Highways Magazine and he said they would pick flowers and use toothpicks to hold them to the cactus to get a full bloom like these here (usually on the saguaros). Those were the old days - they really don't go for that now. In my opinion, these shots are Arizona Highways worthy, and that is saying a lot!

Barrel Cactus

Our wildflowers tend to bloom early out here, then the hedgehog is usually the first cactus to bloom. Now the Saguaros are starting to bloom as well as others. This is a barrel cactus (barrel-shaped until it gets really, really tall (maybe at 3-400 years it will be 6 feet). Don't worry, I'll be getting a LOT of saguaro pictures.