Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Cacti Flare!

What's better than wildflowers in the desert?  How about cacti blooms!!!??  Today we're going to take a hike through the Sonoran desert.  And did I hike!!!  Check out these Prickly Pears, Cholla, and other varieties of cacti found around Tucson Arizona.  No words today, just a visual "hike".  Hope you enjoy:)













Thanks for joining!  And the best part, no heat exhaustion suffered!  That's my job:)  Blooms galore coming up...roses, wildflowers, and so much more.  Stay tuned!  Until tomorrow.....

17 comments:

  1. Some of those little tiny cacti with the dainty deicate flowers are such a prime target for cactus collectors. Are they in abundance or rare to find ?

    The Coastal Barrel Cactus of San Diego County is just about extinct in so many areas. When I was a teenager, I found to largest southern exposure Coastal Barrel Cactus habitat ever and I know most people have never seen it. Reason is because it's on a US Military Reservation. I did lots of daring exploration when I was younger that I wouldn't do now.

    I've wondered what ever happened to them after the 2003 Cedar Fire which consumed almost everything on that base property. The only advantage they would have had is that the extreme southern exposure was sparsely vegetated, Some of those coastal Barrels where as big as the Anza Borrego Desert Barrel Cactus. That's almost unheard of for them.

    I love and miss cactus. I think I'll move my Prickly Pear Beavertail pad outside today. It's warmed up to 50 finally. Of course, I'm sure Tucsonians would still freeze at that temp - *smile*

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  2. This is a truly superb series of photos, wonderful colours which bring a little bit of sunshine in our rainy part of the World! Have a good May 1st! DeeBee :)

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  3. A bounty of beautiful blossoms!

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  4. There is something very special about the blooms in the desert. Excellent sampling. Hope it wasn't too hot on your hike. (She said while sitting in front of the heater.)

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  5. i like the variety of color you get. we get yellow prickly pear and that's about it. :)

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  6. Those are beautiful, thanks for the hike.

    Your opuntia are a few weeks ahead of us and this year should be a good show with the mild rainy winter.

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  7. What a lovely variety of flowers and colors. Thanks for sharing these beauties. Have a great day!

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  8. Wow! What a riot of colour :-) Beautiful!

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  9. They are stunning, Chris! I'm surprised by the all the different colors especially of the chollas and prickly pears.

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  10. How nice to be reminded how beautiful the desert can be.

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  11. Good shots of these beautiful blooms! Thanks :-D

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  12. Hi Chris, Your cacti blooms are awesome... I love all of those colors...

    I'm trying to catch up a little --but just so busy right now.
    Betsy

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  13. What a gorgeous array of flowers. Thanks for sharing these.

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  14. The best part of the year to collect blossoms' pictures! Lucky you!

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  15. Oh, how so beautiful these various cacti are! So adorable, especially if we don't see the thorns! But i envy most when you said, the hike is your job! I love to have the same job too, hiking, travelling, photographing, it is just like heaven-sent, if i were you! What really is your job about, i just read you are at El Presidio!

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  16. Gorgeous flowers and what lovely photos - your pics have made my day :)

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  17. Wow, wonderful shots of the gorgeous flowers.

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