Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Jekyll Island Beach 2012

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

CACTI WITH COLOR!!!

The Rogue Speaks:

Tucson in the spring and early summer is awash with color when the cacti are in bloom.  I thought you would like to see a few shots taken in my yard and neighborhood.

The first photo was taken very early in the morning because the delicate and fragrant bloom of the Organ Pipe Cactus will close as soon as the sun is bright.  Unfortunately, this plant, which lived by our pool, was killed in the wicked winter we had.  I was lucky to get the bee in this shot, however, these plants are pollenated by bats.

Organ Pipe Cactus Bloom

If you look closely at the photo below, you will see the fishhook spines that protect this cactus.  The spines of one of these in our neighborhood cost us $1200 recently when Little Liz, in a fit of barking at a dog behind a wall, went chest first into it, impaling herself in her chest and throat.
Barrel Fishhook Cactus



This Indian Fig Cactus just won't stop growing!  Rod has to periodically cut down one side of it so we can get to our gate!  The limbs and pads are extremely heavy, since they are filled with water.
Opuntia Ficus Indica
(Indian Fig)
(shading one of our bedroom windows)
Opuntia Ficus Indica blooms



I painted this beautiful bloom and it received a first place ribbon and a judge's award at an exhibition several years ago.  When not in bloom, this member of the Cholla family is quite unremarkable, but still quite dangerous if one gets too close!!
Staghorn Cholla Blooms



While visiting here before he became a permanent resident, our son, Keil, dug one of these up in a walk in Honeybee Canyon and gave it to me.  It sits in a pot on my patio, and never fails to give me these beautiful blooms.
Hedgehog Cactus Blooms


They're EVERYWHERE you look!  But the Prickly Pear cactus not only gives us these beautiful blooms, but also can provide us with  jelly when the fruit is picked and cooked.  Our granddaughter, Gracie, has harvested quite a few of the fruits with the help of thick gloves and tongs.
Prickly Pear Cactus

The buds of the Giant Saguaro are harvested by the local Indian tribes.  I would never attempt to harvest any because I have a fear of heights!!
Saguaro Blooms

I have had this Old Man Cactus for many years. It lives in a clay cactus garden on my patio.  A couple of others in this grouping have died from the cold, but this one just keeps hanging on, although I suspect that that he  is shrinking with age, and may get much smaller.  He used to be a lot bigger when he was younger.   That's just the way life is, isn't it???  Old age eventually wins out!  Hahahahahahaha!!!!!!
Old Man Cactus

Well, that's it for my Alphabe-Thursday assignment from Miss Jenny, our teacher!  I am still on vacation, but as soon as I get home, I will be reading all the other offerings!!

26 comments:

Robin said...

First, I never imagined cacti as being pretty. Second, that last one cracked me up.

Jo said...

ong, the last one was hilarious ... but poor little Lizzie, she sure lives dangerously!

Cathy Kennedy said...

I never knew so many different varieties of cacti bloomed. Way cool!

12 Ways to Celebrate Your Love

21 Wits said...

I'm still laughing about your last photo! :) I have a cool (well not at the time)story I call my battle with a toothpick cactus. But it's my only desert-war story so far (I'm a fan of sandals)while out for a stroll in my grandfather's wild wilderness in Florence. A Mr. Horrible Ant took a bite out of my poor foot one day, (while I was holding my little boy) and trying not to drop him (those ants can be really MEAN!) I held him tightly but my foot landed in one of those TOOTHPICK sharp-cactus (the same ant-biten-foot) and I'm sure everyone heard my scream! Ha! Ha! now....

Judie said...

The transit of Venus is screwing up my computer and preventing me from responding to everyone! I will, however, as soon as I can get a good connection!

ALL cacti bloom!!!!

Lola said...

We have lots of cacti here too in S Spain but not like that last one!!

How *c*quirky!!

Hugs to Liz & Mulligan! :-)

The Poet said...

My dear Judie,
You know that last picture was going to get more than one smile or comment!! I loved the first flower...simply beautiful...just like you (smile again).

Birgit said...

Hi Judie,

First of all, thanks for visiting my blog earlier today -- such a pleasure to welcome you there!

You know what? Your blog post made me a bit "homesick" for Tucson... I have been there a couple of times in the 1990s and have a lot of great memories of my time there. I really like all the different cacti there and took many pictures back then. Your post was such a treat -- one of my favorite "C" posts for sure!

Greetings from Germany,
Birgit

Jackie McGuinness said...

These cacti are just gorgeous!!

Tina´s PicStory said...

wonderful pics! so lovely :)

Pondside said...

I've had a great catch-up on your posts - I don't always go back to see what I've missed, but your posts are different and I don't like to skip one!
I hope you're having a good holiday, wherever you are!

Gattina said...

Quiet tall and dangerous cactus ! I only know little once you keep on the window sill as decoration ! Some of them bloom too. The Old Man Cactus looks very appropriate, lol ! Not that I have a special experience in old cactus(es)

Unknown said...

T like to see the painting of the cactus flower that won the award! That one, and the first one, I've never seen! The desert can be so beautiful as we saw one time we were traveling through it after the rain!

Susan Anderson said...

Pollenated by bats? I didn't even know such a thing was possible!

Great, informative post.

=)

Jim said...

I like your cactus finds, Judie. and I miss them still from living in El Paso years and years ago.

Later I had a student bring me a nice century plant from Mexico. It too died in a hard winter here.
..

Ames said...

Well I just thoroughly enjoyed that! You should share more stories about Arizona, especially the one about the snake in the pool!~Ames

storybeader said...

you wouldn't think, looking at a cactus, that there would be a lot of color to it... until it flowers! Great photos! {:-Deb

Judie said...

The snake in the pool story is still so clear in my mind! I am very careful to check my pool float before I sit in it. Some people think that walking on water is a miracle, but in my case, it was a necessity born of sheer fright when I found that snake between my thigh and the side of the float. My feet never touched the bottom of the pool!

Splendid Little Stars said...

The desert in bloom is so gorgeous! I was privileged to see it once.
I also learned the names of some of the cacti I've become familiar with.
Do you have a photo of your prize winning painting?

~✽Mumsy✽~ said...

I thought I had a dirty mind when I saw the last photo, but apparently I'm not alone :-)

Gorgeous cactus blossoms, and their flowers are just amazing.

Erika said...

I tend to not think much about cacti until I see the blooms. Funny how something so tough and "mean" can be part of something so pretty.

anitamombanita said...

Judie Judie Judie...those are awesome!!! Poor little Liz...poor you. I want to see your painting-I bet it was stunning. And the old man...well, what can I say? Too funny.

Judie said...

Thanks for all the nice comments! Ware still at the beach and having a great time!

Judie said...

Thanks for all the nice comments! Ware still at the beach and having a great time!

Jenny said...

Cactus are so brutally lovely.

I can't imagine a sweet, little dog getting into those nasty thorns. Poor little sweetie.

I hope you're enjoying views without cacti during your trip. It's nice to see landscaping that can't hurt you!

Thanks for a clever link Miss Judie!

Be safe!

Hugs and A+

Judie said...

Don't think there aren't cacti on the coast, because there are!! I avoided them this year, however!! Last year was a different story!!!!