Wednesday, April 4, 2007

Swelling buds in the desert


I went back to Pima Canyon today for a morning hike. None of the cacti are quite in bloom yet, although the ocotillo are:


Ocotillo, March 31
(Many of them are in full bloom as of Apr 4)











Buckhorn cholla, April 4. One of the most mature buds I saw.












Prickly pear, April 4.
Again, one of the most mature buds.

5 comments:

Sparkling Squirrel said...

Aah, the desert flora. So cool. Would love to see some ocotillo again.

Irene said...

Ooh, how pretty! Thanks for posting these pictures, Anna, the rest of us really love seeing what spring is like in Tucson, or at least I do!

Tucson Trekker said...

I think ocotillo is one of my favorite plants. (I have lots of favorites.) I just love how it looks like a upside-down scrawny octopus that gets a fringe of leaves all over. That and the red flags of blossoms it waggles around so brazenly. Outlandish in a very cool and beautiful way -- it's kind of my ideal.

Jenny said...

Anna, the desert is gorgeous!! I am glad we get to share its beauty vicariously.

Tucson Trekker said...

Not to mention the spines don't break off and imbed themselves permanently in your flesh like cactus do!