Every Spring, I eagerly await blooms from my Trichocereus Hybrid. I’m happy even if I only get to photograph one of its spectacular blooms so this year when I saw there were 10 big fat buds and more to come, I was ecstatic!
Because I knew the Javelina would be excited about it too, I’ve been spraying a repellent on and around the cactus that’s “supposed” to keep them away. I always thought it worked pretty well but it obviously didn’t this time because here’s what I found yesterday morning 🙁
I still have hope for a few blooms so all is not lost and next year, the Javs will find boulders in their path 🙂
Tag Archives: cactus
sentinel down
When you live in the Sonoran Desert, it’s easy to start assigning human characteristics to the giant Saguaro so it’s always sad to see one down. This specimen no doubt lost his footing when the wash he was growing next to grew wider over the years. Rest in peace big guy.
sign of history
Today I finally saw something I’d head stories about since I started hiking in the Preserve.
The story was about a cactus that had grown through a glass jar.
So how did it happen? Back in the old west days, cowboys would set jars and cans out for target practice
and this cactus obviously grew up and through the neck of a broken jar. Pretty cool!
We saw remnants many old glass jars in different colors and lots of tin cans.
prickly pear bandage
This morning’s MSC hike featured Alice Demetra giving expert insight into medicines the ancient peoples made from desert plants. A brave hiker volunteered to wear a Prickly Pear bandage to see how long it would stay in place. It worked really well. (Thanks, Christian!)
hedgehog cactus
Same Hedgehog Cactus as the other day. You can tell when I’m busy 🙂
stormy weather
Another tone mapped image but this time only one shot and with a little grunge look.
hedgehog
With our rainfall level so far, this beautiful specimen of Hedgehog Cactus is likely to be filled with blooms this coming April!
stressed
When Cactus are stressed out, such as from extreme cold or heat, they often turn shades of pink, red and orange making them works of art.
eye candy
Our native Fishhook Barrel (Ferocactus wislizeni) is also known as Candy Barrel Cactus. Blooms range in color from this yummy brilliant red to yellow.
Janusia
Janusia is in bloom. Here’s a shot from this morning of the tiny native vine growing on a Buckhorn Cholla. The vine takes over but doesn’t seem to harm the cactus. I just read that Desert Tortoise like to eat Janusia.
