Lots of Hedgehog Cactus in bloom right now. Mostly magenta but here’s a pink bloom.
Tag Archives: bloom
banana yucca flower bud
One of my Banana Yuccas has a flower bud. Of course I have to document!
Here’s the whole plant as well as two close-ups.
Canon 100mm macro at f/8
Close-up at f/4
Same distance but different angle and at f/2.8
All images were taken last night as the sun was setting. The background color in the last one is a Creosote bush being kissed by last light. What a difference an f/stop makes!
almost perfect
Of all my Barrel Cactus, the red one is the most striking. It’s so brilliant, you can’t help but say WOW!
I had high hopes for a full circle of flowers but maybe next time. Here’s a few shots from yesterday.
Tech info: Slightly overcast day. Canon 5DMK2, Canon 180 macro lens, ISO 200, F/13, 1/125th sec, plus 1/2 stop.
fighting chance
Now that there’s a fence around Javelina Cafe, this Parry’s Agave will finally be able to have babies.
Agaves send out runners (called offsets) under ground which Javelina find irresistible!
Note the pup in the photo below has already been chewed on. The center looks strong, though.
Also….a bloom has been allowed to mature, thanks to the fence.
I’m really looking forward to next Spring 🙂
being prepared
I always have a camera with me, (as you probably know), even if I don’t have shooting in mind because you never know when a photo op is going to present itself. Such was the case yesterday when I was on my way back from Home Depot (bought Javelina fencing….more later) and saw this huge Barrel Cactus out of the corner of my eye. It was overcast so the color of the blooms was unbelievably vivid! Thankfully the road I was on has very little traffic, because I literally slammed on my brakes. After I got over the vision of a rear end collision, I pulled over to the side of the road, walked through barbed wire fence and fought off rattlesnakes (not really) to get these photos.
speaking of blooms….
Besides the flowers I posted this week and the Ironwood trees, Saguaro Cactus are also blooming everywhere. White Wing Doves are the major pollinator of the Saguaro but Bees and Bats do a fair share too.
crucifixion thorn bloom
This morning’s hike yielded another first for my flora archives…..Crucifixion Thorn blooms. The tiny native bee was a bonus. Also shown is the mature seed pod.
(The blooms are only about 1/4 inch wide).
chainfruit cholla bloom
Another first for my archives…a Chainfruit Cholla bloom. It wouldn’t have taken so long to get this photo if I had checked to see when they bloom! Unlike other cactus, you’re more likely to see Chainfruit blooms during the summer and that is not a time I’m normally out hiking. It’s on my calendar now, though, so I’ll be ready for next year 🙂
javelina food
Yummy! Javelina love cactus blooms so this one lasted only one day. I took a quick shot of it the day before they found it with the intention of going back for some macro shots the next morning. I should have known better.
(FYI:a variety of Octopus Cactus)
watch and learn
Fledgling learns what to eat by watching parent.