My Astrophytum (a.k.a. Star Cactus) had a flower open today. We have been watching it since it was a bud a couple of weeks ago and today it opened wide. There are also some more buds that will likely produce flowers this spring. Last year, this cactus had flowers all the way into August, so we look forward to more of them. Click on the image to enlarge.
This is the time of spring when our Arizona State Flower starts showing up on the saguaro cacti. The image above is of a saguaro crown up the road from us. Flowers are also beginning to appear on our big saguaro out front.
We love our springtime cactus flowers, both in the wild and in our cactus garden. Click on the image to enlarge.
We were on our after Dinner walk today when I heard the courting songs of a cardinal somewhere in the trees along the road. As usual, when hearing cardinals, it is not too difficult to find them because of their bright coloring; definitely not the most discrete critters in the desert foliage. Click on the image to enlarge.
I took some photos of a lot of open flowers on and around our lot on Friday. This photo is of a couple of freshly opened flowers on the lawyer’s tongue (sometimes called cow’s tongue) prickly pear cactus at the west edge of the yard. One entrepreneurial bee, seen on the flower on the right, worked the pollen express to the best of its ability as I snapped away with my camera.
Next week, most of these flowers will have come and gone, leaving the pears behind to likely be pecked at by our bird population. Spring is a wonderful time here in the Sonoran Desert. Click on the image to enlarge.
While we were out doing yard work today, I noticed that our big saguaro cactus has several flower buds popping up on three of the cactus arms. That means before long, we will be having saguaro flowers on the big guy.
On our recent outing in the RV, we saw a lot of saguaro flowers in the wild and some on domesticated cacti like ours. We should get them all spring and summer, we’re hoping. Stay tuned and I will get flower pix of ours as soon as I can.
This wonderful welded sculpture of a bull seems to be guarding the gateway to the large yard belonging to a pottery shop in Harcuvar, Arizona. This artistic bull appears to be full-sized and is in reasonable proportions to the real thing.
There are several other metallic sculptures at this place, including a covered wagon, many horses, dogs, other critters and a two-horse drawn stage coach.
One of these days, we’re going to have to stop and see the inside of this pottery shop. This trip, we had gusty winds, were tired and just wanted to get home..
