I spotted these flowers on a barrel cactus up the slope on the neighbor’s property. I had the wrong shoes on to go up the slope to get a photo, so Bob climbed up and took this photo. I’m not sure of the exact species of this ferocactus, although it might be F. wislizeni. For sure, it sure has pretty flowers. Click on the image to enlarge.
Update: Crotalus told us the variety of this cactus in comments . . .
This is Ferocactus cylindraceus, the California or Compass Barrel.
Thanks, Crotalus!
Well, last night, actually. When I went out front this morning, I saw that my first saguaro flower had opened overnight. The flower is up at about the eleven foot mark on the cactus, so I will be unable to get an image of it face on. Not to worry, though, there are plenty of buds on the lower arms that will continue opening this spring and summer. Click on the image to enlarge.
It’s another beautiful day in our little half-acre of paradise. After a sumptuous meal of Oriental broccoli and beef on a bed of rice, the family (us and the dogs) took a walk down our unpaved road. On the way out of the courtyard, I paused to get this shot of the moon rising over our saguaro. Click on the image to enlarge.
Last month, I brought several of my cacti from the California patio to their new home in Arizona. Every one of them seem to do very well in the desert climate. Many of them, like this peanut cactus, have produced many beautiful flowers this spring. Click on the image to enlarge.
We just sat on the back porch today, called our Moms to wish ’em Happy Mothers Day. I heard from my kid, wishing me the same. I must have taken upwards of 400 pictures of the birds and critters out back. There were so many, it was hard to decide which one to post today. At any rate, I hope that Mom enjoys these red birds, a house finch and a cardinal, at our feeder. Image taken this afternoon – click on the image to enlarge.
This time of the year, the ocotillo flowers come out at the end of the canes. This variety of ocotillo is fouquieria peninsularis, according to Desert Tropicals and is native to Baja California. Click on the image to enlarge.
This is probably my favorite desert shrub. The shrub is called “Red Bird of Paradise” or “The Pride of Barbados.” They are native to Central America, parts of South America and the West Indies. Desert Tropicals, a Phoenix based garden information website, has information on cultivation and care of these pretty shrubs. They recommend planting them six feet apart and after summer in November or so, to cut them almost to the ground to keep them compact. In mid-spring, they will grow quite rapidly to between six and fifteen feet high.
I took this photo today while we were in Glendale, AZ, doing some shopping. Very soon, we will be having our landscape contractor install several of these around our house. Click on the image to enlarge.
