May we honor the fallen and those still serving and in harm’s way. God bless them all.
New Queen of the Night Bud
Our Queen of the Night (Peniocereus greggii) cactus cutting (image from February of 2015) sprouted a new branch last year which has grown to a length of nearly ten inches. The new branch on the cutting recently sprouted a tiny bud. The bud, seen in the image to the right, is about an inch from the top of the new branch.
We can’t yet tell if it is another new branch or if it will grow into a flower bud this summer. We’re hoping for the latter, although new growth is also good.
We also discovered a new Queen cactus sprouting up on the hill next to (and may be a part of) the large cactus under the palo verde tree up there. We have it in mind that we would like to transplant the new growth from up on the hill to a pot in the courtyard where the first cutting now lives.
More good news is that the QOTN above the rock and cactus garden and the west wash has new growth. Four new branches are starting to pop out when we thought that this cactus had been killed by javelina or something else eating it. At any rate, we’re hoping to have some flowers this summer if all goes well with our crop of Queens. Click on the image to enlarge.
Saguaro Flower Boom
Compared to last year, the number of flowers on the saguaro cacti around the area is many times more this spring. I didn’t get an exact count on our big cactus last year, (and won’t this year either) so the observation is subjective. Most of the older, mature saguaros have flowers on all the arms and new buds are still coming.
It could be the very mild winter we just had or maybe something entirely different that is the cause of the flower proliferation. It’s anybody’s guess. Regardless of the reason, we are very happy to see the cacti being very happy. 😉
21 Flower Salute
Even more spectacular than last year’s opening, our “Cherry Red” Trichocereus Grandiflorus cactus presented us with twenty-one beautiful hot pink flowers this morning. Despite the Cherry Red nomenclature, the color of the petals in bright sunlight has a definite pink tinge.
This is our third, and most spectacular year of flowers on this cactus. It is in it’s original pot from when we bought it, and now needs to be transplanted into a larger pot or into the ground in the rock and cactus garden. The only problem with the latter option is that I’m afraid that the desert wildlife will nibble on the cactus, buds and fruit. I have a larger pot into which we will put the cactus and all of it’s satellite “pups” to remain in the courtyard where it is less likely to be damaged by the critters.
Safe Arrival at Home
We’re safe at home today, after a five week absence. We drove from Bullhead City over to Kingman and then down US 93, also called the Joshua Tree Forrest Arizona Highway, but there is lots more to see along that scenic route going from I-40 down to Wickenburg. Damsel and I are happy to be at home again, having missed our beautiful retirement home. Our two small dogs seem equally happy to be getting back in their routines.
The Cactus Wren in the image above was waiting on the big saguaro out front to greet us. It is our State Bird perched on the buds of our State Flower. Click on the image to enlarge.
Camping at the Colorado River
Tonight, we’re camped at a neat little RV park right on the Colorado River in Bullhead City, AZ. The campground is less than 300 feet away from the river where we enjoyed the view that Damsel captured in the image above. It is a lot warmer here than we have had during the entire trip with the mercury hitting a bit over 100° at check in time this afternoon.
Yes, we’re finally back to our home state. We got here by a circuitous route designed to avoid Las Vegas metro area. From Beatty, NV, we went down US 95 Veterans Memorial Hwy and actually went back into California along CA 127 to Baker, up I-15 a ways and across again to Searchlight, NV, Laughlin, NV and finally arriving here in Bullhead. There is always plenty of beautiful scenery along all the desert highways. We had sunny weather and a pleasant drive with only some minor gusty wind conditions in mountainous areas.
Our plan is to head home in a couple of days after relaxing here and enjoying the summer-like weather in the RV resort. The RV’s dual A/Cs keep the temperature comfortable inside.
Click on the image to enlarge.
Next Camping Spot – Beatty, NV
Our route from Hawthorne, NV, took us along Veterans Memorial Highway (US 95) through Central Nevada. We drove through several little farming and mining towns along the way. Tonapah and Goldfield were the most interesting.
Tonight and tomorrow night we will be here in Beatty, another old mining town but with casinos being the main attraction these days. The image above is the view directly across the road from the campground. Click on the image to enlarge.