For the last couple months we have been treated to a cacophony of color while the cactus has been blooming.  Never having experienced this I thought I would like to share with you what I have learned about this very interesting species.

The top picture is of Hedgehog cactus.  It gets flowers in a crown around the top of the plant. Next up is an Ocatillo which only gets leaves when it rains and then flowers.  The rest of the time it is just spiky sticks. This one is a Purple Prickly Pear.  I read that the color is to deter animals from eating it.   Here is another variety of Hedgehog cactus.  These flowers start out as big red buds then open to huge white flowers. More Prickly Pear.Organ Pipe These next two are pictures of Pine Cone Cholla which hasn’t flowered yet but it is interesting because it looks like bunched of pine cones.  This is a succulent, the Century Plant.  It sprouts this huge flower each year.  Notice how tall it is! More Organ Pipe cactus.  Pink Prickly Pear.  These elongated paddles are called Beavertail  cactus.     Anyway, hope you can see some of the beauty of these plants.  This desert is sure “blooming like a rose.”