Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Bloomin' Tuesday Cactus Blooms!

Most of the year the cactus just sit there, not doing much of anything.  If there is a little growth, one has to look fairly closely to see it.  There are no lush green leaves and sometimes the cactus looks discolored and shriveled and looking more dead than alive until....
(click for the wow effect)

One bloom on this snaky cactus that seems to thrive but rarely bloom.  I did catch a picture this time- the stamen remind me of those translucent rice noodles...

You have to look closely for the bloom in the golden barrel cactus. The bloom is the same golden yellow as the spines that cover the top of the cactus.
This "was" the first bloom on a new night-bloomer in my yard. I missed the actual bloom but even the shriveling bud is gorgeous.

Happy Bloomin' Tuesday!  Please visit Ms "Green Thumb" Jean's for more Bloomin' Tuesday Delights!

14 comments:

Bonnie said...

What some wonderful cactus!

Racquel said...

I love the variety of colors of your Cactus blooms. :)

Jean said...

I'm so glad we still have a desert gardener for Bloomin' Tuesday! The flowers are always so interesting and gorgeous. Awesome photos! Jean

Corner Gardener Sue said...

Those cactus blooms are exotic looking. I can see the yellow one clearly. The red one on the snakey cactus reminds me of a holiday cactus bloom.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Suzanne said...

So pretty. I'm always amazed at the vivid color on cactus plants.

Teri said...

Wow, these blooms are gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Paula said...

So fun to see such unique desert plants - I am so glad you have shared these pix - truly beautiful! Thanks! Paula

Anonymous said...

Those are gorgeous. Nothing I could grow here. Thanks for sharing.

Melissa @SavingCentswithSense said...

Wow, those are amazing photos of your cactus flowers- I'm from AZ, but I don't think I've ever seen such pretty flowers on cactus before!

Thanks for linking up, too!

PAK ART said...

such beautiful blossoms. Hard to believe they come from something so spiny and ugly.

Floridagirl said...

Wow for sure!

I had that snaky cactus growing up a camphor tree at my first house. Loved it! Then my 5yo and his bf took their plastic swords to it. Pretty much decimated the beast. Said they were pretending to kill snakes. Love your night-blooming cactus. My favorite of all cacti in the world!

Leslie said...

Gorgeous! Don't you just love the shock of color that can come bursting out of what you think is a dead cactus?

Brenda's Arizona said...

The snaky one reminds me of octopus arms floating all around! Great photos of our desert nature.

Lisa said...

Cactus blossoms are magical!