I was out for my walk yesterday when I saw the neighbor’s Argentine Giant Cactus was blooming. So, of course I turned around to get my camera from home and set out again. In our little park was another one in bloom. I took photos all around the neighborhood, enjoying the sights of Spring cactus blossoms.
There were lots of bees. I was lucky enough to capture this guy on a cactus bud.
Here’s a close up of the beautiful Argentine Giant blossom taken with my 105 mm lens. In fact, all the photos on this page are taken with that lens.
I love the color of this blossom.
This was at the neighbor’s house. We have one Argentine Giant Cactus and it was one lone blossom in bloom yesterday, gone today.
At the park.
This purple beavertail cactus has a beautiful yellow flower. I wondered why some beavertail are green and others yellow. This is what I found out:
Beavertail cacti (Opuntia basilaris) turn purple primarily as a stress response to cold temperatures, intense sun, or drought, acting as a natural sunscreen. This purple pigment, known as anthocyanin, protects the plant’s cells from damage, making the color change most intense during winter or arid conditions.
I also learned there are purple varieties including one called Purple Desert.
Here’s to a happy Monday and week ahead. What’s on your schedule for this week?
I never knew that about beavertail cacti. Nice photography. I think cactus blossoms are some of the prettiest types of blossoms there are.
Thanks! I agree that the cactus blossoms are so beautiful.
These flowers are so delicate and pretty.
They are so stunning. I had no idea before moving here that they existed.
And before you shared on your blog, I’m sure many of us weren’t aware of this fact either.
That’s probably true. We had a very rainy winter. I wonder if that’s why there are so many blooms?
Could be the reason.
In any case, it’s a delight.
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There’s something magical about cactus blooms. Maybe it’s because they rarely happen, maybe it’s the juxtaposition of thorn and bloom… I don’t know. By that giant white is stunning.
I think you’re correct. It’s the juxtaposition of thorns and blooms. Plus it happens once a year.
Beautiful!
It was such a beautiful thing to see on my walk.
Wow! The first photo is fantastic, Elizabeth! Rivergirl is right, its the juxtaposition of thorns and the flowers that makes the cacti so beautiful. Remember, take your camera with you as much as you can, the next great photo is coming! 👍🏻☺️
Thanks! I should carry my camera with me on every walk. But I don’t have a mirrorless camera like yours and the lenses I use are heavy too!
I can’t believe how many flowers are on that cactus! I typically see one or two at a time, so what joy that must have been to see. Thanks for sharing here! ☺️
I’ve never seen one with so many flowers either. Then I walked to the park and there was one with a bunch of blooms too. What a treat. I’m glad you enjoyed them.
BEAutiful pictures. you did a great job and what a wonderful walk that must have been. Our prickly pears are budding, the wildflowers should start blooming soon. I cannot wait.
Thanks! I love it when cacti bloom. They don’t last long but the flowers are gorgeous.
It is endlessly interesting to me the beauty cactus blooms and you capture them so beautifully! Thank you for sharing your photos. You are so talented. Hugs, C
Thank you! I enjoy photography and having to take a second trip on my walk lugging my camera has to be good for me!
It always amazes me to see such beautiful flowers growing from cacti. You took some lovely photos.
Thank you. The blossoms only last one day, so I’m so glad I was there to see them.
I’m so happy that you were able to see the Argentine Giant cactus in full bloom… and share it with us. Gorgeous! I had wondered about the purple cactus too. We don’t see them where I live in SoCal.
I was so excited on my walk to see all the white blossoms down the street. In past years, the homeowner would put chicken wire around the Argentine Giant to keep the critters from eating all the buds after a few were munched on. This year it was wide open and so gorgeous. Where do you live in SoCal? We lived in Palm Springs for 28 years before moving to AZ. We didn’t have any of these cacti, purple or otherwise in Palm Springs.
We live in coastal San Diego. Even if we had beavertail cactus here, I doubt that our “nearly perfect” temps would produce the necessary stress for them to turn purple (not that I’m complaining 😎).
What a wonderful place to live. You are so fortunate. No, I don’t think you’d get purple beavertail there!
Love, love, love the cactus flowers!
I’ve never seen anything like them before. Usually it’s just a couple blooms on cactus.
hmmmm. homework for my writing class. homework for writers conference. work in my second draft. Two Broadway musicals.
Good for you on all your writing! I’m sure it will result in something pretty exciting!
here’s hoping …😉
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Incredible, Elizabeth! I love the little green center of the fuchsia flower. We are in San Francisco right now and saw the most beautiful flowering bush – maybe it’s called a bird of paradise? I’ll try to post with my weekly pictures and maybe you can tell me.
Hope you have a great week!
Thank you! When I visit my kids in Berkeley I love seeing all the beautiful flowers. They have them year round. We have ours for a day or two. I look forward to seeing your photos.
Wow, amazing flowers. It’s just incredible to see a cactus with such beautiful blooms.
I was so happy to see it in full bloom. It was worth a walk back with my camera!
Oh, I bet. Definitely worth it.
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I would imagine cactus has a willing audience in Arizona with the dry heat. In Florida, growing cactus can be hit or miss but we have one called Cereus which blooms overnight and then closes in the morning.
We have the same cactus here in the Sonoran Desert, but we don’t have one in our yard. They are native in the desert.