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Friday, May 18, 2018

Glorious Cacti!

Our Ball Cacti are continuing to wow me with their blooms!It never ceases to surprise me that they do so well at higher than 8,000' in the mountains.

The range of flower colors surprises me. These are the light colored ones.

And these are the darker magenta ones.

Some have one flower on top (like the first photo) while others have up to 16 flowers clustered on the top of the cactus.

Always, when you look closely, you can see the pollen dust released by the flower lying on the petals just waiting for a pollinator to carry it to another flower.

There are two disadvantages to having cacti. One is the dogs' paws... it hurts to step on a cactus spine with bare feet!
The other is my bicycle tires... which go flat when punctured by a cactus spine.

Despite those downsides, I love our cacti flowers!
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18 comments:

  1. Yamini MacLeanMay 18, 2018 at 5:07 AM

    Hari Om
    Was going to say dog bootees would protect tender paws - but if bike tyres can be punctured, am guessing shoe soles can too!!! Not doubting the beauty of thes little spineys though!!! YAM xx

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  2. Mary HoneMay 18, 2018 at 6:32 AM

    Those colors are amazing. Cactus always seem to go above and beyond in the flower world.

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  3. Brian's Home BlogMay 18, 2018 at 6:37 AM

    Those are so very pretty!

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  4. MadSnapperMay 18, 2018 at 8:18 AM

    the flowers are GORGEOUS! i love the spiny looking things surrounding them but not in paws or tires..

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  5. Milo and JetMay 18, 2018 at 9:36 AM

    Gorgeous Flowers :) The colours are beautiful :) Milo,Jet & Arli

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  6. Tails Around the RanchMay 18, 2018 at 9:57 AM

    So exquisitely beautiful. They look like bright pieces of velvet.

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  7. My Mind's EyeMay 18, 2018 at 11:27 AM

    Good golly miss molly those are some tough spines to puncture a tire..
    Hugs madi your bfff

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  8. My GBGV LifeMay 18, 2018 at 1:39 PM

    The flowers are pretty. My mom steers clear of those cacti. When she went to college in Tucson, there was a get together in the desert. Somehow, she backed into a big cactus and one of those sharp needles pierced her in the behind. It was quite painful and they get infected too. Needless to say, she didn't sit much for a few days, so beware!

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    Replies
    1. KBMay 18, 2018 at 5:22 PM

      That same thing happened to a friend in Moab! Painful...

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  9. Nancy JMay 18, 2018 at 3:17 PM

    They must be so thorny, steer clear if possible, but gorgeous flowers and colours

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  10. Millie and WalterMay 18, 2018 at 3:44 PM

    Such pretty flowers from such a lethal plant.

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  11. jank1961May 18, 2018 at 6:02 PM

    Mother Nature sure knows how to mess with us, doesn't she? :)
    Jan, Wag 'n Woof Pets

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  12. The Adventures of the LLB GangMay 18, 2018 at 6:22 PM

    It's amazing how the flower petals seem to shimmer in the light!

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  13. ♥♥ The OP Pack ♥♥May 18, 2018 at 6:31 PM

    The cacti flowers are very pretty - love the various shadings of pink. Pretty to look at but maybe not to touch:)

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  14. Ruby Rose and the Big Little Angels 3May 18, 2018 at 8:47 PM

    Stunning pictures

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  15. Idaho PugRanchMay 18, 2018 at 9:22 PM

    Pretty flowers on the cactus!
    hugs
    Hazel & Mabel

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  16. Alastriona, The Cats and Dogs May 19, 2018 at 4:19 AM

    The cacti are magnificent, Mommy says they cause ouchies when weeding them too.

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  17. DukeMay 21, 2018 at 5:16 PM

    The Cacti are just gorgeous! Beware!

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