Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Hedgehogs in Bloom/ 100th post!

This morning when I wrote my post about What's in Bloom in the Desert I searched desperately for a hedgehog or pincushion cactus in bloom to show everyone, but to no avail. I thought I would have to search farther and wider but low and behold, look what was hiding behind the mailboxes when I went to get the mail tonight! These photos have not been enhanced. These are the true colors of the blossom in the golden light of the setting sun. I did crop the next 3 pictures to get you an even closer view of the blossoms. Since the wind is blowing the petals are ruffling a bit in the wind but still, what beauty!

Hedgehog buds.





Hedgehog blossom top view





Hedgehog blossom side view

14 comments:

Naturegirl said...

You are blessed in that you live in an area I consider Heaven on earth! After spending the past few months in Scottsdale I too have seen these lovely blossoms! Absolutely take my breath away!!
I see that we have in common new babies...my daughter expects her first baby a boy when I return home in a few weeks!! I shall enjoy coming by your blog to keep me informed of what's blossoming after I leave!! sunkissed in your part of the world and loving it! NG

Ruth said...

I don't associate anything so delicate and beautiful with the desert. Congratulations on 100 posts. Looking forward to the next 100!

Unknown said...

Every rose may have its' thorn but durn! LOL

Pappy said...

Kathie, We enjoy our native flora here too, but like yours most of it has a thorny surprise. The other desert photos in the earlier post are beautiful too.

Mary C said...

Beauty in the great southwest desert! Like no other in the world! I sure wish these beauties bloomed all summer, but alas, we can enjoy them while in bloom.

jalynn01 said...

Congrats on the 100th post!! Keep the momentum going. The Hedgehog blossoms is just beautiful - love the rich pink color so much.What a surprise to find it where you weren't looking! Doesn't that happen so often? Thanks for sharing!

Kathie Brown said...

Nature Girl, Congrats on your new grandchild! Glad you enjoyed your time in AZ. I hope the sun follows you home! Come visit anytime. I'll try to be a good window on the desert for you!

Ruth, thank you! It is amazing, isn't it. It has been a great surprise for me also! The flowers and the colors make it easy to fall in love.

forthe people, isn't that the truth! But we still want our flowers, don't we!


Thanks Tex. Nice hat. You're looking awfully debonair today!


Mary C, these will pass but others will take their place. When the flowers are gone the fruit will come with its own beauty. Then the monsoon will stir things up and create drama. It seems it's never boring or dull here! (Though it does get hot as hell!)

jalynn, yep, it's always where you least expect it!

Larry said...

Congratulations! I really like the color of those cactus flowers.

Doug Taron said...

Congratulations on post #100. Your pictures from the desert have been so lovely. They make me want to be there. I finally couldn't stand it anymore, and made my plane reservations for my Tucson conference in July.

Kathie Brown said...

Larry, that is quite the color, isn't it!

Doug, let me know when you will be here. Perhaps we can meet at Madera Canyon or somewhere. Glad you are coming! Is the conference in early, mid, or late July? You'll be here during Monsoon! The scorpions will be out by then! Yeah! (When I saw my first scorpion I was ready to head right out of this state, but now I have adjusted!)

Ramosforest.Environment said...

Great.
Your shot blog subject is similar to my one. I take insects, cacti, my garden, birds, flowers and Poetry.
Please. Visit my NATURAL SHOT PHOTOS blog.

Unknown said...

I actually came to see your sky shots, but these littl flowers are BEAUTIFUL!

Doug Taron said...

I'll be there the last week in July. The conference is timed for the monsoons. More info as plans for the trip come together.

Amy said...

Beautiful flowers! I had one hedgehog cactus in my collection but it is long gone. The stems are very small compared to the huge flowers they produce.