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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on Apr 24, 2013 20:27:21 GMT
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Post by htmb on Apr 24, 2013 21:28:52 GMT
I'm so glad you've posted photos of a variety of cacti, and with blooms no less! I had meant to at least get a couple of photos of saguaro's on my ride up to Flag from Phoenix, but there never seemed to be an opportune moment. Approximately how long does each bloom last and how long is the flowering season?
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Post by fumobici on Apr 24, 2013 21:51:29 GMT
Early Spring was the only time I really wanted to go visit my parents when they lived in the Phoenix area. I loved how some years the desert would be bright green, dotted with beautiful wildflowers and with beautiful daytime weather and hummingbirds everywhere. I loved hiking Camelback on the trails when it was like that.
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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on Apr 24, 2013 21:53:06 GMT
You are very welcome :-) I actually had to look up the flowering season even though I could have given an approx. from our neighborhood as the saguaro have not yet started but are getting their little "hood" The greatest diversity of spring-blooming species can be seen in April. The cactus show continues as the abundant prickly pears bloom in early May, followed by saguaros from mid May to mid June. They usually bloom for a couple of days - one thing that always surprised me in many documentaries is that they say the saguaro only blooms at night which is not true, but they start blooming at night and around here you can see them at least until early afternoon. Obviously since I have taken many saguaro blooming photos over the years. It's something I don't get tired of after 17 years :-D Below is a rare photo one doesn't get too often - A Saguaro Cactus and snow ! The snow level there is down to 2000 ft in Cave Creek which is 30 min from North Phoenix.  |
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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on Apr 24, 2013 21:54:02 GMT
Fumobici - Spring is my favorite time here as well !!!
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Post by htmb on Apr 24, 2013 22:06:49 GMT
I'm more partial to outdoor, late morning weddings on hot Phoenix golf courses in early August myself. The heat gives one a sense of what the pathway towards hell must feel like, though I think the happy couple in the wedding I attended was totally oblivious to the weather.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 24, 2013 22:10:50 GMT
I hate it when the first thought that comes to mind is "those flowers are so perfect, they look fake." Real things can be perfect, too!  |
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Post by htmb on Apr 24, 2013 22:25:58 GMT
I love that last photo with the snow in the background. Was that picture taken this year?
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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on Apr 25, 2013 13:20:36 GMT
Ha ha Kerouac, I actually wondered while I posted them if someone might think that ;-)
htmb - no not this year.... there would be snow on the Cactus then. Where I live we only had little hail, but not the snow Scottsdale got. This one is from 2007.
Oh and we will be getting close to triple digits this weekend... I AM NOT READY !!!
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 25, 2013 13:32:16 GMT
Ooooooo ~~ a subject dear to my heart! I love cactus and cactus in flower are just so miraculous. Your pictures are out of this world.
The only ones I can identify off the top of my head are the Opuntia in the first picture (but don't know the species) and of course Saguaro, since you already identified it. Now I want to hunt out the other names.
Gad, it's already that hot there? I talked to my mother in south Oklahoma yesterday & it was 28F in late afternoon.
Your last photo, with the layers of terrain and clouds, is outstanding.
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Post by nycgirl on Apr 25, 2013 14:50:37 GMT
Beautiful photos! I've seen lots of neat cacti but I've never yet seen the iconic Saguaro. Haven't been in the right area. They sure are impressive. Not sure, but the second photo may be lithops (also called "living stones" or "pebble plants"). I'm no expert, though. As mentioned before, that last photo is spectacular. It also gets bonus points for being so unusual.  |
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Post by bixaorellana on Apr 25, 2013 15:37:14 GMT
NYCGirl, Lithops isn't native to the US. Also, even though it is a succulent & I can see some resemblance to picture #2, it's not a cactus. I'm pretty sure pic #2 is a Mammillaria, although I don't know which one yet. #3 might also be a Mammillaria.
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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on Apr 25, 2013 16:07:31 GMT
I think the only one I know is #4 - it's a Hedgehog Cactus (well and of course the Saguaro LOL) I have a few more I need to find....
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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on Apr 25, 2013 16:16:50 GMT
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Post by komsomol on Apr 25, 2013 21:46:13 GMT
All of the cacti are wonderful.
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Post by htmb on Apr 25, 2013 22:11:53 GMT
The flowers are gorgeous. I'd love to see them blooming at their peak!
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Post by nycgirl on Apr 26, 2013 3:04:20 GMT
NYCGirl, Lithops isn't native to the US. Also, even though it is a succulent & I can see some resemblance to picture #2, it's not a cactus. I'm pretty sure pic #2 is a Mammillaria, although I don't know which one yet. #3 might also be a Mammillaria. Ah, I see. Mammilaria would have been my second guess. ;D |
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Post by mickthecactus on May 1, 2013 12:27:21 GMT
I think 2 is a Thelocactus, 3 is Mammillaria pondii or poselgeri and 4 is an echinocereus.
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Post by lugg on May 5, 2013 7:41:12 GMT
Gorgeous photos Skater. I particularly love the photo of the Saguaro Cactus and with the snowy background.
I know nother at all about cacti so nice to be able to thanks to all who added info re the identities.
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Post by fgrsk8r1970 on May 6, 2013 16:14:52 GMT
Yes - thank you Lugg, glad you enjoyed the photos.... and everybody that has given us information about the Cacti - I know only a little (I know shame on me) but get excited every year when they bloom around my neighborhood and the valley |
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