"I think that New Mexico was the greatest experience from the outside world that I ever had.
It certainly changed me forever ... The moment I saw the brilliant proud morning (sun) shine high up over the deserts of Santa Fe,
something stood still in my soul."
~D.H. Lawrence
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Desert in bloom
I have never been in New Mexico in June and seen the cactus blooming.
WOW! I never knew the cholla cactus had such brilliant pink blooms!
When we first bought our ranch 6 years ago, the entire front yard was cacti. Different varieties of them and other desert plants. Two were what's called Century Plants and both bloomed that year. They each shoot up a single 10-15 foot high stalk that has blooms on it. Then the plants die. But I have since torn out the entire garden (I just can't do rocks and cacti. I need lots of green grass, it's the Southern gal in me).
When the yuccas bloom, the cattle like to eat the "apples" off of them.
Excellent photos. The first time I ever saw the desert bloom was when I lived in the Mojave, just outside of Boron, CA. It only lasted a day or two, but WOW... it was a literal riot of color! I'd have never believed it if I hadn't have seen it with my own eyes.
New Mexico is the same way, only better, I think. More variety, from where I sit.
Eeeks! Gads no, not tumbleweed! We have whole arroyos filled to the brim with those things! Besides .... they make for lousy chandelier features. It's definitely the cholla skeletons that I'm after. That and jackalope Spring antler sheds when you find them.
6 comments:
Pretty cool, huh?
When we first bought our ranch 6 years ago, the entire front yard was cacti. Different varieties of them and other desert plants. Two were what's called Century Plants and both bloomed that year. They each shoot up a single 10-15 foot high stalk that has blooms on it. Then the plants die. But I have since torn out the entire garden (I just can't do rocks and cacti. I need lots of green grass, it's the Southern gal in me).
When the yuccas bloom, the cattle like to eat the "apples" off of them.
Excellent photos. The first time I ever saw the desert bloom was when I lived in the Mojave, just outside of Boron, CA. It only lasted a day or two, but WOW... it was a literal riot of color! I'd have never believed it if I hadn't have seen it with my own eyes.
New Mexico is the same way, only better, I think. More variety, from where I sit.
I love cactus.
Drats, we don't have chollas out here. Can a I trade you something local for some cholla skeletons?
Lin, when we finally do manage to get together, I will gather up cholla skeletons for you. We have lots of tumbleweed, too, if you want some of that!
Eeeks! Gads no, not tumbleweed! We have whole arroyos filled to the brim with those things! Besides .... they make for lousy chandelier features. It's definitely the cholla skeletons that I'm after. That and jackalope Spring antler sheds when you find them.
Post a Comment