Echinopsis robinsoniana:
I was hoping to see some hybrid Echinopsis blooms, but apparently they were a few more days yet.
Dyckia species (orange flowers), Palo Verde tree (the yellow):
Opuntia microdasys:
We inadvertently hit prime time for Yucca rostrata
Wow, eh?
Another group:
Bromilia balansae, the 'Heart of Flame'.
I dunno. Some Opuntia:
Agave lechuguilla bloom, flowers just ready to open.
This bromiliad was done.
This were just starting:
Didn't get the name of this one. Some Opuntia:
This extremely ratty looking Yucca (Nolina?) had an inflorescence that was mobbed by an entire beehive. Any black dot you see here was a bee, buzzing in ecstasy. Must have been some nectar!
Beautiful Agave, no tag, no flower, but what a poetic curve to the leaf:
Oops! There's a flower cluster:
Monster Dasylirion bloom stalk. Keep in mind the plant itself was at least six feet (2 M) tall. I couldn't figure out if it was finished blooming or just starting. Wow.
Fouquiera species:
A Stapelia, just far enough away that we couldn't smell it. The flies had not yet arrived.
Can't resist those Golden Barrels, can you?
And the fun shots of the day were this Finch(?) digging through cactus flowers for small caterpillars:
Got one! Yummy!
Beak was getting dirty...
So that's May's End...
...unexpectedly floral...
...quite delightful!
I was hoping to see some hybrid Echinopsis blooms, but apparently they were a few more days yet.
Dyckia species (orange flowers), Palo Verde tree (the yellow):
Opuntia microdasys:
We inadvertently hit prime time for Yucca rostrata
Wow, eh?
Another group:
Bromilia balansae, the 'Heart of Flame'.
I dunno. Some Opuntia:
Agave lechuguilla bloom, flowers just ready to open.
This bromiliad was done.
This were just starting:
Didn't get the name of this one. Some Opuntia:
This extremely ratty looking Yucca (Nolina?) had an inflorescence that was mobbed by an entire beehive. Any black dot you see here was a bee, buzzing in ecstasy. Must have been some nectar!
Beautiful Agave, no tag, no flower, but what a poetic curve to the leaf:
Oops! There's a flower cluster:
Monster Dasylirion bloom stalk. Keep in mind the plant itself was at least six feet (2 M) tall. I couldn't figure out if it was finished blooming or just starting. Wow.
Fouquiera species:
A Stapelia, just far enough away that we couldn't smell it. The flies had not yet arrived.
Can't resist those Golden Barrels, can you?
And the fun shots of the day were this Finch(?) digging through cactus flowers for small caterpillars:
Got one! Yummy!
Beak was getting dirty...
So that's May's End...
...unexpectedly floral...
...quite delightful!
Wow, simply wow.
ReplyDeleteFantastic photos as always.
I've never seen a Yucca rostrata in bloom, wow indeed! Thanks for bringing us along on your tour.
ReplyDeleteYa, what Spiky O said!
ReplyDeleteI love that the flower bud bases on the Opuntia microdasys are just as polka-dotted with glochids as the pads are.
Absolutely superb series of shots! Highly beautiful. I love those blooming yuccas. and that looks like a House Finch to me
ReplyDeleteAwesome, we don't see plants like that in Alabama!
ReplyDeleteB-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L. Thank you for sharing!
ReplyDeleteLove the finch pictures! And the Yucca rostrata is awesome.
ReplyDeletethat yucca is sensational!
ReplyDeleteThis is your blog photo opus, Hoov. The photos are gorgeous, each one more lovely than the last. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou have highlighted your landscape so beautifully. Inside this drought tolerant mecca, there is life and beauty. I love all the pollinators in that one particular photo.
ReplyDeleteThanks to all for the very kind comments. Happy you enjoyed the pictures. I'm a little behind on blogging because of a busy weekend, sorry!
ReplyDeleteStupendous photos, Hoov. I've never seen Yucca rostrata or a dasylirion in bloom. I wonder if mine is getting old enough to throw a spike like that.
ReplyDelete