Today we made a brief visit to the Desert Botanical Gardens in Phoenix, an attraction we hadn’t been to for a few years. It was a pleasant return and we enjoyed the gardens at its best, the time of year when wildflowers and cacti are in bloom or about to bloom. I got a number of shots and will limit those included in today’s post to a favourite few.
This is the flower of the Ocotillo cactus. The unique Ocotillo cactus is frequently seen in parts of Mexico as well as the southwestern portions of the United States, including the Phoenix area. This cactus has a crown root and from there extends numerous braches that some say look like tentacles of an octopus, hence the name Ocotillo. This cactus can actually get as tall as thirty feet and as wide as ten feet, featuring beautiful crimson blooms.
This is the colourful flower of the Buckhorn cholla, a cactus that can grow as high as one metre. Native Americans gathered the Buckhorn fruit which was either eaten right away or dried and put into storage. Ashes from the stems were used medicinally for burns and wounds. The flowers appear in many colours and are commonplace in the Phoenix area.
The Mexican Poppy is also commonly found in the area. Its colour ranges from this bright orange to yellow and with occasionally some white on its outer fringes. It is poisonous and can be fatal if consumed by small animals.
I’m not sure what the correct name is for this cactus. My research reveals that it falls in the category of “large species cactus” (something I was able to observe myself) but I haven’t found its specific name. I was intrigued by this perspective looking upward through its branches; I think it makes an interesting picture.
For my last picture today, I’ve chosen some fine grasses that were blowing lazily in the breeze. At their base are some common daisies and what is simply called a yellow desert wildflower.
I’ll post some further photos from the Desert Botanical Gardens in a subsequent blog, as well as some photos I took of butterflies in the Garden’s butterfly exhibit.