The blooming desert

I don't have much to write about this past week.  It was very routine.  

On our morning walks these past few weeks, I have stopped to take photos of the various cactus and other desert plants that are in bloom.  I don't know the names of hardly any of them but I will identify the ones I can...

hedgehog cactus

 Elise can name this one, right?  It is a desert creosote.

This is called a fairy duster. 

So is this one. 

I think this is desert mallow

Ocatillo with a close-up of the blooms right after

This is a Palo Verde tree in bloom.  These trees are ALL OVER the place and they probably drive folks with allergies mad but they look so beautiful.  I call them Arizona forsythia....

this is on a purple colored prickly pear!

The tree by our driveway has these fluff balls.  On the right is how they look before they bloom and below is how the tree looks.  I think of Horton Hears the Who....

 

these trees have a pale lavender blossom - like redbud "lite". Below is a close-up of the flowers

this is called a cholla cactus. Notice the multitude of EVIL thorns. 

the next three shots are of the same plant, just getting closer and closer

These were all taken in April.  NOW the saguaro are gearing up for their floral display.  Their arms are just loaded with buds ready to burst open in white flowers.  Steve and I wonder if maybe they are just waiting for warmer temperatures - it was 103 degrees today!