Some unusual flowers appear in the landscaping of my Tucson neighborhood in the Spring. Time to break out the traveler’s favorite companion, a cactus flower identification book.
Here are a few of my favorite cactus flowers and the blossoms of a desert tree.
You might want to amuse yourself by guessing which of these photos were taken with my Droid Smart Phone and which were taken with a digital camera. Speak up in the comment section below.
This has been my contribution to Travel Photo Thursday, started and maintained by Nancie McKinnon. Find a whole lot of beautiful, exciting, puzzling, peaceful travel photos at Budget Travelers’ Sandbox.
All photos by Ken or me. Please respect our copyright. If you would like to use a photo, contact us first.
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In Arizona, you have cactus flowers in spring and up here, we have apple blossoms. Both so pretty! Love the prickly pear flowers.
I think I’ve already mentioned to you that I love cactus flowers! Some of the flowers are absolutely stunning and such a contrast to the cactus itself. Thanks for identifying the Octotillo – I’ve seen those in Arizona, but didn’t know the name. Smartphones do a great job, don’t they? Not even going to try to guess. ๐
I misled you with a typo, sorry. Extra t in your cactus word, Cathy. It’s ocotillo. (diminutive of ocote, a Spanish type of pine–I looked it up–didn’t know that)
I always like flower photographs, but cacti flowers seem extra special (prob because we don’t have them where I live). My very best choices are the first and last and the mountain photo ๐
Vera, these are all gorgeous shots. I don’t think I have ever seen such big blooms on a cactus.
I cannot tell which shots were take with which camera. They are all good quality shots!
Cactus flowers are always so beautiful – perhaps even more so as I’m always surprised to see one blooming on a prickly cactus.
Wow, I feel so ignorantโฆ I didn’t know cactuses had flowers! Whoops..haha! Love your photos ๐
– Maria Alexandra
Love that we are both sharing some Arizona beauty today! And you are lucky enough to have it right outside your door (I can’t complain here in the Seattle, either). I’m thinking the first one is from your digital camera?
I love the purple of the prickly pear cactus. It makes a great backdrop for the flowers!
I love that contrast, too. Prickly pears and their flowers come in various colors, but in my neighborhood plain green pads with yellow flowers predominate.
Great photos ๐ So colorful. I love cactus flowers too ๐
Thanks, Muza-Chan. I think we love them because they are rather unexpected, don’t you?