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Wednesday, April 13, 2011

PINK PROFUSION

It is the moment in the gardening year I look forward to with great anticipation.. The brief moment in time when the lace cactus, Echinocereus reichenbachii, flowers. Never in all the years have so many flowers opened at the same time.

There have been occasions in the past when I missed the flowering because this clump is growing outside the walls in the granite area that was once a parking area. Yesterday, however, as I drove in down the driveway it was impossible to miss the mass of pink. I rushed into the house and grabbed the camera.

14 comments:

Peonies & Magnolias said...

Absolutely gorgeous.

Sandy

Nic said...

That is a beautiful cactus!

Rohrerbot said...

I always love a cactus flower.....they don't look real and odd a moment of color splash in the garden. Love the color!

Greggo said...

Sometimes a hard winter will increase stress on plants. Stressed plants in turn we create more fruit (flowers) to reproduce and survive.

Desert Dweller said...

That color could cause an accident!

Caroline said...

That's gorgeous! Should have gone to the Cactus Show this year for lace cactus and claret cup.

Anonymous said...

soooo lovely! great photos!

The Sage Butterfly said...

Such a mass of them...gorgeous!

Alan said...

Fantastic! Do cactus flowers have fragrance? What pollinators do they attract?

Linda/patchwork said...

Beautiful.

Lisa Blair said...

Now THAT is AMAZING. So pretty.

RBell said...

Beautiful - such vibrant intense colors.

Rock rose said...

Thank you everyone who also enjoyed the lace cactus in flower. Alan- yes there was a fragrance and I bend down to check that it was coming from the flowers. It was. Unfortunately I haven't watched for long enough to see which pollinators are attracted to the flower. They are closed today so whomever comes must be quick about it. I do know that beetles are attracted to the yellow flowers on the prickly pear cactus.

sweetbay said...

That is gorgeous!