When the Cactus Flowers it Must be Spring

A scraggly yet venerable cactus plant lives all by itself in the supermarket parking lot down the street from us.

A nondescript hermit most of the year, when it bursts into bloom, this plant is magnificent:

Don't be fooled by the furry-looking clusters of brown that dot the leaves, there are spines thinner than a human hair, reddish in color, and about a half inch long that will literally jump out and get you if you dare step too close to this one.  Although even on close examination they look perfectly innocuous, if one of these weapons gets embedded in your skin you will know it.  Try to pull it out and the fragile stem just breaks off, but there is nothing fragile about the hook on the end.  It is there to stay.

I have never actually touched this cactus, yet every spring when I go out to photograph it a few spines seem to follow me home.  I can't seem to help myself, though.  Next year it will happen again.

Art shots are HERE.

Comments

[Chelle]

That is a beautiful cactus flower! Our daffodils are blooming, but it makes me sad because I know they are going to get blasted with the cold - they're predicting snow this Saturday!!!