The other day I noticed the prickly pears were blooming on the trail near the house. I’ve never seen so many blooming around here so I assume it’s all the rain we’ve had the past few months.
I haven’t spent much time trying to photograph flowers so I figured I’d give it a go.
It was humid out – thick Texas spring air – and a bit overcast, but not unpleasant.
It will be summer in a few weeks. These spring days are going fast, but despite the heat, I look forward to another summer of hiking the local trails.
I love cactus flowers. They seem so transitory, blooming so quick that they’re easy to miss if you don’t make the time for them.
There’s a bee in that flower. I hope he finds his way back to his hive.
James Brush is a teacher and writer who lives in Austin, TX. He tries to get outside as much as possible.
Your closeup of the cactus flower is beautiful, James – mine grow, but don’t bloom, darn it. Nice one of the Blue-eyed grass/Sisyrinchium, too.
Annie at the Transplantable Rose
That close-up of the flower is just beautiful.
We have a cactus that will grow a bud for what seems like forever. When the bud finally blooms, it does so at night and after that it is spent. You have to watch it like a hawk to see it in its full glory. Looks like you got that one at its prime!
Amy, We used to have a cactus that bloomed a beautiful purple flower one night every two years or so. It’s amazing how quick it happens and that that’s enough time for whatever pollinator to find it and do its thing.
Annie, Thanks, and thanks for the name of the blue flower.
[…] will fade and we’ll see the reds: Mexican hat and firewheel and the bright yellows of the prickly pear as spring’s flowers give way to summer’s and heat and light drive us indoors or to oak-shaded […]