Springtime in the desert is such a beautiful season. Before the scorching hot months roll in, the open fields of the desert fill up with a wide variety of beautiful wildflowers. Some cactus bloom in the peak heat of the summer, but we've had a few hot days lately, which seems to have cajoled some cactus to bloom as well. I hope these photos brighten your day and bring a smile to your face. I'm dedicating these first two below to my fellow desert rat "Songbird" over at The Desert Ice Box
These next two below are dedicated to my blogger friend Bee at Muffin53.
-Rick Rockhill
Those are so pretty, Rick!
ReplyDeleteAre any of those prickly pear cacti? (Upper right is my guess.) My parents had them on their AZ ranch. My dad was not doing well and I went down there. Well, there were these huge jewels on these plants and I asked my mom and she told me. I called the cooperative extension and found out that Prickly Pear jelly is a common treat down I found a recipe and barely followed it to make syrups and jellies. The last morning that my dad could make it to the table (he had days-- actually hours to live) and I put it on. My brother was scared, "Tea, is this safe?"
My brother and my mom were scared to try it and my dad had me put lots on his pancake, "Watch what happens to me in the next day or two, then you'll know if it's OK to eat!"
I'd make several quarts to bring home and take to my dad's funeral. The story was funny and the jelly delicious. I can't bear to use the last jar though. . .
Aw, aren't you a sweetheart? Thanks, Rick!
ReplyDeleteThose pictures would definitely prove to anyone who says the desert is just a blah looking, very hot and dry place to exist, wouldn't they?
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers, beautiful pictures, Rick!
WOW! Your cactus are already blooming???? Ours are just beginning to bud!
ReplyDeletethanks rick! they are lovely and sure made me smile this morning!!!
ReplyDeleteclass act here my friend...
smiles, bee
xxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
Beautiful flowers, and two beautiful ladies!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful colors out there man. Get ready 'cause that hot dry scorching heat is on its way.
ReplyDeleteI live and work in the San Fernando Valley, and we go through our own horrid heat waves too.
ooooh, thanks. a desert is such an unfamiliar landscape to me. getting to see something like this is exciting.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful flowers Rick. Over here it was still snowing on easter, yuk! Cant wait for the spring to hit.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos! Love the cactus flowers. Our flowers are just starting here, nothing like what you have in your photos.
ReplyDeleteOne of my California blog friends described herself as "sun-jaded". Admittedly, I was a bit sun-jaded when I lived in Texas, but after 6 grey years in London, I think I would like to be sun-jaded for the rest of my life!
ReplyDeleteAs for prickly pear, I think I ate some as a kid. My mother told me it was from a cactus and that I had to swallow it slowly because if it went down too fast, being prickly, it might stick in my throat! To this day I am not sure if that was true or not...
Wow..when I think of the desert..this is not what i see!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for setting me straight.
Beautiful!
Peace
Beautiful photos... warmed up a chilly TN day...
ReplyDeletei never think of cactus as beautiful, your photos prove that wrong.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing colorful photos that make me yearn for the disappearance of the snow and the budding of green plants, leaves and grass. Mom brought some of this same cactus home years ago and it multiplies like you wouldn't believe. I think just about everyone in the family has some portion of that original cactus. But it survives the winters in its dormant state and provides yellow flowers. Steven
ReplyDeleteMother Nature undenied, even in a desert.
ReplyDeletePS--You did not win my contest, but big E for effort. Thanks for playing. (If I coulda rigged it for ya, I woulda!!)
Pretty flowers Rick. I seem to faintly remember what joy it is to see flowers come up in the garden LOL
ReplyDeleteWell at least the snow is melting finally.
tea
xo