Speaking of spectacular cactus flowers, here is one I took last weekend at the Desert Botanical Gardens. I took it using my super macro, which really gives a different perspective to plants and flower stamens. Cacti live in such hot and dry desert environments that it is surprising when a tough-looking cactus produces such a beautiful, vibrant bloom. People who move to Arizona start buying and planting cactuses around their house or in pots on their patios. They often kill them though because they water them too much. Or, they think the cactus never needs water and they fail to water them in the heat of the summer months, when it is amazing that any plant survives the 110 degree heat. Generally, cacti need watering about once every two weeks in the summer but the more established the cactus is, the less hand-watering is necessary. Monsoons provide much-needed nutrients and water to cactus. I tend to err on the side of overwatering my cactus, but I do try to mimic actual rain by gently sprinkling a few drops on the cactus starting at the top of the cactus, not at the base of the cactus. The structure of the cactus is generally designed to catch raindrops as cactus have very shallow roots.
13 comments:
Wow, the color of this blossom is just amazing.
really beauiful, i love the colour
Wow, that pink is very bright.
Magnificent color.
Looks like silk. Such a vibrant colour.
Super macro has really done the job. It's dazzling.
You are correct that (1) people would not expect to see such vibrant colors in the desert, and (2) the macro lens focuses on details that the naked eye overlooks.
How close did you get for this shot?
Gorgeous shot! I really think cacti flowers are the most beautiful ever! (Besides the out of this world heliconias!)
That's such an amazing colour, it really dazzles. Overwatering/underwatering...sounds like me.
The pink in this one is so strong, it almost hurst the eyes. Great capture.
Anonymous: your observation is correct as I can see the world in a whole new light with a macro lens. it is amazing how the details look up close and that we never see them with the naked eye.
Per Stromsjo: I got right up to the stamens almost touching them to get this photo. I sometimes forget that I am taking a photo of a flower in a cactus and my hand or arm gets stuck with a cactus needle. I get too focused on looking at the details through the macro lense.
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