Cactus are menacing, ankle grabbing, finger-pricking, desert plants.

To those of us who live in the desert, they are a nod to the success and resilience that come with patience. They don’t grow and bloom like other plants. They ignite our garden or desertscape with a single bloom lasting one or two days.
That’s it.
They have better things to do than entertain the likes of us.

But when they do perform, their plate-sized blooms are seasonal showstoppers, offering a front row seat to one of nature’s finest miracles.

Wind Kisses, Donna

My father was a great lover of cactus, much to my mother’s dismay 😉 they occupied the window sills. He had one called “Queen of the night”, which flowered one night only. Talk about enthusiasm. I love them too, in their natural habitat, they are amazing.
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I do know about Queen of the Night. They aren’t rare, but they feel rare so I am surprised your dad had one! Our local garden puts out when they form buds so people can chance a look. They are beautiful. Thanks Stella.
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My father was a bit special with plants … I have inherited that from him.
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Thank goodness. It is a healthy character trait to inherit.
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What a gorgeous little cactus. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a torch cactus. 🙂
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I love them. Maybe at the garden next week
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I hope so. I may just make it in time for lunch because we may or may not bring the cat. We are in separate cars and I can’t just drop her off in a strange place. If we decide to bring her, I’ll have to wait for Vince to get there to babysit.
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lol. There is truth in …cats have staff!
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Amen to that!
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When they bloom they are a work of art!
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They really are.
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Gorgeous macros, Donna! I had never seen a Torch cactus. It’s beautiful.
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They are fantastic, and for such a short amount of time. Maybe that is why. A chance to cherish that exact moment in time. Thanks Egidio.
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Torch cacti are the best!!!
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The best!
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I just responded to Lisa thinking it was you. lol. I remembered your post from last year. They really are beautiful.
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The one at our rental succumbed to something this spring and only has one little knob left. But my parents’ house has an enormous one which I love.
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We can look forward to seeing photos of that one!
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Such a lovely flower and an imaging plant, teaching humans life lessons.
Great capture!
Well said, Donna .
Have a great weekend.
Good morning from India.
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Yes. Lots to learn with nature as a guide, isn’t there? Thanks Philo
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Indeed, Donna.
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Oh the cactus are beautiful right now! Lovely photos, Donna!
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Yes, the flowers seem to have passed, but the cactus are prolific in my part of town. I remember your post last year about the torch. They are so pretty. Thanks Janet.
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hmmmmm. was thinking I was responding to Janet. lol. Sorry. No doubt you have had some gorgeous ones too.
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😂 They are all over the place!
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The beautiful cactus shots certainly pricked my attention.
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Thank you Geoff.
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My little cactus in a pot flowers but not a dinner plate flower. It loves where it lives and is growing all the time. Not looking forward to re-potting when the time comes. It is sharp
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Yes. that is always a challenge.
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These cacti, in their home environment, are magnificent. Catching dust on some northern European side table … not so much.
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hahaha. Probably true, Margaret. Never really gave cactus a second look until I moved here. They are quite fascinating.
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…. from a respectful distance …
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Show stoppers indeed!
We are waiting for one to bloom any day now. The excitement is in the air!
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hahaha So true! My neighbor across the street bought 6 plants just to see if they would be different colors. Even on one plant there were different colored flowers. They are interesting.
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Wow! That is so good to hear. How fun fo that neighbor of yours.
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I smiled at your remark that cacti ‘have better things to do than entertain the likes of us’ 🙂 But entertain us they do. I love them both for their interesting sculptural forms and for the gorgeous flowers!
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Me too. Sarah. I have learned so much about them since I have lived here and how each one is its own microclimate.
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Love this! There is something intrinsically fascinating about cactus plants and their natural environment for me. Can’t wait to see more.
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They certainly are fascinating. Thank you for your visit.
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Cactus are really wonderful
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Spectacular… thank you Hammed.
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Fabulous bloom, Donna! Love the close up captures.
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Thank you Amy.
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It seems to me when a cactus flowers it’s even more dazzling than a rose, which is quite a feat. It’s like they put everything they have into their flowers. I always feel blessed when one of mine is gracious enough to bloom.
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Thanks a nice way to put it. It is such a short season it truly is special.
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They have such beautiful, delicate flowers. I like how the blossoms last a long time. Weeding around the cactus in my garden can be tricky. 🙂
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Same. Can’t tell you how many times I misjudged the distance.
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