This is the ocotillo, which is technically not a cactus. It doesn't usually bloom at this time of the year; the plant looks like dead twigs. After the winter rains , the plant bursts into bloom. Today, we were blessed to find just ONE ocotillo in bloom, just so I could take these pictures.
Terry had a revelation today, an Aha! moment. He stood in the middle of the desert and exclaimed, "God created all this! Not just the rain forest, but even the desert!" This is the organ pipe cactus, after which the park is named. The park is in the very south of Arizona, bordering Mexico. It grows among dark volcanic rocks on south and east facing slopes, and at night the rocks release their warmth, like a blanket of warm air, so the cactus is protected from frost. There are more stories to share about the wonderful adaptations of plants in the desert; hope to share them at some point in Canada.
This is the ocotillo, which is technically not a cactus. It doesn't usually bloom at this time of the year; the plant looks like dead twigs. After the winter rains , the plant bursts into bloom. Today, we were blessed to find just ONE ocotillo in bloom, just so I could take these pictures.
Terry had a revelation today, an Aha! moment. He stood in the middle of the desert and exclaimed, "God created all this! Not just the rain forest, but even the desert!" This is the organ pipe cactus, after which the park is named. The park is in the very south of Arizona, bordering Mexico. It grows among dark volcanic rocks on south and east facing slopes, and at night the rocks release their warmth, like a blanket of warm air, so the cactus is protected from frost. There are more stories to share about the wonderful adaptations of plants in the desert; hope to share them at some point in Canada. 
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