When the Cholla cactus finally bloom it comes with mixed emotions. These bright, magenta pink flowers and the opportunity to photograph them brings tons of joy. However, it also marks the end of the blooming cactus flowers cycle for the season. The Claret Cups, Prickly Pears and the Snow Leopard Cholla have completed their tour of flowering duty for the year. *Sigh*
Ever grateful to capture these short-lived, seasonal moments, the xeric gardens await filled with several large and very happy Cholla cactus plants. And along with the bees, I am there to greet these unique flowers!
My History with Cholla Cactus
If you’ve read any of my previous posts on Cholla cactus, you’ll learn of my introduction to these plants not long after moving to ABQ, NM. To reiterate a bit of that initial encounter…
Having lived in Albuquerque a while back, I came across these vibrant, magenta Cholla cactus flowers purely by accident while hiking the trails of Elena Gallegos Park and surrounding Open Space. It was a favorite outdoor haunt while living in ABQ.
There are various types of Cholla. And looking back, I suspect these may have been tree Cholla given how large and tall they were. It was very a large patch and I recall looking around at them with curious wonder? Having moved from San Diego, the only blooming succulent type plants I was used to seeing were flowering Ice Plants. These often lined the hill sides leading down to the beach. If I were to see them now I’d pay closer attention and be inclined to photograph them! I’m way overdue to visit my friends in San Diego so perhaps I WILL have that opportunity in the near future – fingers-crossed!
Back to the Cholla, they are such alien looking things, that despite their spiny weaponry bring forth gorgeous flowers.
I believe this to be one of Nature’s many wonderful contradictions. In the depths of winter these plants look quite pitiful. Then summer rolls around and the flowers these plants produce are simply amazing.
Following the bloom cycle of these flowers is always a treat. It definitely gets you closer to Nature and is such a unique experience. Perhaps this is why photographing various cactus flowers fascinates me so much?!
The Budding Begins Around Mid-June
In this neck of the woods Cholla cactus plants generally start showing their pink, pointy buds around mid-June. There’s lots of anticipation when I see these nubs being to emerge. The plants looked pretty healthy this year leading into the bloom phase. Yay!
Admittedly I become a bit of a vulture around this time. Circling, watching and waiting for just the right moment.. Each visit to the gardens slowly reveals what’s to come.
There’s flower photography gold at the end of those spiny, green stems!
Before you know it, those buds will explode into vibrant magenta flower blooms. The thick almost waxy like flower petals are like no other.
It truly is a privilege to have a front row seat to watch this process unfold.
With camera in hand, I’m like a kid in a candy store. There are visual treats in every direction!
The Cholla Bloom Explosion
Timing can be of the essence if you want to catch Cholla going from buds to opening flowers. And when things are in motion, it can happen rather quickly. Last year I was out of town during peak flowering which was a bummer. But this year I was around and believe I was able to capture some primo photo opportunities IMHO.
Like other cactus flowers, these are relatively short-lived. They slowly open throughout the heat of the day with a vibrant, pink explosion. However, they wither rather quickly after they’ve opened.
I do enjoy the more intimate moments in getting close-up to photograph these flowers.
After taking a bit of a beating from the Prickly Pears, this season I was able to mitigate getting poked by their long white spines.
If that’s not a perk, this is. I was able to avoid the nefarious mosquitoes that see me as an “all you can eat buffet”. No matter how much bug spray I put on they seem to find the one spot I missed. Or they get me on my back right through my shirt – ugh!
I believe the weather played a part in things not being as bad this season along with my timing. Thank goodness for small favors!
Give Way to the Bees
I’m certainly not the only one that looks forward to these flowers. Blooming Cholla are by all observations an eagerly anticipated event for bees too. I love just standing there and observing their behavior as they select the perfect flower to enter.
They are not always very patient in waiting for the flowers to fully open. They will literally try to wedge themselves into the barely opened flowers. With their little bee-butts sticking out, it’s a favorite of mine to watch – AND photograph too!
Unlike the species of bees that dives head first into the Prickly Pears, these bees have a different strategy. They will painstakingly hover looking for just the right flower to enter. This behavior presents some great photo ops!
By mid-morning the bee pollen gathering frenzy is in full swing. They have the right of way and that signals my time to move along. Time with Nature is never a dull moment and I’m always grateful for the opportunity to share the space with flowers, bees and my camera 🙂