Nature Photo Challenge: Cacti

I am not a fan of cacti though I have been known to have some in the house many years ago and when I lived in Cape Town we had some of the lovely Lithops in the garden which look like living stones. But they are succulents so not quite the same. One very tall cactus only flowered at night so there were many anxious evenings once a bud appeared. And I do recall a trough of cacti into which my son fell at the age of 18 months. It happened at night and I hadn’t realised that his hand was full of the spines when I washed it under the tap!

But back in 2009 – 2012 I was lucky enough to spend some time in San Diego and on one occasion went to visit Balboa Park – a definite must see if you are ever in SD. There are several gardens including a desert garden with magnificent cacti and succulents.

The 1935 (Old) Cactus Garden was developed under the direction of Kate Sessions for the 1935 California Pacific International Exposition. It contains some of the largest cactus and succulent specimens in the Park and has also been developed to include the exotic African and Australian Protea plants.

Denzil’s Nature Photo Challenge #18 | Cacti

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Heyjude

I have lived in the UK for most of my life, but when young I definitely had wanderlust and even ended up living in South Africa for several years which was a wonderful experience. I now look forward to a long and leisurely retirement doing what I like most - gardening, photography, walking and travelling.

32 thoughts on “Nature Photo Challenge: Cacti”

  1. I’m not a fan of cati and never owned one, though I do admire them for their structure and survivability. Good images, Jude.

  2. I’m a big fan of cacti, and I always wanted to see the huge ones in America. Sadly, I never got there.
    Best wishes, Pete. x

  3. These are marvellous shots, but no wonder you’re no fan. I should think your son can’t be doing with them at all!

  6. Like you I’m not a fan of cacti as plants – I would never want to own one. But I do like them for photos and your images illustrate just why – they have such interesting shapes and textures! That garden in San Diego sounds great 😀

    1. Balboa park is a great place to easily spend a couple of days with gardens and museums. And a good zoo. If you haven’t been to San Diego then I recommend it.

  7. Fabulous shots! I am not a fan either…or I wasn’t. Now I have several of them in my home, but not the most spiny ones… How horrible with your son – I would have been so terrified. I shudder when I read your words…but luckily he doesn’t remember this at all.

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