Easter beauty

One of the highlights of our Easters when I was growing up was a trip to the Como Park Conservatory in St. Paul, Minnesota.  As children, wearing our new patent leather shoes and Easter bonnets, we looked forward to it. A family of eight, I'm sure my Dad was happy that a tour for all of us only cost a free-will donation.

One room of the large, beautiful greenhouse was dedicated to lilies. Another had a stream with lily pads and beautiful orchids, gardenia and tropical flowers. The exhibits changed with the seasons, but always featured plants in full bloom.

Aaah, the sweet fragrance from those fresh blooms. I can smell it yet.

Yesterday's Easter Sunday offered a similar treat when we toured the Boyce Thompson arboretum in Superior, Arizona, a pleasant half-hour drive for us.

What awaited us there was the true beauty of the desert: Trails of exquisite flowering cacti, and a greenhouse with rare species of endangered plants from all over the world. An Australian walkabout. A children's horticultural garden. A hummingbird and butterfly garden.

An afternoon of beauty and pure pleasure, with blue skies and a spring breeze offered another delightful Easter treasure.

Cactus flowers have a mild fragrance, but there were flowering bushes and trees as well. The breeze allowed their perfumes to waft through the trails and was most enjoyable.

This tangled cactus in the Chihuahuan desert is unique.



The children's garden for climbing, touching and smelling
is full of surprises to "tickle the senses."



The Australian walkabout



Over 300 species of cacti and succulents
are displayed throughout the gardens.



Prickly pear in bloom

I love tea roses. They have always been my favorite flower, especially white ones.

Roses were first developed and grown in Europe, I learned, and the tea rose originates from China.

This gorgeous tea rose tree grows in the arboretum's Heritage Rose Garden.  Yellow, pink, white and red roses perfumed the area around it.

We didn't think we had the stamina (sorry to say) for the rugged, higher trail climb. But it looked inviting and worth getting in shape for hiking. The trail follows the cliff side through the Upper Sonoran natural area.

Can you see the steps leading up to the trail?

Perhaps this will become a new tradition: an Easter visit to the arboretum, much like our traditional tour of the Como conservatory.

That's definitely worth the anticipation.

Desert in bloom

It is spring in Arizona. 

The birds are chirping away and we even have little ones in a nest in our patio drainpipe.

And all around our park, you see the cacti in bloom. They are very beautiful and colorful. Here are some for you to enjoy as you await spring in your corner of the world.



Bees were pollinating all around these flowers



Pincushion cactus

Perhaps because I am a stitcher, my favorite cactus is the Pincushion cactus.



Barrel cactus flowers always grow at the top of
the plant. Fruits become fleshy and often juicy
when mature, but are not usually considered edible. The pulp is used to make candy.

Barrel cactus in full bloom




This cactus
is loaded with very delicate flowers with a mild scent, similar to a tulip.
 
But you have to sniff carefully!
 
 

This Prickly Pear cactus is loaded with buds
waiting to blossom into yellow, delicate flowers.

A "furry" looking cactus with red star-shaped flowers

 

Below is another Prickly Pear cactus.  The nectar from the Prickly Pear makes wonderful jelly, very popular in grocery stores and gift shops in the southwest.

 

But this one is unusual in that its "blooms" look (and feel) like wood.

 

 

Here is a "fish-eye" view of the blooms:

 

 

 

I hope spring comes soon to your area, bringing with it the welcome buds on the trees, green grass, tulips, crocus and daffodils.

 

And ah, yes, the fragrances!