One of the coolest things we saw on the drive was an Organ Pipe Cactus with a "crest." A crest is a weird growth pattern on a cactus, where the cactus cells that usually grow concentrically begin growing in a straight line. Scientists don't quite know why this occurs (some think it's genetics, others think it is a hormonal imbalance, and others think it's a deformation from frost) - whatever causes it, it's really beautiful, in its own way. On the drive, you stop by the side of the road and have to get out and walk up to the cactus to actually see the crests, which are in the center on this particular one:
Here are some shots of the same cactus from a different angle:
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| This looks to me like it's waving its arms! |
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| More arm waving |
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| This is the tip of one of the arms |
Here are some shots of the same cactus from a different angle:
Hi Andi,
ReplyDeleteI'm one of your Mom's friends from high school and I'm loving your blog and all your fantastic, wonderful pictures! Look forward to reading what you have to say.
Sandi A.