The Desert Garden at the Huntington’s was in full bloom and I couldn’t resist sharing these beautiful images with you. First some gorgeous Echeveria succulents:
They have fleshy leaves with small delicate flowers like these:
These are called black succulents and are truly magnificent:
Agave (of the tequila fame) , Aloe and Cactus are all members of the succulent family—the cactus having more prickles than others. They are water-retaining plants. Just look at this gorgeous queen victoria agave:
and this pretty pink flower of another agave plant.
This one had small blue and red blossoms.
You all know this more common succulent: the creeping ice plant.
This desert garden is nearly 100 years old and has more than 3,000 species of desert plants. Let’s go to the thorny cacti now; you don’t want to get lost on this road on a dark night!
I loved these peach hued blossoms on this prickly pear cactus,
they turn yellow when they open.
This is a more dramatic version of the same plant—it almost looked like under water coral…
Cactus is an oxymoron to me. How can a plant with fleshy leaves and prickles that repel you have such brilliant and intensely colored flowers? It rejects you and invites you at the same time…
A closer look,
and the piece de resistance: the red flower cactus.
This young gardener was busy the whole time that I was visiting the gardens.
“Gardening requires lots of water – most of it in the form of perspiration.” Lou Erickson
میشل مهربان واقعان از عکس های تو لذت می برم ممنون که شریک می کنی تصویرهایت را .روز خوبی برایت ارزو می کنم رفیق جان
J’aime beaucoup les cactées comme métaphore : charnues voire redoutablement piquantes à l’extérieur, tendres et parfois désaltérantes à l’intérieur. De surcroît, les cactées ont de très jolies fleurs.
Il ne faut donc pas désespérer du regard de l’humanité.
PS Dans les années soixante, en France, il y avait une chanson de Jacques Dutronc intitulée “les cactus”. Je ne saurais trop vous recommander une écoute attentive du texte.
Thanks for the beautiful images! I had no idea desert plants can be so beautiful. I guess every thorny character has a good side. One just needs to wait for the right time for them to bloom!
But when it comes to Agave, I can’t help but be reminded of a somewhat different application than a desert garden. I’m talking about 100% blue agave Tequila! I’m all for this plant! It’s a plant that keeps on giving and giving, until the next morning, when we awaken to the realization that we should have taken less!(speaking of Tequilas, Anjo’s Herradura 100% agave is great. You can also try Patron’s Arandas or Platinum brand (not silver/gold), which at about $30/shot in a fine restaurant comes with a hefty price tag and requires a forgiving liver for fast effect before bankruptcy. But the bouquet of a shot of 100% agave Tequila can also take us to a desert garden… and yes, it can also literally take us there, as we can wake up in the yard the next morning, with the cheek leaning against a cactus plant or a mouth full of grass and wondering what happened!
Dear Michele, this is sheer beauty. For me Agave is the mother of Penteus from Euripides.She was so drunk that in her drunken stupor tore her own son to pieces believing that he is a wild animal. She was the central figure of the Dionysian cult. Please read Nietzsche on the birth of Tragedy. The Agave as a plant is a lovely beast. The juice of Agave could get you the worse rashes on you skin. Splendid from the outside, a chance to itch for a lifetime. Dangerous, juicy, water-retaining plants. The best, Tamas
dear michele,
thanks for your beautiful pictures,really i enjoyed,they are great
As always Stunning Pictures ..
The same stream of life
that runs through my
veins night and day
and dances in
rhythmic measures
It is the same life that
shouts in joy through
the dust of the earth
in numberless blades
of grass and breaks
into tumultuous
waves of leaves
and flowers
Rabindranath Tagore
‘Gitanjali’
Wonderful photos of my favorite plants!
Aiyana
i’m a koeran, this picture brings my country.
fantastical picture!!!
greetings. am in islamabad south asia. just started cacti garden in small pots. one of my neighbour, mr. malik, provided me with a few cacti plants. before i see these pictures i was not much happier to succulents, but now i like it very much. wonderful pictures i never seen before, like heaven even with thorns. well done. i love vinca. because i have birds problems in my lawn, they eat my plants except vinca, garanium and now cacti.
Hi nice website i come from the Mediterranean island of Malta we have lots of prickly pear here that grow wild in fields and their fruit is very popular here which is eaten we also make prickly pear liquor 🙂 i also have a huge golden barell which is massive and is growing in a pot i think it needs changing but it is imposiible as its very heavy and sharp !!!
Trying to start a succulent potted garden here in the So.Calif desert. Nice pictures. Nice comments from the world. No cacti, just soft succulents. Thanks