A Pleasant Surprise

Cane Cholla blooming at our place

The pleasant surprise was an abundance of blooming Strawberry Hedgehog Cacti on the west side of Tortugas Mountain, and, as you can see here, I photographed and posted a good number of them.  There's something magical about the Strawberry Hedgehog (Echinocereus enneacanthus); I guess it's the amazingly colorful blossoms that flower from these oftentimes spherical mounds of thorns that populate the limestone outcrops in the high foothills.  The hike Becca and I took this morning was extended in time because of the many images I stopped to capture of these beautiful plants.

About a half mile into the trek

Becca seemed filled with energy this morning

One of our favorite yuccas along the trail

Devil's Head (front) and a Hedgehog Cactus

Becca doing her favorite thing

Trail to the sky

All pinkish-red flowers that follow:  Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus

Ocotillos, Parry's Agaves and Prickly Pear Cactus

Ocotillo forest west of Tortugas Mountain

A rugged bit of high desert

Parry's Agave growing right next to a Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus

The trail goes through there, but Becca decided to rest in the shade