~ Blossoms of the Night

This is one of those totally fantastic things in nature that you feel lucky to see. And they do look like there are straight out of a fantasy landscape when you see them up close. About this time year,

this "ugly" cactus produces these stunning flowers. When I was a teenager, my boyfriend's mom had this cactus growing up a tree in their backyard. She would get so excited when it was time for it to bloom and always wanted to share it with us. So out in the evening dusk to darkness, sometimes with a flashlight, we would wait for it to full open and then stare at the beauty of the lovely flower. I know my memories of the kindest woman I have ever known colors my feeling about the flower, but it is still stunning to anyone who takes a moment to see it.

A few years ago, on our walk to the lake, I realized that a nondescript cactus growing up an old oak tree was indeed a night blooming cereus. We have tried to remember to come back at night to see it when it is blooming. But I often forget about it night and only remember again the next day on the walk that we were planning to come back at night. This year the elder lady who planted it more years ago than she can remember, call out to us and said be sure to come back at night to see it. And we did, and I even remembered to bring the camera. It was too beautiful not to share.

I know many people love all kinds of cactus. Although I have a hard time seeing the beauty in the plants themselves, the flowers are often such a surprise in their breath taking beauty. This one is not exception, and maybe one of the prettiest of all.

See Y'all Soon~

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