Grizzly Cactus Flower

It's now officially cactus blooming time in my backyard. I'm so psyched!

I woke up today, opened the blinds on my door and there it was - the first flower of the season on my grizzly prickly pear cactus.

I have three types of prickly pears - grizzly, beavertail and Santa Rita - and they each produce a different color flower.

They really attract bees. Look at how this flower is just loaded with yellow pollen. I won't get any pictures without pollen dominating in them. Allergies are a problem in the desert in the Springtime.

There are a couple of dozen buds on the grizzly this year, so I expect to see a banner season of blooms. But they tend to do so one or two at a time and wilt and die by the next day.

One day wonders. The plight of the prickly pear flowers.

Happy Easter to everyone!