Spring? flowers?

We visited the jardin botanico just out side of San Miguel de Allende today for a guided birding walk. What an amazing visit to see many colorful birds that I've never heard of. I didn't bring a long enough tele on the trip for any distance shots only a 55mm at my longest zoom. On the walk I spotted what I think is a barrel cactus beginning to bloom. Such an odd time of year for any thing in the States to flower as far as I know. The literature says San Miguel lies 600 miles South of the Texas border at over 6000 ft elevation with very mild winters and summers. I would think it would be tolerable to live here year round.