The Curmudgeonly Professor

"The Little Flower that Lasts an Hour": The White Cactus Plants that Bloomed Yesterday Were Gone Today

The little flow'r that lasts an hour,

Every year we marvel at the pristine, translucent white cactus blossoms that last only a few hours. More of my neighbors are getting starts for this cactus and waiting with excitement for the magic day of seeing them bloom for a few hours.  With digital photography, we can cheat Mother Nature and see them forever.  I've quoted the hymn "In Hymns of Praise" before:  

The little flow'r that lasts an hour,

the sparrow in its fall,

They too shall share His tender care,

He made and loves them all.

Here, truly, is one of God's wondrous creations, made for us to enjoy, and to contemplate the transience of life.

If I Hadn't Taken My Camera When We Went to Get the Mail, I'd Never Have Taken this Photo of a Pink Rose

With the blooming of the roses, iris, cactus, and countless other early summer flowers, we have an abundance of riches.  After waiting for months and months, here are the gems we have been waiting for to photograph.  I thought I wouldn't take my camera with me when we went to get the mail at 6:30 tonight, but dragged it along at the last minute.  I was rewarded with another 80 photos, after deleting the really bad ones.  I've taken over a thousand photos this past week.  If I posted 3 a day, it would take 333 days to exhaust them all.  Truly, digital photography makes us all rich.

Palm Tree Against a White Cloud St. George UT April 27 2012

Blue Iris for April 25 2012

A Mean Looking Big Black Bee? Visiting Yellow Cactus Bloom

White Saguaro Cactus in All its Glory: 7:30 a.m. April 24 2012

Yellow Cactus: Buds the Night Before, Yellow Blossoms in the Morning April 24 2012

Yellow Cactus buds at 7:30 p.m. April 23

Yellow Cactus Blooming at 7:30 a.m. April 24

Saguaro White Cactus Approaching Full Bloom April 23 2012

These photos were taken at dusk about 7:30 p.m. on April 23 2012.  They will likely be in full bloom in the morning, so I'll have to watch carefully.  They may be gone by tomorrow afternoon.  There are numerous other buds on these small cactus that will continue to bloom for a few more days.

Tiny Yellow Rose in Color and in Black and White April 20 2012

Look at Me Now Because I'll Only Be Here a Few Hours: Cactus Blossoms on April 29 2012

White Cactus Blossoms on April 19 2012

White Saguaro Cactus Blossom Almost in Full Bloom April 18 2012

White Saguaro Cactus Nearly in Full Bloom April 18 2012

After a few hours, the red outside strips will cradle the dying and limp white center into what looks like a dishrag.

A Tiny Yellow Rose Outside my Front Door April 18 2012

Two Days in the Life of a Pink and Red Rose April 18 2012

The best time to see these pink and white roses is just after the flower is fully opened.  The large center is then translucent, milky white and very beautiful.  Please double click and enlarge.

The same rose twenty-four hours later.  The milky white center has all but faded and the rose has turned more reddish and less pink.  Still beautiful, but I like the first day better.