Cochemiea grahamii & friends: Lookout Mountain Preserve

[Lil' Opuntia]

Long time no post!

While the monsoons were fairly lacking this year in Phoenix, they were WAY more than made up for by the massive influx of tropical moisture which made its way into the state late September and just recently this October.

This massive amount of rainfall has bought the desert bursting into life in ways I haven't seen in quite a while. Among the first to bloom after such a rain event is none other than my beloved Cochemiea grahamii, which are simply enormous on this mountain (along the largest individuals I have seen of the species anywhere). A few other seldom-seen summer annuals quickly followed as well. I am excited to see what else pops up in this "second spring".

[Lil' Opuntia]

More blooming C. grahamii

[Lil' Opuntia]

While it isn't too obvious from the pictures, these plants are simply enormous and most are well over a foot in height when hydrated. During the dry summers they shrivel to half their size, becoming a lot more cryptic.

I will be using my bottle quite for scale quite a bit

[Lil' Opuntia]

Echinocereus engelmannii with a Ferocactus acanthodes neighbor. I wonder who came first?

[Lil' Opuntia]

Ferocactus acanthodes growing straight out of rock with a tiny Cochemiea grahamii to keep it company.

With how young grahamii bloom it's no wonder they are the most abundant cactus on the mountain.

[Lil' Opuntia]

Assorted acanthodes

[Meangreen94z]

Great pictures, keep them coming.

[RCDS66]

As always, beautiful pics. Thanks for sharing