In August I spent a week at a conference in Phoenix, Arizona. I didn’t get much photography time while I was there – conference ran all day into the evening most days – and it was ridiculously hot.
But I did head out early one morning to see what I could find - and I found some wonderful desert plants to photography.
First was a night blooming cereus cactus – cereus peruvianus. Native to South America, these cactuses can grow to 10 feet tall. The flowers bloom only for one night.
© 2012 Patty Hankins
© 2012 Patty Hankins
I also photographed some Red Bird of Paradise – caesalpinia pulcherrima – flowers. A member of the pea family, these beautiful red, yellow and orange flowering plants can be found throughout the tropical and subtropical regions of the western hemisphere.
© 2012 Patty Hankins
© 2012 Patty Hankins
I’ve always loved the patterns created by the needles of the barrel cactus. I had fun photographing this one from above.
© 2012 Patty Hankins
And finally – the fruit of a prickly pear cactus.
© 2012 Patty Hankins
I think it was definitely worth getting up and heading out to photograph that morning! What do you think?
January 11, 2013 at 5:37 pm
Absolutely worth the effort. I love your close up professional photography