wildflower – My Earth

Night Blooming Cactus Timelapse

A cactus that I replanted from a short stalk about three years ago finally decided it was time to bloom. I have no idea what species this is. Still, beautiful and fragrant. I was hoping there would be a few bat or large moth pollinators, but it appears only small beetles, moths, and bees visited the flowers. The time-lapse below is about 6 hours compressed into four minutes.

Night-blooming cactus flowers, the morning after. Copyright: Greg Joder

There were other cactus around the yard that were also blooming this morning:

Pollination in action. Copyright: Greg Joder.

Mini cactus forest in bloom. Copyright: Greg Joder.

life in my yard

This afternoon I spent an hour or so wandering around my yard to see what I could spy. Of course I had my camera gear with me and recorded what I consider to be some pretty cool critters.

First, A female Desert Spiny Lizard, on the rocks:

Female desert spiny lizard. Copyright: Greg Joder.

Wildflower blooms with some cool pollinator bugs:

Who knows what bee? Copyright: Greg Joder.

Who knows what fly? Copyright: Greg Joder.

A Monarch Butterfly caterpillar dining on milkweed:

And, a desert milkweed seed pod:

Desert Milkweed Seed Pod. Copyright: Greg Joder.