Closing scenes in the land of sand and sun Pt #2, A few select Cacti, ..and Cacti- related accessories of B.T. A.

[Silas_Sancona]

Some selected Cactus in Boyce Thompson's collection, and spring flowers ( ..those cacti -related accessories )

Lophocereus / Pachycereus gatesii




A couple -of the many, ever present- Trichocereus terscheki




Outstanding display of Gold Barrels, Kroenleinia / Echinocactus grusonii








~Cactus -related accessories:~

Flashy Prickly Pears:

Wish this fiery Orange flowered specimen had a description label.


Think this is Opuntia X " Loma" or " Lomita" Pink. Label is there but did not memorize it. Appears to be a cross involving O. basilaris ( Beavertail Prickly pear ) regardless




Another unknown, needs a new label cultivar. Photo doesn't do justice to the intensity of the flower color.


Opuntia macrocentra, i believe.




Opuntia X " Santa Rita ", ready to burst.


This unknown specimen as well.




Echinocereus fendleri var. boyce-thompsonii









Echinocereus triglochidiatus/ coccineus specimens. Specimen in picture #2 may be strictly a male plant ( no female parts )






Ferocactus pilosus, a day or two short of opening the seasons' first flowers


Parting scene of part of the cactus garden, framed by a Chilean Palo Verde, Geofforea decorticans and Magma Ridge.

 

[Tom in Tucson]

The 8th prickly pear "unknown specimen" looks like Opuntia rufida. One of my favorites even when not blooming.

I've got to get around to growing some seed of Geofforea decorticans that I got from DELEP.

Hi 83˚, Lo 56˚

[Silas_Sancona]

10 minutes ago, Tom in Tucson said:

The 8th prickly pear "unknown specimen" looks like Opuntia rufida. One of my favorites even when not blooming.

I've got to get around to growing some seed of Geofforea decorticans that I got from DELEP.

Hi 83˚, Lo 56˚

Thanks Tom..

Geofforea is a nice tree, not sure why they list it as invasive in the Campus Arboretum's description. Yes, they can sucker -if watered like lawn grass- but most i've seen lack sucker growth. Would figure if they were invasive, Boyce Thompson would have eliminated all their specimens, esp. the grove that grows next to Queen Creek.

[Peter]

Any more photos of that Geofforea?  I think it would go here in Inland SoCal.

[Palmensammler]

Amazing pictures. I hope to come back to this area one more time. I can't get enough of it. What kind of yuccas are visibe on the picture of the big unknown species?

Felt in love with the barrel cactus (Ferocactus) while beeing there in 2019.

Eckhard

[Silas_Sancona]

38 minutes ago, Peter said:

Any more photos of that Geofforea?  I think it would go here in Inland SoCal.

Agree, should do fine there. Have a few more i took on this visit i'll be posting today. Others i took on the last visit up there.  Plan on re- visiting the specimen in Glendale soon to check on if it flowered / is going to set fruit this year. 

[Silas_Sancona]

16 minutes ago, Palmensammler said:

Amazing pictures. I hope to come back to this area one more time. I can't get enough of it. What kind of yuccas are visibe on the picture of the big unknown species?

Felt in love with the barrel cactus (Ferocactus) while beeing there in 2019.

Eckhard

Definitely add a visit here on your itinerary  when you visit again.

Not too much further to the east of the park/ arboretum is a camping spot that is also well worth visiting. Was hoping to get out there but may not make it, at least while still local..

Anyway, Area is called Oak Flat ( just east of Superior, AZ ) and there is an on going battle over forever preserving the area -as is-, vs. a mining company that wants to completely destroy the area. Incredible, almost completely un - altered landscape from what i have heard, and a very popular location for rock climbing. Sits right at the transition zone from the Upland division of the Sonoran Desert to the west, and the Oak/ Pinyon/ Juniper woodlands to the east, so a good diversity of plants / animals to see. Believe there are Native American  Petroglyphs in some areas as well ( area is considered sacred to the local tribes in the area ).

Last i'd heard, the mining company's land access claim was rescinded, for the time being anyway.. Many are pushing to have the area declared either a monument, or some sort of preserve that will keep any mining of the area away for good.. No question where i stand on that.

Regardless, in the worst case scenario, If the mining Co. wins in the end, they've said they plan on keeping the area open for the next several years as they gear up to start digging... so people will still have time to visit.  Encourage anyone -and everyone to visit if / when possible.

[Meangreen94z]

I have to say, I consider you crazy for leaving. California isn’t a bad place to live either though.