Flora and Fauna of The Azure Gate Bed and Breakfast

We have a wide variety of cactus, agaves, and aloes along with desert trees such as the palo verde, mesquite, desert willow, eucalyptus etc. Spring is incredible colorful with all in bloom. But the last to bloom -- and usually not until August is the barrel cactus. Here is a Fishhook Barrel Cactus in bloom:

Fishhook Barrel Cactus

Barrel Cactus in Bloom

The first photo is a Fire Barrel Cactus taken in Joshua Tree National Park. The middle photo is Eagle Claws, another barrel cactus that we have in our "cactus garden". The third photo is the most common of the barrel cactus, the Arizona Fish-hook Barrel Cactus. Those are just about everywhere. We probably have 100 of them here on our property. When walking in the desert -- especially, when camera in hand -- it is always a good idea to watch where you walk. Tripping over a barrel cactus is not much fun. Did it once, and I never forget. It is not called "Fishhook" without good reason!