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Living In The Desert Is Cool. I'm Cereus!

By
Mortgage and Lending with SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) NMLS 223495

Night Blooming Cereus in the wild

The cactus doesn't attract one bit of attention...  until it blooms.  Google "night blooming cereus," and you'll find a community of ardent admirers of the plant, some utterly magnificent photographs, and reams and reams of print.

We're fortunate to see them in the wild here in Tucson.  This one bloomed along a riding trail in Catalina State Park, just north of Tucson, AZ, in the shadow of Pusch Ridge.

 ___________________

I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.
Mike Jones (Tucson Mortgage Company, LLC): Loan Officer in Tucson, Pima County, Arizona
Call me
if I can help you with a purchase or refi mortgage;
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Photo copyright Mike in Tucson

Comments(15)

Liz Moras Migic
Chilliwack, BC
Chilliwack, British Columbia - Realtor

What a cool juxtraposition Mike ~ love it!

Jun 22, 2009 05:35 PM
William J. Archambault, Jr.
The Real Estate Investment Institute - Houston, TX

Mike,

It reminds us you some times have to look for beauty. Some peopleplants bbloom at different times,

Bill

Jun 22, 2009 07:59 PM
Terry & Bonnie Westbrook
Westbrook Realty Broker-Owner - Grand Rapids, MI
Westbrook Realty - Grand Rapids Forest Hills MI Re

Most of the time you would walk right past and not notice it. Never to imagine the beautiful flowers it produces.

Jun 22, 2009 08:07 PM
TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.
Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN
Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Mike, I really think that cacti have some of the most beautiful blooms. Neat photo... 

Your building consultant for life in Nashville, TN

Jun 22, 2009 08:31 PM
Kim Peasley-Parker
AgentOwned Realty, Heritage Group, Inc. - Sumter, SC

Mike- what a great cactus.  It looks so interesting.  Not like cactus I have seen in the past.

Jun 22, 2009 09:37 PM
Lenn Harley
Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Homes and Real Estate - Leesburg, VA
Real Estate Broker - Virginia & Maryland

This reminds me of driving along the northern areas of Montana where almost nothing grows "above the tree line" except some of the most exquisite wild flowers.

 

Jun 22, 2009 10:32 PM
Don Rogers
Keller Williams Realty Chesterfield - O'Fallon, MO
Realtor, Broker, CDPE, GRI, OnullFallon MO & St Charles County MO homes

This is a very unique cacti my friend.  I for one may have never given it a second glance if I saw it without the flowers, now I will pay closer attention.

Jun 22, 2009 11:40 PM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Don,

The indians used the root as a food source.

Lenn,

A different kind of "desert."

Kim,

Most of the year, it looks much like a dried stick.

Michael,

Yes, they do.  The root is tuberous, like a turnip, and usually weighs five to fifteen pounds, although specimens have been found with a tuber weighing over 100 lbs.

Terry,

That's true.  Even as the plant gets larger (it can reach a sprawling length of up to eight feet) the woody stems remain about 1/2 inch in diameter.  It is the root (tuber) that continues to enlarge.

Bill,

Some of us are that way, aren't we?  :)

Liz,

Thanks for being the first to comment.  For shopping, check out this link.

Mike in Tucson

Jun 22, 2009 11:43 PM
Fran Gaspari
Patriot Land Transfer, Inc. - Limerick, PA
"The Title Man" - Title Insurance - PA & NJ

Mike,

Praise be the Programmer who causes those things to bloom...!!! :) Thanks,   Fran

Jun 23, 2009 07:00 AM
Diane Daley
Caron's Gateway Real Estate - Northumberland, NH

Beauty among the dry brush, nice photo to share; it sheds the hope of new life  in areas that look like life has left.

Jun 23, 2009 07:28 AM
Susie Blackmon
Ocala, FL
Ocala, Horses, Western Wear, Horse Farms, Marketing

I love those night bloomers! ;-)

Jun 23, 2009 08:26 AM
Lola Audu
Lola Audu~Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI Real Estate - Grand Rapids, MI
Audu Real Estate~Grand Rapids, MI ~Welcome Home!

I didn't know that cactus plants bloomed at night.  I recently bought some moon lillies which I'm told also bloom at night.  Very interesting..

Jun 23, 2009 12:27 PM
Gabrielle Kamahele Rhind
KGC Properties LLC, Tucson Property Management & Real Estate - Tucson, AZ
Broker/Owner

GOOD MORNING MIKE!  Gosh -- I saw this yesterday and it took me a couple days of coffee to finally get the title!  I got a good laugh this morning. Cereus - ly! -- Gab

Jun 24, 2009 12:22 AM
Mike Jones
SUNSTREET MORTGAGE, LLC (BK-0907366, NMLS 145171) - Tucson, AZ
Mike Jones NMLS 223495

Gabrielle,

You are cereus-ly funny!  Thanks for making me smile.

Lola,

My 10 year old granddaughter looked at your comment, and exclaimed "Michelle Obama reads your blog!"  Thanks for making her day!

Susie,

I'll bet you do.  :)

Caron,

I appreciate what you have to say; thanks for stopping by.

Fran,

Yes, there's a lot to give praise for, isn't there?

Mike in Tucson

Jun 24, 2009 01:24 AM
Anonymous
Pam at BeyondJustMom

Gorgeous photo and sentiment, Mike.  It wasn't until I moved away that I learned to really appreciate the beauty and mystery of the desert.  Sometimes I miss it terribly, and I'm very excited for a quick visit next week.

Thanks so much for stopping by my site last week.  I'd love to connect with your family in Michigan sometime!  If you send me an email address, I can send an announcement of upcoming fall workshkops.

Jun 27, 2009 02:39 PM
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