Ocotillo (Fouquieria splendens), Ocotillo Patch, Joshua Tree National Park, Riverside County, California - May 2009.
California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi, aka Spermophilus beecheyi), Barker Dam, Joshua Tree NP, Riverside County, California - May 2009.
Only a few of these were blooming (literally 10 out of 100,000 plants I saw) - I think it was because they were alongside a road with some construction going on - probably resulting in a bit of water spraying and runoff which kicked these into flowering mode?
Really cool to look at BUT ABSOLUTELY A PAIN to get pricked by of of these! It was really hard and painful to remove.
Cholla Garden along highway
Along park highway, in the basin.
Careful - it's sharp! and this one spreads its spines all over
Cylindropuntia bigelovii
Teddy-bear Cholla Cactus (I think)
Synonym Opuntia bigelovii
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Teddy-bear_Cholla
plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=CYBI9
General Habitat en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mojave_Desert#Flora
Cholla Garden, Pinto Basin Road
Joshua Tree National Park
jtz 116
