I came upon these beautiful groups of Barrel Cacti in the June Wash area while hiking Diablo Benchmark with my friend Hans.
Ferocactus cylindraceus (Barrel Cactus) and Echinocereus engelmannii (Calico Cactus or Hedgehog Cactus), June Wash area, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California. January 2019.
Beautiful group of Ferocactus cylindraceus (California barrel cactus), June Wash, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California. January 2019.
Barrel Cactus (Ferocactus cylindraceus) growing kids, June Wash area, Anza Borrego Desert State Park, California. January 2019.
It looks like you had a great outing. The eroded forms are fascinating – in the 5th photo, that long ridge, like a slide, is strange and so pretty. The cacti groups are nice as a trio of photos, and I’d never know that was a milkweed – interesting! What fascinates me the most, and (I think) my favorite image here too, is the collection of indigo petals on the ground. I don’t think I’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing an indigo bush in bloom, nor smelling it (I must have been in the right place at the wrong time). The color is just out of this world. I would love to know what’s up with the ants!
Thanks Lynn for taking a look. You’re right – it does look like a slide! I didn’t see it for that, but I’m very attracted to the “positive rise” of diagonals running from bottom left to upper right in a frame. :-) If I find out what the ants are doing there I’ll let you know. My personal favorite is actually the Milkweed photo – it’s such a fantastic and strange plant.