When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it’s your world for the moment.
I want to give that world to someone else.
The night-blooming cereus cactus (in the backyard of my Arizona home) had only bloomed a couple of times over the past years…and when it did…only one or two blooms…max. So you can imagine my excitement when I saw all of these little buds one day…and from then on…I checked on it daily…
Then one day it looked like this…
And 24 hours later it looked like this…and realize I had only one day left (before I headed east) to capture this amazing sight…so it really needed to h-u-r-r-y and b-l-o-o-m!
And then that day…as if in fast motion…the blooms started opening and that meant many trips throughout the day to see what was happening…you see this type of cacti only blooms once a year…and only for about 24 hours!
That night, with a flash light, I went out and sure enough…20 of the 22 blooms had opened. The next morning I woke up early…just like a child on Christmas morning…the sweet aroma permeated the air as soon as I opened the door to the backyard…if I could’ve only captured that fragrance too!
So all morning long I played and played…
and like Georgia O’Keeffe said in her quote…
and now I offer you the world…
to take a moment…to relish in the beauty.
This very day was also the one year anniversary of my daddy’s passing…
and something tells me he played a big part in making sure I relished in the beauty as well…
Oh, yeah … your daddy did good. What a very special time for all this beauty to happen for you, and for us.
Didn’t he? A very special time indeed…thank you!!
Beautiful !! I could live in AZ!!! content://media/external/file/3188
Oh yeah…Arizona is mega beautiful…quiet, peaceful…which is why I have to have my crazy city life to accompany it! Ha! Great seeing you!
Wow! How beautiful! I can get lost in these gorgeous photographs.
Yes sir e bob, your daddy sure did make sure it bloomed for you to enjoy.
Can’t wait for smellivision.
So happy you were greeted in the morning with a full bloom and able to enjoy capturing the beauty you so anticipated before you departed.
Glad you are back home in your city – everything should be melted by now.
Love and hugs.
xoxoxo
And I truly got lost the morning photographing…could’ve spent the day, but with it being my last day I couldn’t! Thanks my sweet!! Love and hugs back at ya!
OMG, YES, Robin. Your dad had EVERYTHING to do with it. And to think it’s just one day in the year (IF that year!) and you would have missed it altogether if you had left any earlier. What is it they say: There’s no such thing as “coincidence.” I believe it. This was your Christmas of all Christmases for a long time to come. Thank you for sharing it with us.
I so agree Ginnie! EVERYTHING to do with it! I so believe! Thank you!!!
Oh thank you for sharing this amazing cactus flower…I love seeing cactus flower…so many unusual, special and stunning blooms.
It is amazing that such beauty can come from a cactus! Thanks so much for stopping in!
Daddy’s still taking care of his baby girl for sure! What a special treat. Thanks so much for sharing this with all of us. Love and hugs. XoXo
Yep, he sure is!! Love you!!
Love the closeups!
Thanks Sal!!
Incredibly beautiful and the smell must be wonderful. I am pretty sure that your father had a big smile watching you.
Oh…that aroma…amazing!! I feel sure he did too Karen…thank you!! His smile was so contagious..as well as his laughter!
oh. oh! ohhhhhhhhh……so much to relish here!
THANK you thank you for this delicious feast; my eyes full up of the beauty of it all.
I love the timing; so much hope bubbles up as you share this story.
This is why I love blogging. Thanks so much for sharing the gift that is you.
glad love and thanks,
Jennifer
This is why I love blogging too Jennifer! Thank you for stopping in…and for sharing your beauty as well! Big hugs!
Beautiful! I always thought you had talent in photography when we worked together, you just keep proving that over and over! Yes, your daddy is showing his love for sure!
Oh how sweet of you to even remember! Gosh…I don’t know if I do, ha ha! But yes, about the time I arrived on the scene, photography was a love, but how quickly work took over! Thanks always for your visits!
This has to be one of my very favorites of your posts! I don’t know if it’s the time release-like unfolding of the cactus flowers and the way you described and captured it, or the fact that it reminded me of my first visit to Tucson and the Sonoran desert and how that forever altered the way I thought about cactus plants. This was truly a gift and I thank you. And I have no doubt that your father had a hand in this ;-).
Wow! Thanks so much Patricia!
What an experience … shared with beautiful photos. As a kid, always wanted to stay awake the night our cactus blossomed, and never was allowed to. Obviously I missed something very special.
Oh…so sorry to hear that Katrin! But, it’s never too late to experience!!
Stunningly gorgeous!
Robin these are beautiful