More cacti and the Agave

 These beauties were located at the date farm and are showing their blooms.  The blooms left look like big red toes atop the flat cacti pads; the cactus below is the teddybear cactus, not the cuddly type of cactus for sure.  One does not want to back into one of these; the prickles reall hurt and are difficult to remove from skin even with gloves.  Don't ask me how I know this!!!!!

In the Yuma Palms Mall, the gorgeous landscaping is just beginning to flower.  The bright yellow tree is a Palo Verde; green trunk and leaves and very small yellow flowers.  In front are Agave stalks or Century Plants, also tall and yellow, just beginning to show colour.  They should be in full bloom in another week.  Once they bloom and die, so does the plant, but through their seed another grows and in a few years, again shows another bloom.  This is an amazing size of flower ( about 10-12 feet high) compared to the size of the leafy plant as seen below.