Creosote Flowers

This scraggily looking plant, which grows fairly well in desert area below 5000 feet, is a true survivor of harsh environment.

There are living creosote bush that's estimated to be around 10,000 years old. Make it one of the oldest living plants.

It has a strange odor, which some people find objectionable, but it doesn't bother me too much. If you wet the leaves, it intensifies the smell, and it reminds me of a desert shower, which is always a good thing for desert locations. From watching the "Survivor Man" show, the host burned the leaves, and used the smoke as a way to cleanse himself, like a smoke bath, have to give that a try sometime.

Mesquite Thorn

Continuing my desert plant pictures, here's close up of mesquite tree.

Surprisingly, this tree is considered a legume. Its beans are edible, although I have never tried it.

Ocotillo

Ocotillo - A desert shrub of southwestern United States and Mexico having slender naked spiny branches that after the rainy season put forth foliage and clusters of red flowers.

Some people said it's flowers are edible, goes good in salad. Haven't tried it, I am sure it's not an easy feat to harvest it.

Saguaro

It takes 60-70 years before the Saguaro grows an arm. I wonder how old this one is.

Spent another Friday in Phoenix. This time, we were greeted by high wind, while on the news, we learned a secition of I40 was closed down near Flagstaff, also some snow/ice up there. Weird weather.

Cactus Blossoms

The colors of these blooms are very bright, I guess they really stand out in their drab surroundings. Another wet Winter helps too.

Camera - Olympus E500.