Usery Mountain Park Flowers

After talking about it for several days, we finally went out to one of Maricopa County's neat parks to check out the wild flowers today. At first glance and from a distance, it looked like several of the cacti had reddish blooms, but it was actually only the color of new growth --

There were lots of Globe Mallow still in bloom --

There was other orange to be seen --

as part of a Chuparosa bush --

The Mexican Gold Poppies were out --

Both interspersed with lots of Brittlebush --

I noticed this Cactus Wren hopping between the ground and a large cholla cactus --

Then I spotted this nest nestled in amongst the spears of the cholla. If you look carefully you can see two little babies inside. When I made a noise as I was taking the picture, the little beaks popped open.

These are Hedgehog cacti --

They are called Strawberry Hedgehogs because of their flowers --

Some of the Hedgehogs are just loaded with buds and blooms. Another few days and they'll stand out like candles at night!