El Charco del Ingenio Botanical, Ecological Preservation Zone. San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.

New York Times Review
Bird-watchers, outdoorsmen and city slickers will all appreciate the brambly valleys this 167-acre ecological reserve spanning cactus-lined canyons and spring-fed pools. Guests can access easy hiking trails festooned with giant agaves and nopal cactus where egrets and swallows roost and peck at spiny fruits. The greenhouse, which resembles a small airplane hangar, shelters hundreds of rare and endangered plants. It’s the kind of place locals come to take in the natural surrounding beauty, perhaps when things feel a little too Disney.

Have you ever… had yourself poked with cactus soaked in tequila?

No.

Some people have.

Really?

5. Cactus and Tequila

Cactus leaves dipped in tequila are a base ingredient for the so-called ‘hakali’ massage. It was devised by the Mexicans who guarantee supreme, poking-free, experience and who believe in the relaxing effects of alcohol.

I wonder where you can go to relax with a cactus in Mexico?

Apuane Spa at the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita, Mexico.

And finally, we have a picture. She does look relaxed.

Spectacular and dramatic photos by Callan Davies.

(T)he Atacama Desert is not entirely barren….

Tall, columnar cacti, similar in form to the saguaro of our own Sonoran Desert, become increasingly common north of Lima, Peru, and south of the line that marks the Southern Hemisphere’s winter equinox. Trichocereus [Ed: Now called Echinopsis] cactus is one of the giant cacti I encountered and in places it was abundant….

Individual cacti approached 24 feet in height and were often the dominant plant species across vast areas….

I noticed the giant cacti rarely contained woodpecker nest cavities though both the striped woodpecker and Chilean flicker are known to follow the giant cacti into the Atacama….

At both the southern and northern edges of the Atacama succulents are easily the most abundant perennial plants…. One of the most abundant succulents was a agave-like plant that belonged to the pineapple family.

Nearly all of these succulents have shallow roots, lying within an inch of the surface, indicating they can utilize moisture from light showers or heavy fog. This adaptation, however, is not the only reason for their abundance….

For hundreds of years domestic goats have been used as a source of milk and meat throughout Peru and Chile…. The normally rich variety of water-loving plant species found around desert springs and streams is absent in the Atacama. Nearly every spring has become a home site and the immediate vicinity has become completely defoliated by the owner’s livestock. Over vast areas the only vegetation remaining is represented by those plant families that are unpalatable to goats.

So the key to cactus success is that they are not delicious to goats. True enough.

Blue Mounds State Park
This is a great park to visit at any time, but June and July offer a unique enticement—the park is an ideal home for Minnesota’s only native cactus, the prickly pear, and it sends up its canary yellow flowers during those months. The cactuses are tucked in around the outcroppings of ruddy Sioux quartzite. The rocks jut up—100 feet, in some places—from the tranquil sea of prairie grass. Clamber (carefully) up the rocks to take in sweeping views. The park’s herd of bison adds to the step-back-in-time atmosphere, and the abundance of tallgrass prairie birds makes for a fun spotting game. Camping is available (and there are showers available for the fastidious among us); check the Minnesota DNR Web site for details.

What did I see when last I visited MN?

The year’s theme is “Sedums & Succulents.”

You know it has to be good. Of course, it’s only number 25 out of 101 great things to do in Tennessee.

Take in the glory of nature during the 20th Annual Summer Celebration lawn and garden show from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 9 at the West Tennessee AgResearch and Education Center, 605 Airways Blvd. in Jackson.

So where do you go when you want to beat the heat, find some unusual flowers to photograph and enjoy amazing scenery? Well, we visited Saguaro Lake and came home with some great memories. 

This past weekend the Saguaro Cactus forest was full of blooms. This is typically a May phenomenon. 

That’s pretty far to go if you don’t live in Arizona. But they do have cactus in bloom and boating too. It’s an unbeatable combination, unless you compare it to sailing in the Sea of Cortez.

A “Natural Park” in Baja, California, Valle de los Cirios offers some of the most unique vistas ever! Cycling in Valle de los Cirios – Notice the massive triple bike? Photo: Nancy Sathre-Vogel

It’s an Echinopsis terscheckii, also known as Cardòn Grandé. We have a 6 footer at the nursery that is sending out it’s first blooms. You’ll get to see the pictures as soon as they open. Unless it sells before then.

Here, have a picture of two giant epi’s from our recent trip to Alaska.

They’re at Bell’s Nursery up on Dearmoun.

And in case you were wondering, we could not see Russia from our room, yes I have been to Wasilla, and the volcano was being monitored all the while, you betcha.

Venice Garden & Home Tour

Studio City designers Carol Plotkin and Janet Hoskins helped Balaban rethink the minuscule landscape and incorporate a slim border filled with irises, roses, succulents and Mediterranean plants.

I see an Echeveria and some Kalanchoes too.

How about another home on the tour?

The rooftop view: sand, sea and sky.

And here we see Echinopsis, Agave, Aloe, Cereus, Opuntia and more.

A Flower Moment: Noon-1 p.m. at the Memphis Botanic Garden. Fee $30 ($20 for botanic garden members). Price includes lunch. “Sedums & Succulents: On the Edge of Chaos!” by Paul Little of Little Hill Nursery. Preregistration recommended; call 636-4115. Dates: May 15, June 19, Sept. 18, and Oct. 16.

I’d like to know what level of chaos these fine little plants are on the edge of. But I don’t think I can make it to Memphis.

It all started with a packet of seeds from Woolworths more than 40 years ago….

Grown out of a hobby, they can be viewed at Eau Brink Cacti Nursery in the grounds of his house in Eau Brink, near King’s Lynn…. Contact Mr Bowdery on 01553 617635 for confirmation.

Derek Bowdery from Kings Lynn with his huge Cactus collection.

Oops, it looks like this may be another travel suggestion. What was I thinking earlier today making the claim that I was only going to be giving one travel suggestion all year long? That was clearly ridiculous. You should never trust me again. I’ve lost your trust! I feel terrible. Well, anyway, Derek’s collection looks pretty interesting.

Pancho Villa State Park is a popular place to stay which is were we are tonight….

The park is landscaped with native cactus ,which is beautiful at this time year. Volunteer Sandra Anyanwu sees to that…

Anyanwu also rescues cactus that have been damaged and nurses them back to health.

That’s my travel suggestion for the year. An RV park in a state park in New Mexico  or somewhere. I wonder why I would suggest this for you? I wonder…

Photo: P. Schonfelder from Universität Regensburg Institut für Botanik in Regensburg.

Blazing a new trail in Catalina
A sign marks the Trans-Catalina Island Trail, built to show off Catalina’s dramatic changes in elevation, which make for a surprising variety of ecosystems and landscapes: muscular peaks, scalloped beaches, lush ravines and grasslands enlivened by an array of spring flowers. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

I see cactus. Wait, here’s some more.

A butterfly perches gingerly on a cactus along the trail, which climbs, dips and winds through backcountry largely unknown to the public and essentially unchanged since Tongva Indians roamed the island. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

I wonder if the photographer minds my borrowing his beautiful photos? Well, a simple google search should lead him here, where he’ll see we gave credit and links. Oh well, the contours of fair use and all…

When I met up with my brothers in Arizona in March for a family get-together, I wanted to… get out into the desert.

Don’t we all. But you know it’s a good article when they publish photos of cactus, and they did not disappoint. They have 5 cactus photos with the article! 5! Woohoo! Here’s one I borrowed.

JIM TIMMERMANN, The Holland Sentinel