Boyce Thompson Arboretum Fridays, Part 3

For today's third installment of our visit to the Boyce Thompson Arboretum we'll walk the Chihuahuan Desert trail...

What do you think that is in the tree? Is it a nest?

Or epiphytic growth?

There are gonna be a lot of Opuntia in this post. You've been warned.

Looks a little like a movie set, it's so perfect.

OMG! So many fruit!

Mesquite, a woody legume...

The label on this fine specimen said Palma China, Yucca filifera. Yet the Mountain States Wholesale Nursery site says Palma China is actually Yucca decipiens. Hmmm....

Agave funkiana bloom.

Agave salmiana var. ferox

Opuntia show time! This one is Opuntia streptacantha, the only one I can give a name to...

Agave time, if I got the correct label this is another A. salmiana var. ferox.

The plants look like a really thin leaved Agave, but I can't ID it.

I don't know why, but the word Organillo makes me burst out in laughter. The plants are pretty cool.

Don't you just want to hug the teddy-bear Cholla?

If we ever house shopped in the desert SW I think I'd be looking for mature Opuntia trees as much as I'd be looking at the house itself. You can transplant a large Agave or Yucca but these babies, I just don't imagine it happens.

Of course a huge Saguaro or two would be nice too. If we're dreaming.

Hey, I know that one! Agave ovatifolia.

Okay, that's it for this week's segment. Come back next Friday for the grand finale! (weeks one and two can be found here).

Weather Diary, Dec 20: Hi 56, Low 40/ Precip .11"

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