Pretty Prickly

I know that some people just love to grow Cacti. 

I know they come in many unusual shapes and sizes and have seen many striking cactus gardens.

I know that I'm not that much of a fan.

I have a couple of small cacti and that's about it for me.  But, in a way I can understand the fascination...it can be pretty amazing when they bloom.

Every spring this cactus sprouts big ugly gray growths amid its spines.

Which turn into these gorgeous flowers.  Can you believe how striking the colors are?  The petals which are so sheer and chiffon-like are such a contrast to the tough spiny body.

Hard to believe that something this gorgeous comes from something so plain.