As Beauty Unfolds

Passing through the gate from the inner courtyard to the open grounds of the Cesar E. Chavez National Monument, I was immediately drawn to this prickly pear in bloom. After further inspection the series of buds in various stages of bloom along with the strong shadow pattern provided a most striking composition and drew me in; like a staircase ascending to the star of the show. I truly enjoy capturing the variety of color in the pads and the buds. I am fascinated by the brief beauty of cacti blooms and have several species of cacti in my own yard. Each year I eagerly await the emergence of the buds and the subsequent unfolding which produces the finale of the beauty of the bloom.