The Two Of Us

A pair of brilliant orange fishhook barrel cactus flowers bloom in the blistering desert sun, happily snuggled together atop a cactus found in the... more

by Douglas Taylor

Title

The Two Of Us

Artist

Douglas Taylor

Medium

Photograph - Fine Art Digital Photography

Description

A pair of brilliant orange fishhook barrel cactus flowers bloom in the blistering desert sun, happily snuggled together atop a cactus found in the Tucson Mountains and Saguaro National Park west of Tucson, Arizona.

Blooming from late July through September, the flowers of this globular to cylindrical cactus range from deep maroon and red to brilliant yellow, with an infinite variety of oranges and variegations to be found. But only if you search out these brilliant beauties during the hottest part of the day. They only open in full daylight and begin to close by mid-afternoon.

The funnel shaped flowers are usually clustered close together around the crown of the cactus and are about 2 to 3 inches wide. A mature Fishhook Barrel cactus can be over 6 feet tall and 2 feet wide. They are also (mistakenly) called "compass" barrel cactus because they invariably lean to the south, though the common name actually belongs to a similar Ferocactus species. The range of the Fishhook Barrel includes southern Arizona and New Mexico, southwestern Texas, and across the border in northern Mexico at elevations under 4,500 feet.

This distinctive macro portrait finds the joyous orange, 2-1/2 inch wide flowers happy in the hot desert sun and highlighted against the shadow of early afternoon light. It is formatted in the 2:3 ratio where a bright, bold, colorful and dramatic floral image is desired for a 16" x 24" style presentation up to a giant 4 foot by 6 foot print with remarkable color and astonishing clarity. Perfect for a spectacular splash of color on any wall and will make for a delightful jigsaw puzzle.

Uploaded

September 6th, 2023