Wild Weekly Photo Challenge-Scary / Weekly Photo Challenge-Illumination
“Everybody in their own imagination decides what scary is.”
Y. Craig
This week, the Wild Weekly Photo Challenge is” Scary”, and the Weekly Photo Challenge is “Illumination”. Coincidentally, my husband and I are in the middle of a mini-vacation in the Southwest, and the amazing cacti we see everywhere here seemed a good fit for both challenges.
“One touch of nature makes the whole world kin.”
William Shakespeare
One thing I found very surprising about the cacti was how often the sunlight seems to make them glow. Their incredibly sharp needles (or spines) protect them from predators and also provide them with a bit of shade. This week I learned the hard way that cacti are not only dangerous to touch, but can also be dangerous to walk around, as their needles are sharp enough to pierce sneakers even after they’ve dropped to the ground.
“I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams…”
Antoine de Saint Exupery
Here then, a few more of my favorite illuminated cacti from the beautiful but dangerous Arizona desert.
“The desert, when the sun comes up…I couldn’t tell where heaven stopped and Earth began.”
Tom Hanks
Here’s to the cactus. May we all learn to endure hardship and thrive as beautifully as they do!
I’m participating in the online adventure travel and photography magazine LetsBeWild.com’s Wild Weekly Photo Challenge for bloggersThis week’s Challenge is: Scary! And check out their online adventure magazine www.letsbewild.com !
And for more Illuminations Weekly Challenge Posts, go to here.
Ouch!
Seriously ouch 🙂
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Love the cactus macro!
Thanks Angela!
double vision is my favorite! yow! sorry one punctured your sneakers!
Thanks! It was almost worth it 🙂 Still pulling little slivers out of my shoes 2 weeks later!
ha! this one glows as well!
that’s horrible that the spines had such a nasty disposition! z
I guess I have a thing about glowing! Thanks for your comments 🙂
What great detail!
Thanks!
*Ouch*
Enjoy the rest of your holidays in the beautiful desert Tina !
Envious 😉
Thanks PT!
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found these to be soothing….not sure why..with all of their prickly stuff…but I did….great eye!!
LOL, thanks April 🙂
Beautiful pictures of these plants.
Thank you Bente!
Love the Arm In Process.
Thanks Jim!
We spent our summer last year in Nevada and saw a lot of cactus plants and red rocks such as these when we went to the Arizona area. These are glorious photographs. I especially loved the Shakespeare quote about the touch of nature making the whole world kin. Such powerful words. 🙂
Thanks so much Myra. Yes they’re really amazing!
thanks for the cacti!
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My pleasure 🙂
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These are extraordinary! I love how the sunlight is illuminating the cacti. My favs are ARM-IN-PROCESS and RED CACTUS AND ROCK. Unique take on the two themes, Tina. Love your post.
Thanks so much Deepali
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Scary indeed!!!
Still pulling out stickers 5 days later!