Monday, December 6, 2010

House of Plants, Part Four: Desert House




A Familiar Shape of the Desert


On the Saturday in November, I knew immediately that this was different. Unlike the other houses, which are purposedly kept warm and humid, the outside windows to the Desert House were slightly open, letting the crisp air cool the interior to keep the plants in a more native temperature for the time of year.

The cacti were everywhere--some familiar-looking, others more exotic.



Desert Sea Urchins


It's such a stark contrast to the lush green and vivid colors of the previous houses.



Spiny and...


Though even desert plants sprout green...



Green


...and some even grow tall and...



Stretching Tall


...bloom.



Flowers, Fresh and Fading


Of course, sometimes the light hits the plants perfectly and the outline of spines glows along with the spans of spiders.



Cholla in Light


Sometimes, things are massive, like the Century Plant, a species of agave which grows slowly for many years.



Century Plant


Just for reference (though the depth was a bit skewed with the wide angle lens), compare the faces in the background to the great agave.

Life in the desert is amazing. Life adapts to the temperature extremes and lack of moisture and still thrives in many different forms.

Some which hang...



Hanging Around



Focusing on a Segment


...and some huddle near the ground and remind me of coral.



Another of the Many Forms of Life

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