The Flowers of the Night

Another of Joe's cactus bloomed earlier this week. I can't tell you what the name of this cactus is. For many years it bloomed in the front yard of Nana's house near Phoenix, and one year Joe dug up some of the little offshoots and planted them in our front yard. They do not bloom every year, so when it does it is quite an occasion.

Several weeks ago, two tiny buds appeared at the top of two of the cactus stalks, signalling that this would be a year for blooms. Then, last weekend, the buds began to rapidly enlarge. This is what they looked like on Monday afternoon.

All evening we watched them and as darkness fell, the flowers of the night burst into full glory.

The air near them was filled with a mild, gardenia-like scent.

In the early Tuesday morning light, the flowers maintained their beauty and freshness.

However, as the day progressed, the heat and humidity took their toll, as they always do, and by late Tuesday afternoon there was only a faded remnant of the cactus flowers.

Out of an entire year, only 24 hours of amazing beauty and fragrance.

Next time, a new sock, a new pattern, a new yarn.