Cholla Flower

This is a cluster of cholla buds from my favorite parking lot median at the U. Sadly, these flowers are washed out in color, and even more disturbing there are so few bees this year. Last year, these cholla were covered in bees as were my plants at home. This year I see occasional "regular" bees and a few solitary bees. It is quite worrying.

Chollas are the friendly cacti of the New Mexican Desert. They are always trying to reach out and shake hands with the unaware. This is how they spread.