Return of the Night-blooming Cereus

Saturday night-Sunday morning bud just before opening

I love how the bud changes from so solid to looking quite hollow just as it begins to open

The lower bud opened Friday night and I missed it.
But it has held up post bloom due, I think, to cooler than normal temperatures

Flash photos made Saturday night as the buds began to open.

Collage of night images made with a flash as the current buds are opening.

It's that special time of year again. Time for my alien cacti from Tuscon to produce their annual flowers.

Last year, I posted about these special blooms, each open only for one night, that these special cacti create. And also last year, I created the music, video and photo collage about these amazing plants featuring music by my niece.

I don't know what I did different this year, except maybe some extreme benign neglect, because both of my plants have serious multiple buds-not just two or three. And tonight, two blooms are opening on one plant at the same time.

This year, it's been difficult to photograph because I hauled them out to the campground. Blooming on the deck at my house meant they were out of sight and out of mind. Here, in spite of unseemly 45 degree weather, we are keeping watch. However, trying to snap flash photos when all that shows through the viewfinder is pure solid black....until the flash goes off....is quite impossible, really. OK, so it illustrates the event, but the quality of the photos, on all levels, isn't up to par. But enjoy, anyway, this special annual plant happening! Happy Labor Day!