The West-side of Springdale!!

We have really enjoyed the restaurants of Springdale. There are no fast-food or chain restaurants. The prices at the local small grocery stores are higher than the mountains around them. So, this afternoon Evin, the PUPS and I headed twenty-seven miles west of town to Hurricane where the closest Walmart is located. On the way going and coming back I had to stop from time to time when something caught my eyes...

Above is what I first saw from a distance when I was taking the shots immediately below. The yellow flowers I featured earlier in this post are what caught my eyes.

 
The sun was setting behind us as we headed East to Springdale. Daylight was fading fast, but, I couldn't resist stopping on the side of the highway and taking the last few scenic shots...

What a beautiful drive to the grocery store!!

DESERT GLOBEMALLOW

The Desert Globemallow or Apricot Mallow is in bloom in Zion National Park. It is one of my favorite desert wildflowers. The plant was used by members of the Shoshoni tribe of Native Americans as a food source and as a medicinal plant. 

I just happened to spy a single stem of Globemallow directly across from the Claret-cup Hedgehop Cacti featured in the previous post. Although the wind was blowing, I was able to take a few photos between gusts...

Later we headed west of the campground and I saw more Desert Globemallow. I couldn't resist taking another shot or two...

The Desert Globemallow or Apricot Mallow.

FINI

Scarlet Claret Cup Hedgehog Cacti!!!!

On Saturday when we drove into Zion Canyon to Springdale, Utah I didn't see the blooming Scarlet Claret Cup Hedgehog Cacti near the Zion National Park campground and Visitor's Center. Yesterday, we decided to take the PUPS on a drive and retrace our steps on the PATH we came in on. I stopped to take a photo of the Zion National Park campground and by chance spied a red cactus bloom. Was I ever in for a surprise...

This is where we parked. I wanted to take a photo of the mountains and trees. In the traffic median is where I spied the red cactus bloom!!!!

According to DesertUSA:  There are several common names for the Claret Cup Hedgehog Cactus:  Kingcup  Cactus and Mojave Mound Cactus.

The fruit is juicy and edible with deciduous spines. The flowers are pollinated by hummingbirds. The flowers stay open at night, unlike many other species of cacti whose flowers close in the evening. The flowers last three to five days.

Some Native American groups collected the Claret Cup's stems, burned off the spines and mashed the stems. Sugar was then added to the mix and baked to form sweet cakes.

Hey my friend, "Brother Bill", have I got you "seeing RED" yet?!?!? 38 of the 39 photos are of a single type of flower. I just couldn't help myself!! I can see you rolling your eyes and shrugging your shoulders. Howard would say, "Sheesh"!!

I did do "micro" and "macro" for you Bill!!

Hey "Sister Carol Ann", what do you think??