Desert Gems

We have had enough rainfall to bring on the desert wildflower show - spectacular!  The cacti are such camera hogs, I'm starting with some recent shots from just around my "yard".

The yellow blossom is on a cholla - they have the NASTIEST, SNEAKIEST thorns, with HOOKS!!
I'm looking up the pink flower - not all flat paddle cacti are prickly pear, but it probably is. 
The fruit, which develops by about mid August, looks like a red apple.  Tortoises LOVE it!  I'll be making sure Tuff gets a treat - although I think the fruit is still larger than Tuff, he is still a pretty small Desert Tortoise at only two years old!