Cactus Blooms and a Cactus Wren

We have a very busy Mamma Cactus Wren building a lovely home in my metal planter on the patio. Evidently she couldn't find a suitable cactus. I don't blame her....so prickly. Not very comfy a place to welcome baby birds into the world.

Look at the precious turquoise yarn piece she found....a quaint touch, don't you think!?

We have peered into the hole, but it is dark. We cannot see what hides inside.

But Mamma bird comes and goes all day long so we are confident we will see something soon!

And in other cactus news....my bunny ear cactus,

scientific name Opuntia Microdasys Pfeiffer, is blooming!

Aren't the blooms sensational? So sunny. Tender. Cheery. But don't be fooled. The soft looking polk a dots (which first attracted me to this species of desert plant) are not so soft. If you touch this plant, the polk a dots transfer from the plant to your skin.....each dot hundreds of tiny spines. Yes, it hurts. But isn't it a lovely specimen? Especially when it is blooming!