Cold Climate Cactus

The Pediocactus simpsonii var. minor plants are starting to bloom. Now, I'm going out with a paint brush every day to pollinate these plants. I think they have the most ethereal flowers of any cactus plants. All of the outdoor cacti seem to be forming flowers and buds early this year.

I have this dream sometimes that I'm a child riding my bicycle in the town where I grew up. There are piles of fill dirt for road construction and I see globular and prickly pear cacti mixed in with the piles of dirt. I decide to go home to get a bag to carry them in so I can plant them in my parents yard. Then I wake up.