Not all a flower

These flowers are deceptive. The large white portion is really a leaf in disguise. I think it is interesting how the one modified leaf turns into a flower stalk.

The Mountain Fastness

If you climb above 12,000 feet in elevation in the lower 48 states, you enter a completely different world. It is just as if you had traveled north to the tundra. It takes some time to become acclimated to this altitude. It is like entering a different world. I get the same feeling entering into the depths of the Grand Canyon, although you don't get the far view of snow and glaciers.

The flower within

These tiny flowers are enhanced by the carmine colored leaves of the this monocot bromeliad. I like the contrast of these plants that grow in the tropic jungles. Unfortunately, they don't thrive in the dry desert heat of Arizona without special care and enhanced growing conditions. Their most common relative is the pineapple.

The Hollows

These sandstone formations almost look like skulls. They are extreme examples of the differential amount of weathering in the softer rock layers. If the the weathering continues over some huge period of time, these rocks might eventually be a series of arches.

Orchid Collection

Orchids are one of the most common types of flowers around the world. Orchids have 21,950 and 26,049 currently accepted species, found in 880 genera. This kind of flower does not grow well in the desert without extreme measures and then only if you provide enough moisture for humidity and a constant temperature. I have not been successful in growing orchids.

Individualism

Some of us are not afraid to stand out in a crowd. Being and individualist can have its positive features, but it can also be highly negative if the choices we make are consistent with our own well being and interests. There can be very individualistic criminals as well as contributors to any society. This tree probably did not choose to grow where it did. But it made the most of the situation.

Banana Flower

Bananas grow in bunches on banana trees. The trees aren't really trees, but huge green plants. The flowers are varied, some are not as colorful as these. I used to lie on my back on the lawn when I was a child and watch the banana trees grow. They grew fast enough during the hot summer, that you could actually see the process.