Exquisite and uncommon, I hit the Claret Cup jackpot this spring on a trip to El Paso. I’ve seen many of these cacti in the west Texas desert and down in Big Bend. Occasionally a few blooms, but usually just a couple. This spring seemed to set them off – or maybe I was just there on the right day.
Driving from Austin to El Paso is always interesting – always something happening in the desert or in the sky. But in late March this spring, things were very dry and brown. Not much to look at anywhere. And with I-10 posted at 80, it is a fast drive. Coming into Sonora, I slammed on the breaks.
Something very bright and red caught my eye – a full grown and full bloom Claret Cup cactus – a mound of red and green about three feet across. I climbed up the hill to photograph it from every angle. Between Sonora and Van Horn I saw three for four more – all in full bloom.
Coming back to Austin, I took the southern route to vary the terrain – Highway 90 through Marfa, Alpine, Marathon, Del Rio, then up to Junction and home. Saw another half dozen clarets and photographed each one. Total trip about 1,300 miles. About a dozen Claret Cup plants – each stunning. Nothing else in bloom anywhere. What a great trip!
Here are photos as examples to give you the picture of Claret Cups. Twenty five are now up on my PhotoShelter website in the Cacti and Desert Flora Gallery. Cheers!
Full Bloom - Claret Cup Cactus Photo, Echinocereus occineus, Sutton County, TX.
Growing on a Limestone Outcrop, Claret Cup Cactus Picture, Echinocereus occineus, Sutton County, TX.
Boquet of Claret Cup Cactus, Echinocereus occineus, Terrell County, TX.
Single Claret Cup Cactus Blossom, Echinocereus occineus, Sutton County, TX.
