Al Braden Photographer

Ocotillo - or horsewhip - is perfectly adapted to the desert environment. It's waxy coating conserves water. More importantly, its small leaves appear quickly after rains, do their work of photosynthesis and then drop off during the next dry spell. This can happen several times a year. The bright red flowers come in the springtime, leaves or not.

I can't stop photographing the Ocotillo. These 37 are my current favorites.