Pachypodium (thank you JJ Glade)
This area of the Arboretum features some of the strange plants from this area of Madagascar. Please pardon my lack of knowledge of the names. If anyone does know, please let me know so that I can post them.
The region of Madagascar where the spiny deserts are receives little rain and has no shade. Some of these plants have an other-worldly look, as they have evolved over centuries to be able to survive the harsh conditions of this desert. Many of the plants are endemic to Madagascar and have strange and amazing shapes in their efforts to live in this region. The plant above has a swollen trunk to preserve water.
This was one of the few flowering plants in this section.
A type of Euphorbia (thank you JJ Glade)
This is one of the stranger plants in the collection. This specimen is large and arches over the path. The spines are hidden in the plump leaves on the stems. The leaves and the trunk store water for the plant.
Here are some other plants that caught the eye of my camera.
a type of Crown of Thorns
Pachypodium
Euphorbia tirucalli "Sticks on Fire" (Thank you, Noelle
Cactus Garden
The Arboretum has some beautiful specimens of cacti and succulents.
The fruit of the cactus
Just behind this cactus garden was the red fairy duster (thank you Noelle for the name of this plant), where I found the bees.
There are some wonderful succulents close by, some blooming, some just glowing with color.
A type of Aloe in bloom
Another type of Aloe in bloom
Euphorbia tirucalli "Sticks on Fire" (Thank you, Noelle
One of my favorites of the day with its bright orange and red succulent branches.
