Cholla are probably the most bad-ass cactus in Joshua Tree National Park. The cholla species found at the Cholla Cactus Garden is Cylindropuntia bigelovii, also called teddybear cholla or jumping cholla, and it's particularly nasty. And so that you don't sound like a tourist, you should know the Ls are silent. Jumping cholla is the perfect name (teddybear cholla not so much): You can be walking along minding your own business and somehow these cholla mange to jump and stick to you! The spines are needle sharp and barbed at the end. They hurt like heck going in, and they hurt even more coming out. It's hard and painful to pull them out of your skin because of the back-angled barbs.
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| Photo credit: Katiewanders.com |
So when Mitch suggested the Cholla Cactus Garden as a location for our next nighttime Milky Way photo shoot, I had serious doubts. I had visions of the guy in the photo. Even with a head lamp, I figured we would end up being human pin cushions!
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| Some cholla grow 8-10' in height. |
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| Cholla Garden sunset. |
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| Mitch, trying to stay cool, contemplating the cholla, and waiting for the Milky Way. |
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| A pretty sky over the Cholla Cactus Garden. |
Now we have time to kill while we wait for the sky to get dark and the Milky Way to rise.
Join me next week to see if we get jumped by the cholla and survive the dreaded cholla spines, while trying to get a photo of the Milky Way!
Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Wow! That looks nasty.
ReplyDeleteI would not sit that close to cactus - especially if they jump!
ReplyDeleteWow! Chollas do not look like fun at all ~ Yikes! ~ Neat post and photos and hope you and Mitch survived the 'attack of chollas' ~ thanks, ~ Happy Labor Day Weekend ~ ^_^
ReplyDeleteWishing you good health, laughter and love in your days,
clm ~ A ShutterBug Explores,
aka (A Creative Harbor)
Mean stuff those jumping cholla, if you're not careful you can forget your hike, I think. Of course I'll come back for the sequel, but the fact that you can still blog about it yourself reassures me about the outcome.
ReplyDeleteSuch a series of exotic cactus and arid landscape in magical hours
ReplyDeleteA prickly situation. Cholia! A new species to me and one I would keep my distance from. I can see why pliers are a necessity when traveling in their vicinity. :)
ReplyDeleteDearest Peter,
ReplyDeleteIt puzzles me that you use a photo and then don't know its source?!
Here is the source of the image that you used as scraped content:h ttps://www.grayhawkrealestate.com/man-v-jumping-cholla-who-wins/
Sorry for being strict in that but both my Pieter and I have been publishers and hate plagiarism in any form.
You both are sure daring for going out there!
Trusting that it worked out well and eager to see your photos.
Hugs,
Mariette
Hi Mariette. That photo has been all over the internet. I've seen in posted on Facebook and IG probably 20 times over the years. I'm very skeptical that "Gray Hawk Real Estate" is the original photographer. That's why I chose to say unknown with regard to the original photographer who deserves the credit.
DeleteYep cholla is bad news. Fortunately growing I didn't have to deal with too much. In Albuquerque out in the countryside the prickly pears laid low waiting for bicycle and motor cycle riders to fall in them.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to your photos from your outing.
That is a fascinating plant. The area is beautiful. Hope you avoided contact though!
ReplyDeleteI never known about this cactus..... Interesting.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing knowledge and photos.....
Wow, I’m sure it’s annoying but it’s kind of funny to imagine these balls of thorns jumping at you …..and poor guy the one in the second pic…
ReplyDeleteFor me it would be long-lens only anywhere around chollas!
ReplyDeleteThey are beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWow they look painful.
ReplyDeleteI saw some of these on my last visit to America and told to give them a wide berth. They do look attractive as a foreground in your photos, though. I hope you managed the Milky Way without being attacked by any of those "teddy bears" :)
ReplyDeleteSounding like a tourist would be the least of my worries; I'd be more concerned about ending up like a cross between Scottie Scheffler and Sonic the Hedgehog. I hope you escape such a dreadful fate and bring us more wonderful shots next week.
ReplyDeleteLiving in Iowa, we don't get much experience with cacti. So when I spent a month boating down the Grand Canyon and doing a fair amount of hiking, I had a few run ins with various cacti, the worst being after a absently used my hand as a support to prevent falling into a cactus of some sort. It was months before all the wounds in my hand and shins healed up fully from that trip.
ReplyDeleteA strange plant indeed and very dangerous with those jumps. Not my cup of tea.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a dangerous assignment! Fabulous photos, though.
ReplyDeleteI like cactusses. And this onse in this garden they are indeed fascinating to see from a distance but not to have those on you. Like the picture of that man who had lots of them. Watching at an appropriate distance and photographing them seems better to me. And you took beautiful pictures of them too.
ReplyDeleteLooks wonderful , Loved this post.
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Wichita, Kansas years ago we bought a house and it turned out the entire back yard was infested with sandburs. Ouch ouch ouch. But they are nothing like that cholla. I'll be back to see if you survived.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos. We don't have anything like that over here! That poor guy, I hope he was okay in the end. And what a great shot of Mitch chilling! Love it :-D
ReplyDeleteThey look very beautiful
ReplyDeletebut they also seem to be unpleasant to wear
Looks like it could be a nightmare.
ReplyDeleteThe cholla make a great subject for beautiful photos but oh my! they do look dangerous and painful.
ReplyDeleteDitto Joyful's words!
ReplyDeleteThat photo of the guy with all the cholla on him made me cringe. I can't even imagine. I've been stuck by those little devils several times. I do have to admit, that does look like a good place to photograph at dusk or dawn or at night. I'll look forward to seeing the results and hearing if you escaped the needles.
ReplyDeleteThe comment above is mine. I used the wrong browser and wasn't signed in.
ReplyDeleteThat photo of the guy with all the cholla on him made me cringe. I can't even imagine. I've been stuck by those little devils several times. I do have to admit, that does look like a good place to photograph at dusk or dawn or at night. I'll look forward to seeing the results and hearing if you escaped the needles.
while visiting at sunset may be dangerous, wow-- are those images so special. There is a kind of majesty in these photos that I love. I bet it was so quiet. Did you stay the night there?
ReplyDeleteThey look so deceptively innocent like dandelions!
ReplyDeleteYikes!!!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember knowing about this cactus. Ouch! I hope y'all were able to avoid pain.
ReplyDeleteWow! I have never seen such a variety that jumps out at you! The way you describe the spines as little harpoons sounds dangerous. Thankfully, you got most of them off and you were well-prepared. The B&W composition shows some beautiful tones.
ReplyDeleteIncredible photos!
ReplyDeleteRather, it became a cactus forest.
ReplyDeleteI had no idea of the problems these cacti can cause. That would ruin my hike...and my day! Enjoy your weekend.
ReplyDeleteWhat a vivid description of the Cholla Cactus Garden!
ReplyDeleteI’ve always heard the cholla were notorious for their "jumping" spines, but your experience really brings it to life—ouch!
I admire your courage to brave such a formidable foe for a chance to capture the Milky Way.
It sounds like quite the adventure, and I'm looking forward to seeing the results of your nighttime photo shoot.
Hopefully, you all avoid becoming "human pincushions"!
Yikes! I don’t think I’d go into the Cholla Garden.
ReplyDeleteAhhh, the true artist must suffer in order to be successful. Spending the night among the hungry cholla - you're a brave man, Peter.
ReplyDeleteI think they're probably going to have to give that guy a sedative!
ReplyDeleteI loved visiting your blog, it has a lot of very interesting articles.baixar musica youtube
ReplyDeleteI remember seeing that photo with story of the cholla man. I would not want that experience.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a beautiful area but one to be very careful in! We have relatives in Arizonia who warned us about cholla cati on a visit. Thanksfully we did not encounter any on desert hike
ReplyDelete