BAJA IN BLOOM
By Jennifer M. BierichPhotos by Bill Robinson
To the inexperienced eye, Baja may look like a haphazard collection of tumbleweeds and cacti; yet as spring turns its cycle each year, this seemingly dry desert lights up into a flowering bouquet of gemlike colors. Sparse winter rains rouse the region from a deep sleep and splashes of unexpected color begin to mottle the brown landscape as the vibrant hues blend with the muted tones of the desert. Cacti flowers blossom and trees bloom under the nurturing rays of the sun.
Spring changes the colors of the desert like a moody chameleon. The festive flowers on this colorful Cercidium or Palo Verde (top) sprinkle the dusty streets of a small Baja town.
The cardon (far left) is a name applied throughout Mexico to several of the larger species of cactus. They are believed to reach up to 200 years of age and dominate many of the deserts in Baja California. The fleshy, burr-like fruit that you see on the cardon were once a staple food for the Indians.
The tall blooming flower, identified as a member of the agave species (immediate left), is commonly called a century plant. It was generally believed that it took 100 years for a plant to mature, after which it would bloom and then die. This is an intriguing idea, but it's not true. Some agaves do follow the general pattern of dying after they have flowered. Their lives however, only span a period of eight to twenty years.
Agaves have played an important role in the human economy from ancient times as a source of food, drink, and fiber. Both sweet and alcoholic drinks such as aguamiel and mescal are a product of this plant. 
Named aptly for its striking similiarity to the gentle beast, the Elephant Tree or Copalquin (right image) is distinguished by its thick, enlarged trunk and its butterscotch-yellow colored bark. The tangerine-scented tree can be found in the southern desert region of the United States, but grows in greater abundance around the Sea of Cortez in Baja and Sonora.
Just behind the Elephant Tree stands an organ pipe cactus (or pitaya dulce), rooted in the desert sand. Each year, between March and August, its flowers bloom on the upper parts of its branches. Blossoms open just before sunset and close during midmorning the next day, therby taking advantage of both night pollinators such as nectar seeking bats and day pollinators. As the fruit of the organ pipe cactus matures, it becomes eagerly sought after in Baja and on the Mexican mainland for its sweet flavor which is often made into marmalades and wines.
In the same frame, to the left of the Elephant Tree, grows a Boojum or Cirio tree, one of the most unusual plants in Baja. The Spanish name Cirio denotes a resemblance to the tall wax candles of the missions. These unique plants, with their stark, straight trunks and small spiny branches are reminiscent of the fantasy landscape in a Dr. Suess story. With the exception of the Cardon, the Cirio is the tallest plant in Baja and takes between 27-40 years to grow a meter, depending on conditions. Some Cirio have been estimated to be over 360 years old.
Growing prolificly in certain parts of Baja, the stalky red flowers of the Aloe plant (right) are often mistaken for agaves, but they differ with teir thicker, fleshier leaves and the bright red and yellow tube-like flowers hanging from a central stalk. They usually inhabit inland and low desert regions where they are protected from frost and extreme sun.
The colorful yellow blossom on the Biznaga(lower left), otherwise known as the compass cactus, usually leans to the south or the southwest toward the most intense light, therefore its common name. These cacti are among the largest and most impressive cacti in the peninsula deserts, where annual growth is measured in centimeters. The genus name, Ferocactus, means fierce or wild cactus. They are usually solitary, but may be seen in groups of two or three. During periods of drought severe enough to reduce vegetation, the cacti are chopped and fed to livestock. The yellow flowers bloom from March to June in a colorful crown at the top of the stem. Young flowers can be cooked in water like cabbage while older flowers are mashed for drinking. 
The vibrantly flourishing stand of cactus, the Euphorbia (lower right), is commonly found in Baja and Southern California, but be careful, it's milky fluids are poisonous. Its unique bloom in the late summer months is manifested in the small leafy growths on its spiny stems.
The lower picture (below) shows a variety of desert plant species including the slender branches of the Ocotillo plant. A most unusual plant, the Ocotillo has no main trunk, but instead, many whip-like branches which spread fan-like from the base. After the plant becomes two feet tall and following rain, scarlet tubular flowers bloom and offer a popular nectar to hummingbirds. Ocotillo was used for washing clothes before soap became popular and the indigenous population made tea by soaking both flowers and seeds in water.
The intermingling, silvery spines of the Teddy Bear Cholla (above right foreground) clearly suggest the common name. This large, erect plant usually reaches the height of one to three meters. The bowl shaped fruits collect moisture from night-time condensation which are often one of the only available water sources for quail and other birds for much of the year.
The Prickly Pear cactus (right) with its yellow and pink flowers is also a popular food in Mexico. Its edible fruits, called tunas, are somewhat juicy when ripe and are made into jams, jellies and syrups. The thin pad-like leaves, which resemble a beaver's tail in shape, distinguish the cactus from other thorned desert plants.
So the next time you're traveling through Baja, take the time to "stop and smell the desert flowers," but beware, the thorns have quite a bite.