We have been watching for the beaver tail cactus to bloom over the past few days. (sounds a little bizarre, huh? Obviously we had pressing things to do! ). A nature center hike through a wash in the Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains gave us the chance. We saw beaver tail, barrel, teddy bear cholla and pencil cholla all blooming. The palo verde had the tiny dark blue blossoms that we had heard they were supposed to have and there were actually areas blanketed with blossoms in some of the wash areas. They have had even more moisture here.