APATCHABLUE STUDIO: Cholla Heaven #8

My wife, JoAnn and I moved to Arizona in 1998. I had taken an administrative job at one of the community college's branch campuses. We had been in the state for short workshops and meeting, but never for any length of time. The landscape seemed quite harsh to us compared to the Pacific Northwest or specifically the Spokane area where we had been living. So many types of cacti and all with spines that wouldn't let go once you made contact. The giant saguaros were very impressive and easily avoided, but there were many other types that seem to jump at you if you got close to them. The cholla cactus has many varieties with one named "jumping cholla". Other varieties include buck horn, cane, common and stag horn. One type had the name, "chain fruit", because the round seed pods hung in strings like grapes.

The appearance of the cholla plant didn't impress us and this scrubby bush covers vast areas of the arid southwest.  It can give the cattleman problems when it invades pasture land. Then we experienced a pleasant surprise. The cholla blooms are different in color on different bushes and while some are a pale and uninteresting, while others are vivid reds, magenta's and rusty tones.   Our impression of the cholla improved when it was pointed out that it's fruit is eaten by a wide variety of birds and desert animals. Further, the plant provides protection for birds and small animals. I guess it would be like the deserts version of the brier patch in the old fable of Barer Rabbit.

The exciting thing about cholla is the wood it leaves behind when it dies.   The small dead branches are hollow, with a network of lenticular holes.   This gives the cured stick a lace-like appearance. The wood is tough and hard, suitable for use as a cane. I have enjoyed working with it and will show a few examples at the end of this post.   When the stick is cut across into small segments, the cut surface resembles flower petals. Cholla now plays a significant part in my art work and there seems to be a never ending supply.which most people are pleased to be rid of.

It's amusing how our likes and dislikes changed with time and additional information. JoAnn and I decided to retire and stay in Arizona. What we had perceived as a harsh landscape has turned into an interesting and unique place to live. We sold our retirement property in California's wine country north of San Francisco and now live in Cholla Heaven adjacent to Tucson, Arizona.