Cholla Cactus

I have really enjoyed seeing the gorgeous pink blooms on the cholla cactus.  This seems to be blooming time for this cactus.  We went back up to Albuquerque to return Colter and Alli to the airport and saw these beauties there.

You definitely wouldn't want to mess around with this beast!

This name is pronounced "cho-ya."  There are many varieties, but the ones I've been seeing I believe are the Walking Stick Cholla or Cylindropuntia imbricata.    I found this photo showing a dried cholla stalk