Cuddly Fuzzy Teddy Bear Cholla

There is a cholla cactus "garden" (that's what the park service calls it) in Joshua Tree NP that has a nature trail running through it. This is no ordinary trail; it's rather narrow in spots, lined with these teddy bear cholla on both sides. If you so much as lightly brush up against one of these cacti, a clump of it comes off with a bunch of spines embedded in your flesh; and they are extremely difficult (once stuck, you will probably say instead...a bitch...) to remove! The Old Sloat has had some personal experience in this matter; he's been visiting here since 1973). But from a distance the teddy bears are quite pretty, especially when backlit by the sun.