Cactus Flowers Gone Wild

I have had this cactus clump on my deck for quite a while...probably about 8-10 years. The cacti are not very large...the largest individual plant is about the size of a baseball...next largest is about the same size as a billiard ball. But the largest cactus has produced one large flower once or twice a year almost since I got the plant. The bloom has occurred in every season except winter. The flower is, as you can see, larger than its parent cactus! This pic was taken on June 13 this year. Though only one flower is blooming, look closely and you can see four small buds, two each on the largest cactus balls.

June 29...the original flower is long gone...it lasted three full days, which is a good performance. The huge flowers are quite ephemeral. But now, two of those small stalks have turned into big new flowers! And the other two are getting ready to bloom. Last year was the first time I saw two simultaneous flowers from the plant.

Last night the other two buds opened, and today, June 30, there are four flowers in full bloom! Quite the spectacle. This scene will only last two days at most before the flowers begin to wilt, but it's a fine display while it lasts.