Blogging with mehar_mah

Tree frog on a flower, Lake Kissimmee, Florida, USA The charming prince?  Charming princess, rather.. Perched on the petals of a Nymphaea, on Lake Kissimmee in Florida, we thought this little frog quite interesting to watch.  In the United States, these little amphibians are celebrated during the month of the frog which pays homage to all the frogs in the world, which represents no less than 4,000 species!  Among the different kinds of frogs, this little tree frog is favored by most of us, no doubt because of its small size, funny face and the fact that it requires very little attention.  Some of the American gardens are populated by it and it is even the official reptile of Louisiana and Georgia!  A star frog, what.

Saguaro cactus flowers, Coronado National Forest, Arizona, USA The desert blooms Spring may yet to have sprung here in the UK, but across the Atlantic, in the US state of Arizona, the Sonoran Desert is coming into wildflower season. Soon the big daddy of the cactus world – the saguaro – will start to bloom. This amazing succulent is the largest cactus in the United States (it can grow higher than 50ft and weigh several tonnes, when it’s fully hydrated). It can also live more than 100 years and will grow arms as it ages, creating that classic cactus profile associated with the desert and the Wild West. Its flowers are short-lived, typically blooming at dusk and remaining open only until the following morning. They form at the top of the plant and the tips of branches and are striking enough to be honoured as Arizona's state flower. They’ll go on to produce a red, edible fruit that will ripen by July. (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Picture)