Cactus Blooms

Is there anything more beautiful than nature? Or how the environment ages and decays something? The cactus that greeted me this morning were in full bloom, but a few hours later the 106 degree heat had robbed the blooms of their joy. When I saw this image in the viewfinder I had an one of those spine tingling moments, a serious of  still life images. I gathered a few of the fallen blooms and started playing with them on a black background.

The lighting on this one is problematic, but I like if anyway.

The problematic image gave me the idea for this one. The texture on these blooms is amazing.

In the evening the lighting on the roof next door often glows and creates its own set of photographic problems. I've shot it numerous times over the last few years but when this insect posed for hours in the same spot I finally got the message and shot the roof line again. I have no idea

what the insect is but if it was in the house I'd gladly move out! The crack on the house to the left of the creature is from one of many recent earthquakes that have rumbled through the desert.