I have Organ Pipe cacti in my backyard and it is their season to bloom (May, June and July).
During the this time the cactus will send out a shoot and it usually takes about 5 - 7 days for a bud to form.
Once the bud is fully formed the cactus will bloom during the night.
Blooms typically range from four-inches to six-inches across.
The white flower is very delicate and easily bruised, some organ pipe flowers are a pale lavender.
If you touch the petals it almost feels like thin waxy paper.
The flower will stay open through mid-afternoon, although as the day progresses it will slowly close in on itself.
When it has completely closed the shoot and spent flower will drop within a couple of days.
Organ Pipe stems have been known to reach 23 to 26 feet high but are typically found around 16 feet.
They are long-lived and it takes 150 years for Organ Pipes to reach maturity.
I have read that Organ Pipes do not bear flowers until they are about 35-years-old.
However, I think this may only be true for cacti growing naturally in the desert.
It's definitely not true for those growing in my yard.
I believe the reason could be that backyard cacti receive more water provided by the homeowner than they would in their natural desert setting.
Nevertheless, the cacti thrive in the desert heat and its lack of water, yet like clockwork manage to dazzle us each summer with these beautiful flowers.
If you want to see these majestic cacti in their natural desert setting visit the National Park Organ Pipe Cactus NM in southern Arizona.
So, as the Organ Pipe endures another year of the extreme desert temperature I will look forward to its next spectacular blooming!