Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Cactus Monday - Desert Dome

Hi there. I'm a little late for Cactus Monday this week. Chris and I were visiting family in Wisconsin for a few days. While we were exploring Milwaukee, we went inside Mitchell Park Conservatory, also known as "The Domes."
The three beehive-shaped glasshouses are The Arid Dome, The Tropical Dome and the Floral Show Dome. The Arid Dome features cacti from North and South America as well as Africa.
It was hot, bright and sunny inside the Desert Dome. Strolling along the paths felt similar to walking around at home in the Sonoran Desert. Perhaps all that was missing were cactus wren songs, buzzing cicadas and glimpses of lizards darting here and there.






I hope everyone is having a happy Cactus Week. We were without internet on our trip, so it'll probably take me a few days to catch up on visiting all your great blogs.

For more Cactus Monday posts, visit Teri's Painted Daisies.
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27 comments:

  1. TeriJune 30, 2009 at 7:20 AM

    Oh how funny, you being in my area. Gosh, I used to live near Milw. and drag my kids there a lot. I remember loving the Desert Dome, maybe it was a forewarning of things to come.

    Great shots Diane!

    HCM!!

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  2. deedeeJune 30, 2009 at 7:46 AM

    a bit of home away from home.... Welcome back to our 108/112 :)

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  3. ProsperoJune 30, 2009 at 8:09 AM

    Hi Diane, glad to have you back. Sounds like you had a really nice trip. Those domes look so impressive. The barrel cacti look great. I want to ask you about the last shot, the woolly cactus. Do you see many woolly/hairy cacti in the Sonoran desert?

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  4. Diane AZJune 30, 2009 at 8:33 AM

    Hi Prospero, Occasionally I seem them growing naturally, but I don't find many wooly/hairy cacti in this area except in landscaped gardens.

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  5. WarrenJune 30, 2009 at 8:53 AM

    wow! Great pictures, I really like your shots looking up at the dome patterns.

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  6. GaelynJune 30, 2009 at 9:41 AM

    Welcome back to the real desert. Yet how wonderful to enjoy a piece of home in Wisconson no less. Great place to visit and you captured it well.

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  7. Phoenix C.June 30, 2009 at 9:59 AM

    Glad to have you back, Diane!

    This looks like a really interesting place to visit! I like the way the dome patterns echo the criss-crossing of the barrel cacti.

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  8. AnonymousJune 30, 2009 at 12:54 PM

    Love the view of the domes, Diane. I hope you had a great visit..Those round cactus balls are very prickly looking, but beautiful shape!

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  9. Betsy Banks AdamsJune 30, 2009 at 2:27 PM

    How funny, Diane... You had to go to Milwaukee to see more cactus..... CUTE!!!!!! Did it feel just like home---except for the critters buzzing around?????

    What a neat place. Did you visit all three domes????

    Hope you had a wonderful time. Sounds like it.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  10. LanceJune 30, 2009 at 2:53 PM

    You were up our way!!! And I was just down the road a couple of miles from those domes on Saturday. I haven't visited the domes in such a long time. A treasure here in Milwaukee, and you're reminding me today that there's some pretty cool stuff right in my own backyard! Hope you enjoyed your visit to the Dairy state!!

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  11. AnnetteJune 30, 2009 at 4:22 PM

    What fun! I'd love to visit the domes! The domes make me think of your pincushion cacti without the needles, of course! Thanks for your comments on my blog. I always enjoy your comments.

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  12. UnknownJune 30, 2009 at 4:46 PM

    You were SO close! Wish I'd known, maybe we could've met! Maybe someday. :) I'm in central Wisconsin. :)

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  13. betchaiJune 30, 2009 at 6:27 PM

    wow, those are beautiful domes Diane. Did not know you went on a trip as well, and am glad it looked like you also had a wonderful trip.

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  14. JulieJune 30, 2009 at 7:59 PM

    What a great looking place to visit! I would love the succulents in there, I betcha!!! LOL.
    Happy Cactus MOnday, late!!!

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  15. StephanieJune 30, 2009 at 9:47 PM

    Hello Diane, just drop by to say hello ;-) The domes structure is so unique! This conservatory looks so futuristic. The cactus look so wonderful here. TQ for sharing the photos. Have a great day!

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  16. yoon seeJune 30, 2009 at 10:25 PM

    Happy Cactus Monday!
    Sorry to drop by late!
    I super love the 1st, 2nd, 4th and 5th photos.
    I am so glad that you had visited this unique desert dome that featured the most beautiful and diverse cacti in the world!
    I am sure this will be your most unforgettable cacti joy trip!

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  17. RajeshJuly 1, 2009 at 2:53 AM

    Beautiful shots. Loved the architecture of dome and that is lot of variety of cactus.

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  18. DavidJuly 1, 2009 at 2:36 PM

    Nice pictures. The cacti appear to be flourishing in the domes. As I recall growing up, the futurists predicted that we'd all be living in self-sustaining domes in the future.

    As the saying goes, they're nice to visit but I wouldn't want to live in one.

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  19. Martha ZJuly 1, 2009 at 3:16 PM

    All the way to Wisconsin to see cactus, thats dedication! I bet you got some other material for us a well, I'm looking forward to seeing it.
    Mark just planted a cactus garden at his house so maybe next year I'll have some catus to show.

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  20. Bhavesh ChhatbarJuly 3, 2009 at 4:00 AM

    What a nice way to express the Cactus Week. Happy Cactus Week to you too. Who says now that cacti are ugly?

    Kanda Bhaji from Sinhgadh (AKA Sinhgad, Sinhagad, Sinhagadh)

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  21. yoon seeJuly 3, 2009 at 8:13 AM

    Thanks for dropping by again Diane C.
    I really appreciate your lovely comment.
    Until the next week, please have a restful and creative weekends:)
    Bye from Malaysia!

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  22. Unseen India ToursJuly 3, 2009 at 11:17 AM

    I think i have never seen such cactus before !! This is so beautiful !! THanks for sharing such a post..I am now following you..Do check my another blog also i.e.Unseen Rajasthan

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  23. LisaNewtonJuly 3, 2009 at 7:46 PM

    LOL..............Cactus in Wisconsin. I think it's great. Who knew there was domed cactus.

    I love the combination of the cactus with the domed structure, and my favorite shot is the walking trail.

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  24. kesslerdeeJuly 4, 2009 at 12:05 PM

    awesome pictures- it looks like a very cool place to see. Thanks for sharing!

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  25. Icy BCJuly 4, 2009 at 8:33 PM

    Diane,

    You're been tagged on Wandering Thoughts!

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  26. Lynda LehmannJuly 5, 2009 at 8:05 AM

    I love Arizona and am excited to have found your blog!

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  27. SAPhotographs (Joan)July 6, 2009 at 12:27 AM

    This looks like a terrific place Diane, I know I would spend hours wandering around it.

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