Ocotillo Blooms in Sun City Mesquite NV - or are they really alien spiders?

Ocotillo plants are blooming all over Nevada - these two are in Sun City Mesquite and seem to be hiding among the thicker trees and bushes. Pretending to be a cactus. Fooled me - I thought they were cactus, or cacti - until I looked them up on Wikipedia and found out that they are Fouquieria splendens Engelm, which is a plant. Just another plant.

Without the flowers blooming, they look like very large spiders standing on their heads - hence, the rumor that these plants were left here centuries ago by aliens. Why they were left here .... who knows? I am sure that the aliens have a very good reason. I am also sure that we will find out as soon as it is too late to do anything about it.

These plants can survive on only 8 inches of rain per year, which is just about our annual average. This year, we have already had our yearly average - which is why the cactus and imposter plants are blooming so prolifically right now. It really is a glorious show going on right now in Mesquite - and that includes the alien spiders with their crimson blooms.

Ocotillo blooms in Mesquite NV - not really a cactus, just looks like one.

And this May 31 Day challenge is killing me.