Cacti. Thirty-one varieties. Thorns, spines, pricklies, and all. Beautiful, yet decidedly ominous.

I'm not a cacti collector nor afficionado, but when I saw their sheer variety, how a single family of plants can come in so many colors and shapes, I suddenly developed this urge to photograph them and share what I saw.

You'd think a thorn is a thorn. To achieve a single purpose, how many different ways does nature need a thorn to look like? Surprise. As many varieties of cacti as you have! This album will focus solely on the different types of "thorns and pricklies." Succeeding albums will show their beautiful blooms, including how a close-up lens can reveal their "landscapes" within.

(Special thanks to my wife who dragged me to a flower show one rainy Saturday morning. The rest is history. Enjoy.)