Only blooms at night...

I'd like to introduce you to an amazing blossom - a Cereus Peruvianus (Peruvian Apple) Cactus Flower. I wish I could take credit for this - however, these beauties are growing on several of my neighbors' plants.

These blossoms are rather interesting. They are about the size of a cereal bowl - attached to a cactus that stands 9-12 feet tall. They blossoms open up at night... and when the day warms they start to close up. The blossoms in the picture above are about half-way closed at this stage.

This picture was taken around 7:15 am this morning... and the blossoms were going back into their "sleep" mode to protect them from the hot summer sun. Kind of like I do... stay inside and stay cool. At least until this cruddy, humid weather decides to wane into Fall.