I thought my person was taking me to look for the elusive century plant again today, but she had other ideas in mind. We went on a part of my trails that I’ve never been on before. We hiked up a ways and climbed over some rocks until she told me we were there.
I’m not sure where there was, and I’m not sure what we were supposed to be looking at – but whatever they are, they sure are strange looking.
.
.
.
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My person said these tall, skinny things are called ocotillo and this is the only place on my trails that she’s found them. She said the first “o” is short, the last two are long and the double l is pronounced like a “y”. I just pronounce it “woof.”
Okay, we’ve seen those funny things. I’m ready to go on now.
What? There’s more of them? And you’re going to make me stay here while you take pictures? They look pretty dead, except for the ones with little red flowers on top.
They what? They drop their leaves when it’s dry to save moisture and grow them again after it rains? Maybe we should share some of our water with them. That might make them grow some leaves.
Not all the water. I want some too.
Okay person, would you stop taking pictures? If we head back now we still might be able to find that elusive century plant.
bongodogblog 
thesweetkitten
June 5, 2012 at 10:33 am
Wow! The nature there is so stunning!
Bongo
June 5, 2012 at 11:12 am
Sweet Kitten, my person says it is pretty awesome here. I’m just happy to get to hang out on my trails.
misswhiplash
June 5, 2012 at 10:35 am
Alien plants Bongo, that’s what they are…but you do have adventure on your trails……
Bongo
June 5, 2012 at 11:23 am
Patreciau, they’ve definitely got to be alien plants. We’ve got all kinds of aliens around here.
misswhiplash
June 6, 2012 at 6:30 am
search them out boy’o
Bongo
June 6, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Patreciau, I’m keeping a lookout for those aliens. I just hope they’re friendly ones.
dianeskitchentable
June 5, 2012 at 2:26 pm
Bongo if I ever come visit you, I’d need you by my side – your outside doesn’t look at all like my outside so I’d need a guide dog. Lola
Bongo
June 5, 2012 at 3:48 pm
Lola, I would love to be your tour guide dog.
philosophermouseofthehedge
June 5, 2012 at 4:40 pm
Cool plants – sure they aren’t some alien space worms…or snakes hiding in plain sight…or frozen fireworks ( oh, guess it’s too hot for the last one!). Thanks for sharing the weird stuff, Bongo!
Bongo
June 5, 2012 at 6:46 pm
Karen, they could be all those things mixed up into one. There’s a town in California called Ocotillo and that’s about all that grows there. The aliens must have visited there for sure.
Jessica
June 5, 2012 at 5:34 pm
This is the first time I’ve seen an ocotillo myself…interesting! The flowers look alittle alien-ish, though! Thank you for sharing , Bongo!
Bongo
June 5, 2012 at 6:47 pm
Jessica, strange things grow in the desert. We’re considered high desert, but some of the strangeness still creeps up here.
Jen
June 5, 2012 at 9:04 pm
I’ve never heard of octillo before. The flowers are really cool, though!
Bongo
June 5, 2012 at 9:25 pm
Jen, it’s a desert plant. The flowers are pretty cool. They just grow out of the very tops of the plant.
Bosun Dawg
June 5, 2012 at 9:10 pm
Enjoyed this a lot Bongo. We’ve never been out West and seen the desert.
Bongo
June 5, 2012 at 9:26 pm
Bosun Dawg, I enjoy sharing where I live. The desert can be beautiful – especially when everything is in bloom.
marina kanavaki
June 6, 2012 at 12:13 am
Bongo, you are so lucky! You have a wonderful person who takes you out to these beautiful places and get to see so many things like these weird plants for example! [well, of course she is also lucky for having you!]
Bongo
June 6, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Marina, my person is very lucky to have me. Otherwise she wouldn’t have me to take to all these beautiful places.
angelswhisper2011
June 6, 2012 at 12:35 am
Looking very spacy to me those ocotillo’s, Bongo. Btw you would be a good tour guide, Bongo 😉
Bongo
June 6, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Angels Whisper, any time you come here I would love to be your tour guide. I’m pretty expensive though. You have to give me lots of loves.
Chancy and Mumsy
June 6, 2012 at 5:57 am
Sweet Bongo we so enjoy the pictures of the beauty on your trail. We get to see things we have never seen before and probably never would if you were not sharing. Hugs and nose kisses
Bongo
June 6, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Chancy and Mumsy, I’m glad you’re enjoying the pictures. Hugs and nose kisses back to you.
eripanwkevin
June 6, 2012 at 6:43 am
Woooow!!! Very breathtaking photos!!!! Me and mom looked up “Ocotillo” on our dictionary and it says that it looks like Cactus… does it, Bongo? Hmmmm….yes…when we look at them closely on the photos, we can see prickles…the flowers are also beautiful! Awww…we thank your person very much for showing these very exotic plants, Bongo! 🙂
Bongo
June 6, 2012 at 3:45 pm
Thanks Kevin. The ocotillo looks a lot like a cactus, but it has thorns rather than the small pricklers that most cactus have.
colliesofthemeadow
June 6, 2012 at 7:27 am
What a beautiful place! Trevor took one look and said they need to be watered… hehehehe
Do stop by our blog, we have a surprise in yesterday’s post for you! 🙂
God Bless You!
the collies and chuck 🙂
Bongo
June 6, 2012 at 4:02 pm
Collies and Chuck, those ocotillo definitely need to be watered but I’m not going to do it myself because they have spiny things sticking out of them. My person is still pulling that “busy” thing so we stopped by your blog just now. Thanks so much for the award. You guys are awesome.
Bassas Blog
June 6, 2012 at 8:44 am
The “woof” plants with little red flowers on top are very clever to shed their leaves when it’s hot Bongo and grow them again when it rains.
Bongo
June 6, 2012 at 4:03 pm
Bassa, I thought it was very clever of those “woof” plants too. I just learned that they do that. My person wondered why they didn’t have any leaves and found out why on the internet.
fluffypopcorn
June 6, 2012 at 10:55 am
They look tall and spiky! i would have run away from them if i saw it! i’m timid like that! =X
Bongo
June 6, 2012 at 4:11 pm
Popcorn, those ocotillo are very tall and spiky, but they’re also very skinny so they don’t seem scary.
Bassetmomma
June 7, 2012 at 8:52 pm
Bongo, you have some of the strangest looking plants around your trails! 🙂
Bongo
June 7, 2012 at 10:28 pm
Bassetmomma, I thought they were kind of normal, but my person says most people – and dogs – never have seen them.
tylersat99
June 7, 2012 at 9:07 pm
Ok Bongo I have to agree that as much as I love Sedona I can’t say that that plant excites me. Its fun to see things that are rare and only grow in one place, but once would be enough. BTW you always want your Mom to take you when she’s going out to take pictures so you can’t be impatient when she takes them!
Bongo
June 7, 2012 at 10:30 pm
Lexie and Mica, I guess I shouldn’t complain should I. I would be very upset if my person went out with her camera and left me at home.
rumpydog
June 8, 2012 at 7:52 am
Those are pretty cool too. Lots of tall stuff in the desert.
Bongo
June 8, 2012 at 10:31 am
Rumpy, there really are some cool, tall things in the desert. I’m going to have to talk my person into taking me further down into the desert where the saguaro cactus grow. She says they’re really cool.