Cholla is a variety of cacti that represents more than 20 different species. Only one variety is featured at this location, one whose common name is the “teddy bear” cholla. I suppose I could understand the name if it were provided to them by someone who’d only ever seen one from a distance. They are amazing plants, utilizing their stems to perform numerous functions including photosynthesis and water storage.
There is an almost Seussian quality about them, a result of the aforementioned color and fuzziness combined with the awkward way in which their limbs grow as they age. Cholla Cactus Garden, therefore, looks much like something you’d expect to find in Whoville. It is a whimsical little stretch of desert and is only made to look even more vibrant beneath the bright sapphire-blue desert sun.
Though the trail is only a quarter-mile long, I would encourage allotting enough time for pictures and for a leisurely stroll through the garden. There is a patient, peaceful energy that permeates the area and, unlike the little cacti themselves, it is something that you can take with you.
Oh, and watch out for bees!