USA/CA: Joshua Tree NP – Cholla Garden

Cholla Cactus Garden is one of the more bizarre attractiosn in the Joshua Trees National Park – a large area with extremely high of Cholla Cactus (Opuntia bigelovii) concentration, where the cacti grow higher then humans. While cholla is often called “teddy bear cactus” for its cute and plush appearance, it ain’t worth hugging – it releases needles and entire cactus sections at the slightest touch and you will have hard and long time extracting them from all over your body. This defense mechanism is effective for desert survival as well as transportation of the plant to new areas.