This is the Cholla Cactus. It is also known as the jumping cactus or teddy bear cactus. Three feet along the path, my hat blew off in the wind and when Bill rescued it for me, he turned it over to find a part attached - they are tricky little suckers and even after that hitchhiker was shaken off, I had to carefully pick out dozens of thorns. This huge field of cholla was tantalizing - blooming and glistening in the bright sun - but we were all walking very carefully and never backed up while leaning over for a closer shot!
They continue to stand even when dead and dark brown - kind of do look like many-armed teddy bears.
I thought it was a squirrel! Will it fit in your carry-on? We don't have many cute cacti up here....
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