Today the U.S. Postal Service is celebrating the beauty of cactus flowers with 10 new stamp designs at a First-Day-Of-Issue dedication ceremony at the Ameristamp Expo in Mesa, AZ. Cacti are among America’s most popular houseplants. Most cacti grow very slowly, and are tough, adaptable and low maintenance.
Almost all cacti are native to the Americas, ranging from British Columbia and Alberta in Canada to the southern regions of Argentina and Chile. The southwestern United States and Mexico are home to the greatest variety and abundance of cacti.
Several botanic gardens in the U.S. showcase the wide variety and stunning beauty of these plants. Cactus flowers generally occur singly, although many separate blossoms might appear on a plant at the same time. Most cactus flowers are large and flamboyant, with colors of white, red, pink, orange, or yellow. Some flowers are also richly scented, and the nectar and colors attract pollinators such as bats, bees and birds.
Art director Ethel Kessler designed the stamps with existing photographs taken by John P. Schaefer, a co-founder, along with Ansel Adams, of the Center for Creative Photography at the University of Arizona.
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