*** Best view at original size ***

This cactus usually blooms only one time per year and the flower only lasts a single night. I wanted to use
a slider for a time lapse but couldn't get things set-up in time. So I instead used a tripod and hand held an
iPhone (for the lighting) for almost three hours to photograph the bloom opening. I think I had almost as much
fun as watching paint dry.

The time lapse video can be found here: http://www.pbase.com/pegsam/image/165701801


The same cactus during one of its several bloom events (very unusual) the previous year (click for a larger view):