Desert Decor: The Unique Appeal of the Cholla Cactus
Cholla Cactus (Cylindropuntia) at Anza Borrego State Park
Southern California is known to house a wide range of natural environments, but none feel as quintessential to the landscape as its vast deserts. Many residents and visitors find solace in the state's desert environments, which host a rich variety of plant and animal life, and provide a stark contrast to more bustling urban city centers. Iconic to these landscapes are the wide variety of succulents and cacti, including the diversity of cholla cacti featured in many state deserts. The most notable collection may be the cholla cactus garden in Joshua tree. However, the plant is interspersed in many desert landscapes, including the shrubbery of Red Rock Canyon and the Mojave Desert.
Cholla Cactus (Cylindropuntia) at Anza Borrego State Park
As a reflection of the unique wildlife beloved in the southern California region, our studio opted to use the cylindropuntia fulgida, or jumping cholla, at the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park as an inspiration for the print on our Cholla Tote. Anza-Borrego houses a cactus garden featuring a wide array of cacti, including several cholla varietals, from the cylindropuntia bigelovii cactaceae (coyly known as teddybear cholla) to cylindropuntia ramosissima, or diamond cholla. The cacti, including cylindropuntia echinocarpa (silver or golden cholla) and cylindropuntia ganderi cactaceae (gander's cholla), bear succulent flowers through the spring, providing a welcome contrast to their spiky texture and barbed spines, which often cling to visitors as unintended souvenirs.
Cholla Cactus (Cylindropuntia) at Anza Borrego State Park
A visit to the state park during a rare super bloom highlighted the surprising yet suitable pairing of soft romantic florals against the less hospitable-looking cacti, encompassing in one plant the variety of nature so unique and beloved to southern California.
Beyond their distinct beauty, Chollas can also serve as a nesting ground for birds like the cactus wren, who use the spikes as a protective barrier from predators, earning an extra layer of appreciation from our avian-adoring studio.
Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus)
The design for the tote was carefully hand drawn with emphasis on the plant's ruffled floral edges and spiky barbs, a contrast emphasized with the black and white design. Considerate of environmental impact, the tote bags are produced in small batches using certified organic cotton fabric printed to order and dyed with non-toxic, water-based inks.
A suitable California alternative to spring florals, the tote features an open main compartment, perfect for storing an abundance of farmers market produce, hauling fresh cut florals, or quickly accessing water and well-worn nature journals during desert excursions.
Sarah Barnard, WELL AP + LEED AP, is a leading designer of personalized, sustainable spaces that support mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing. She creates highly personalized, restorative spaces that are deeply connected to art and the preservation of the environment. An advocate for consciousness, inclusivity, and compassion in the creative process, Sarah has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, Vogue, HGTV, and many other publications. In 2017 Sarah was honored as a “Ones to Watch” Scholar by the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID).