parley view parsnip. . . prickly pear

As many of you know I live in the foothills of the Catalina Mountains of Tucson, Arizona

which is in the Sonoran Desert.

This is a very green desert not to be mixed up with the Sahara Desert.

.

Our winter this year was nonexistent and spring has been short. 

All the plants are getting ready for a super hot and dry summer.

Today I am posting some photos of the Prickly Pear Cactus.

Paddle cactus, nopales, tuna are all names of Opuntia. 

(had to look that family name up)

Besides Prickly Pear the other most common name is Indian Fig.

The fruit of the prickly pear called cactus fig, can be used to make candy, jelly or vodka.

The young pads are called nopales are edible and  used in Mexican cuisine. 

The taste is fine but can be too slimy and drippy for me.

.

Here are just a few of the Prickly Pear Cactus around my home.

.

 Love this photo because of the water drops.

.

  Buds all lined up ready to bloom.
You can see a new smaller very green and tender pad peeking out on the left.
The Javelinas love to eat the new pads.

.

 .

 .

 .

 I love the way this yellow bloom starts out pale pink.

.

 .

 Paper thin petals, so delicate, set on pads with spiky thorns. 

.

 .

 .

 I loved this one and the friggin pack rats ate the cactus and destroyed it !
Whoops wrong cactus bloom but it is a favorite

.

 Here are a few pads and fruit from last year.

Aren't they beautiful.

.

A few of my torn paper Prickly Pear cactus note cards.

 .

 .

 .

This is one of my colored pencils drawing of my violet prickly pear 

that always has yellow blooms.
The family name is Opuntia Violacea Santa Rita.
Beautiful name for a lovely cactus.

.

.

.............................................

And here is your pretty for the start of the week.

I love when I look over at The Square Ones and find them doing a mirror pose.

They are a hoot !

I never know what is going on in their minds.

yert !

woof !
.

prickly. . . parsnip

music. . . Good Golly Miss Molly,  Little Richard