Monday, May 12, 2014

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.
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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.
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Here are just a few of the Prickly Pear Cactus around my home.
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 Love this photo because of the water drops.
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  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.
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 I love the way this yellow bloom starts out pale pink.
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 Paper thin petals, so delicate, set on pads with spiky thorns. 
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 I loved this one and the friggin pack rats ate the cactus and destroyed it !
Whoops wrong cactus bloom but it is a favorite
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 Here are a few pads and fruit from last year.
Aren't they beautiful.
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A few of my torn paper Prickly Pear cactus note cards.

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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.

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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 !
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prickly. . . parsnip
music. . . Good Golly Miss Molly,  Little Richard



24 comments:

  1. I have a flowering cactus - a present from my MIL so am doing my best to keep it going!

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  2. Love your torn paper cards Parsnip. I always think Cacti look like plants from another planet.

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    Replies
    1. just wait till I post some of my other cactus
      Thank You I love doing torn paper.

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  3. I've been wanting to add prickly pear to my garden. I'll have to study up on them.

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  4. The square ones look so sweet in their 'mirror' pose. It's such a comfy looking spot for those gud dugs. I had to Google pack rats...'shudder'. Hate to think of them getting at your beautiful plants and destroying them. They certainly are nasty creatures but apparently, an important part of the food chain. Blech. Just wish not in your garden!

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    Replies
    1. I must say they are kinda cute but.... I like them cute some where else.
      I have a service that comes out 4 times a year to clean them out.
      And I must say when I see a owl with one I am happy.

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  5. Wow, what wonderful images! I love your torn paper pricklies and of course your beautiful flowers and gud dugs. :)

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  6. The Square Ones look like a pair of bookends:-)

    The prickly pear flowers are stunning, especially those lemon yellow ones.

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    Replies
    1. Some years they are covered wit blooms this year not so much reserving strength for summer.

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  7. I love cacti! They're all beautiful!

    Especially those two fellas in the last photo....

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  8. I love your cactus photos. They have such beautiful and colorful blooms. I especially love the one of your favorite. So beautiful. I also love your note cards. They are very cute!
    Your square ones doing mirror poses are adorable :-) Have a wonderful new week!

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  9. Gorgeous photos! You make the desert seem a very appealing place.

    Stupid pack rats...

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    Replies
    1. The desert like all place has good and bad parts.
      And the bad ish part is coming... a hot dry summer.

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  10. Such rich colours and textures in the cacti!

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    Replies
    1. They are amazing plants. More cactus posts to come

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  11. Interesting to see flowers bloom from a cactus, as if it were a prickly stem.

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  12. What's going on in their minds is that our mommy is an overachiever who takes amazing photos, paints amazing paintings and writes the loveliest blogs while we are hanging around waiting for chikin' strips.

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