Single Flower
This one has 10 flowers on it!
Prickly Pear Cactus
I like the way it has different colored flowers on the same pad. Some of the petals have faded, or maybe it was the rain. Still really pretty and fresh looking, though.
I Googled Prickly Pear Cactus to see if that's the one I have, and it is. It says it's the Texas State Plant.
"The prickly pear cactus was designated the official plant symbol of Texas in 1995. Found in the deserts of the American southwest, the fruits of most prickly pear cacti are edible, and have been a source of food to native Americans for thousands of years. Cacti in general (and the fruits in particular) are still staple foods for some residents of Mexico and Latin America and the prickly pear cactus is raised commercially. The fruit is sold under the name 'Tuna'; the branches or pads are eaten as a vegetable, called 'nopalito' or 'nopales.' "
I guess the little round parts that the blooms are on must be the fruit part. Our HOA's gardener, Jacinto, cuts off the end pieces of mine and another prickly pear across the lawn and brings them home for his wife to cook. I had never heard of cooking cactus until he told me about it.
I also have some pretty snapdragons blooming now. And bird of paradise, lavender, lantana, poinsettia, and others. We always have lots of flowers around here. During my estate sale people asked if they could buy my iris bulbs, some of which were in bloom. They are beautiful when they all bloom at once, but they are in the ground, and I thought they should stay for the new owner.
Snapdragon in the front garden
My son, Tom, loaned me a folding table, and it's sooooo much easier to use my laptop at the table. And that's about it for today.
From Me and My Dog, have a great Tuesday evening, everyone! : )
Since Craig really likes to try every new food he comes across, we bought some nopales at a farmers market a few years ago. We prepared them according to instructions from the web.
ReplyDeleteI didn't like them very much. I've also seen them sold in the grocery stores here.
There is a place in Tortilla Flats, AZ where they make wonderful prickly pear ice cream. Yumm! Oh BTW I lie feeding your fish and turtles.
ReplyDeleteIn Texas we take a "blow torch" out in the pasture and burn the needles off, so the cattle can eat the cactus.
ReplyDeleteCactus flowers are so beautiful. Not sure I would eat them either, but I hear they are great!
ReplyDeleteAfter a dreary winter, spring flowers are a real boost to the spirit! :)
ReplyDeleteBefore we sold our place, my big old cactus was just full of blooms. It was so pretty, but the lady that bought our property tore it out. stay safe.
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