Not a rose, but this stunning bloom
reminds me of a Spanish Rose.
The Opuntia Robusta, better known as
the Prickly Pear or Wheel Cactus
can be seen blooming in May and June
in gardens and open land here in Texas.
It's a superstar in the state of Texas
and can grow to be five feet tall.
The blue-gray round or oval pads
can grow to be four to ten inches long
and have very sharp spines.
These stunning blooms can be from
two to five inches across.
Once the flower blooms, it leaves
a barrel-shaped fleshy pink or purple fruit.
These edible plants are used in traditional Mexican cuisine.
Though no Prickly Pear grow in my garden,
there are several large plants growing in neighbors'
gardens that I pass by on my daily walks.
I hope you enjoyed seeing a bit of
Texas "sunshine" from one of my recent walks.
Thank you, Pam, for hosting
Also joining
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I'm not big on cactus, but I am loving that gorgeous yellow flower.
ReplyDeleteThere are two huge prickly pear patches on either side of one of my neighborhood's entrances that have been spectacular while blooming this year. I suppose someone planted them long ago, given their placement. But my favorite use of prickly pear is the prickly pear margarita at Boudro's in San Antonio!
ReplyDeleteI only have a small one in my flowerbed but I do enjoy the blooms!!...lovely photos!
ReplyDeleteJust beautiful! I love the colour of the plant. My twin sister went to AZ many years ago and was able to bring back some Prickly Pear Cactus for our local zoo and it lasted even through the Winter of KY for several years. It still may be there.
ReplyDeleteSo pretty and abundant Sarah!
ReplyDeleteGood Morning, Sarah! Even tho I have lived in TX for 15 years, I have never seen this type of plant. I love it - so pretty! Hope you have a wonderful week, dear friend.
ReplyDeleteI'm not familiar with this plant either, I would put up with the prickles for those flowers for sure! Stunning :)
ReplyDeleteWren x
Cactus flowers are so pretty. I loved all your photos! Hugs!
ReplyDeleteIs this the famous "yellow rose of Texas? If so it is truly stunning and makes a fabulous mosaic to kick off this week's Mosaic Monday, merci madame!
ReplyDeleteSarah, That is a lovely yellow bloom. Thanks for sharing. Have a great week. Sylvia D.
ReplyDeleteOften when I see a blooming cactus, I am fascinated by it's perfection. The flowers are so beautiful that they hardly seem real considering their source. I have grown to love cacti and succulents more and more and your examples are stunning!
ReplyDeleteLove,
Susan and Bentley
They are beautiful! I bought a Cowboy piano music book this morning and came home and played The Yellow Rose of Texas today. What a coincidence. We have quite a bit of cactus here too. I'll have to pay attention to when it blooms! Enjoy your day my friend. Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteWhat a fabulous bloom, Sarah. I rarely see cactus -- only when I travel -- so it is especially intriguing to me!
ReplyDeleteSarah - before we lived in Arizona, I never thought much of arid regions. But then we had the opportunity to hike in the desert after several rains, and the various flowering cacti were stunning. Your pictures are great examples!
ReplyDeleteThere are No cactus (cacti?) here in NY!! Such a pretty flower!
ReplyDeleteI have seen these around and they are beautiful - even in Sicily they were growing at some of the historic temple sites we visited.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing Texas beauty Sarah - but stay away from those prickly spines, they can really hurt!
Hugs - Mary
What a beautiful flower, thanks so much for sharing. Be careful on your walks, you don't want to get one of those spines on you. Bet it would really hurt.
ReplyDeleteHope your enjoying summer. It's really HOT here.
Hugs,
Mary
What a spectacular plant...five feet tall! Wow!
ReplyDeleteI've had fried cactus at my favorite Mexican restaurant, and have seen it sold in the bins at a great grocery store. I have to look up a few recipes. It's really delicious.
Jane x
What a pretty flower! I bet it's quite a sight to see in person. As I opened this story to read I smiled because I am drinking coffee from a coffee mug decorated with yellow roses! I've heard of prickly pear but didn't know it's origins.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful Sarah!! Cacti are one of Mother Natures ironic surprises!!
ReplyDeleteJenna
Sarah, what a pretty cactus! The flowers are so vibrant! Thank you for sharing at Make it Pretty Monday! Have a happy week! Toodles, Kathryn @TheDedicatedHouse
ReplyDeleteThis cactus blossom is beautiful. Such a vibrant yellow. I enjoyed this interesting post and learned several things.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I have always heard of the prickly pear, but I have never seen one. Wow, the bloom is simply gorgeous! I think I have seen recipes or maybe even on menus, prickly pear drinks, is that correct? Thanks so much for sharing this intriguing cactus at Gardens Galore!
ReplyDeleteSuch an interesting cacti with a stunning bloom! I have heard of the prickly pear, I had no idea it bloomed. I'm sure you enjoy your walks with such beautiful plants to behold. Happy walking Sarah......
ReplyDeleteTakes me back to the year 1977....when I "took the opportunity" on my own to take a cutting of a prickly pear while in FL - ouch - but it did live, and it flowered back home as a houseplant (before I did landscape gardening, I was big into houseplants). ;)
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed a Prickly Pear Margarita but never seen the beautiful blooms! Amazing they are that large and rose-like :)
ReplyDeleteWow, they are really lovely! Nothing like that in my neck of the woods!!
ReplyDeleteI have a thing for yellow flowers, Sarah. I used to grow some cacti and succulents but it wasn't much of a success. I love fried cactus at a Mexican restaurant nearby. I'd love to learn how to make it.
ReplyDeleteFinally, I'm game for trying anything new, I like a Margarita before a meal but don't really like liquor. Kids bought hubby a blender for Father's Day, so I have a feeling we will be whipping up some great drinks!
Jane x
Last year we went to Big Bend here cacti were blooming prolifically. You wouldn't believe how many photos I took.
ReplyDeleteHi Sarah, what a wonderful find, both you and your blog. Your posting is very educational for me. Even though we live in the Mojave Desert, my roots are from New England. Sadly, my thumb is not green but rather brown. Perhaps it is time for me to stop dreaming of my childhood fondness for 'Lillies of the Valley', 'Hydrangeas', 'Lilacs' and the like and start dreaming of your beautiful cacti. They are all wonderful. I enjoy margaritas too. Must try the one made from a 'Prickly Pear' if I can find one. I will be following you for more of your gardening inspiration. So happy we found each other. Enjoy the 4th and "Happy Birthday America".
ReplyDeleteFondly,
Barb
Very beautiful! Love yellow flowers!
ReplyDeleteDearest Sarah,
ReplyDeleteYou sure took some stunning photos of this cacti rose!
Sending you hugs for a happy weekend and a happy 4th of July,
Mariette
Love this Sarah. When we visited Arizona, we saw some beautiful prickly pear. We got quite the education on cacti. The yellow is beautiful. It is wonderful to see these cacti, however it wouldn't be good in our yard with our dogs. Have a wonderful 4th.
ReplyDeleteThese are so pretty. I am just amazed how such scary plants produce such beautiful flowers! Mother Nature is indeed marvelous!
ReplyDeleteI can't believe how much they eat prickly pear in Cabo. At Wal Mart they have a man standing there in the produce section hacking off the spines and there are piles and piles of them for sale.
They definitely are beautiful! I've seen them a number of times and have had prickly pear jelly. Thanks for sharing with SYC.
ReplyDeletehugs,
Jann
It truly is a desert delight! In Phoenix people would eat the cactus~ fried, baked all sorts of ways. Have a wonderful holiday dear friend!
ReplyDelete