When I was Arizona, I saw this unusual (to me) products
Nopalitos marinated Cactus recipe for cactus salad
Prickly Pear Cactus paddles Yes or No?
“Are nopales in a jar good for you?”
“Nopales and prickly pear fruit are high in antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. They are a nutritious addition to a balanced diet and may help decrease blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and lower cholesterol.”
When you get a request from your granddaughter for a knitted item, you try to oblige. Within reason of course. -I’m thinking “a hat, mittens, a scarf……”
“Could you make me a knitted cactus?” Anna asked.
Huh?
I didn’t know there was such a thing. Thanks to Pinterest spreading the word, succulents, knitted, crocheted and stitched are a trend.
Mine looks different from the pattern by Lucille Randall. (which is free on Ravelry)
Might need more stuffing. Also I need my friend Donna or FF Marlene to help crochet a better flower. I followed the directions but it seems knitting is my stronger skill for sure.
When I started. I used DPNs size one. 
When I was telling my knitting friend, I had a flashback to a knit cactus I saw a couple of years ago at Hill Country Weavers in Austin, Texas. We were in line to check out and there it sat. Never thought another thing about it until now and I’d taken a quick phone photo.
Thanks for the Dream in Color Handpainted yarn, Molly. AND for finding that skein of Kidsilk Haze in the Jelly color. Unbelievable.
Cactus at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center
Hill Country Weavers – yarn store on South Congress
Guest blogger is friend Lisa who captured this shot when she took a walk.
Power in disguise. I should have included this image along with the real Saguaro yesterday so one could compare.
Believe me, when this “cactus” is all closed up and there is not a cherry picker parked alongside, you’d drive right by a hundred times and not see the bolts or secret door!
There’s a link to photos of disguised cell phone towers
No maple, oak or birch.
I’d never really seen a Saguaro Cactus up close (except in movies and cartoons) until my midwinter break.
Saguaro Cactus of the Sonoran Desert- click for info about Saguaro Cactus
My friend Kristin sent this beautiful Orchid Cactus (epiphyllum) blossom from Florida- on the phone!
I invited her to guest blog it. I had never seen an orchid cactus before.
The cactus blooms once a summer and the flower lasts about 24 hours.
Glenn Rice’s page states “Opens and closes in a single night” opens and closes on a single night
That’s it. A beautiful short life.
Kristin got the cactus at a local/ native nursery.
From behind the bloom
Thanks Kristin for sending the beautiful blossom. I forgot to ask if it has a scent.