Earlier this year while we were in Mexico we saw the pads of this cactus in the market place with all the prickly parts scraped off. The cactus is in bloom now in the garden. Originally, we had this plant located along our 18 inch raised beds but many people would unintentionally sit on it only to discover what they had done after the fact. Including a pre-school age friend who had to convince her parents that she had "prickers on her butt". The flowers turn into a large fruit that can be used to produce a lovely jelly.
Susan Wittig Albert (author of the China Bayles mystery series) shares more about this native plant on her 'About Thyme' website, here.
I am reading Bleeding Hearts right now by Susan Wittig Albert and remembering reading About Thyme and Rosemary Remembrance.
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