The seed catalogs have been pouring in since January, and lately, I’ve been spending some time going through them looking for favorites and maybe a couple of new varieties to try. This is what gardeners do in the depth of winter, when it is sub-zero outside.
The colors always stimulate me as well. I tend to like deep vibrant colors rather than pastels. Fuchsia, Crimson, Gold, and Violet are some of my favorite shades contrasting with Chartreuse or Emerald foliage.
But, when pondering what to write about for this week’s Poetry Friday post, I settled on a plant that I’ve seen growing almost everyplace I’ve been. And, it really doesn’t fit those traits I just listed as what attracts me to certain plants.
This plant is different. It is a cactus. A prickly pear. You can read more about this cactus in a previous post of mine from 2019.
Prickly Pear Today, I thought of the prickly pear One of my favorite plants Returning year after year. No matter where I’ve travelled or even lived, The prickly pear is found lying there. The side of the road, a yard or two, or even on the sand prairie, alone but not blue. The fact we have a cactus survive Our Wisconsin cold and snow Tells us how tough it is to thrive. A leathery skin with tiny spines Arising from areola pads, oh so kind. Protect the flesh from creatures who might dine. Stems not leaves proves a cactus true. It screams “don’t step on me,” my needles give this silent clue. Yes, prickly pears are a favorite plant But if I get stuck, You’ll find that I recant.
Today is Poetry Friday. Our host this week is Ruth and her blog There is no such thing as a Godforsaken Town. Please visit her blog for links to more poetry and for an inspiring post on the book Braiding Sweetgrass. Thanks, Ruth!
The Apples in My Orchard 
Love the humor at the end! I do admire those plants that seem to survive everywhere.
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Yes! They are a testament to survival!
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Carol, like Kay, I like the humor in the last stanza (as well as the rest of the poem). I didn’t know prickly pear cacti were found as far north as Wisconsin–wow!
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We also had them where I grew up in the Western New York – Rochester area! We had a patch in our yard, in fact! Thanks, Tim!
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Ha! Your last night was a good giggle. Love it.
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Last line is hopefully what I think you meant! Oh, that damn auto-correct. Your comment gave me a good laught, too!
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WOW! I never in the world would have imagined prickly pears in Wisconsin! That’s some kind of survival!
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It is for sure! Especially, with some of the frigid winter’s we have had lately!
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We ate some prickly pear fruit from a large plant along the sidewalk in Sedona. Juicy and delicious!
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Hi, Peg! The closest I’ve come to eating it is drinking the prickly pear drink at Panera and a flavored water you can buy. On my next trip to the West, I am going to eat some! 🙂 Good to hear from you! I miss you, Peg!
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I love these photos! So beautiful! I didn’t know something like this might be in Wisconsin! I enjoyed your poem and learned something.
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Thank you! They exist in New york as well, in case you didn’t know! We had some in my parents yard growing up outside of Rochester!
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The prickly pear in Balboa Park is a beauty, wow! I can see why you like it. It’s not something that has grown around me (in Virginia, Iowa, Georgia, or Maryland), unless I just haven’t noticed. But who wouldn’t notice that spiny survivor? Thanks for sharing.
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I see them in various places here in Colorado, but especially love them at our Botanic Gardens & those flowers – gorgeous. I love “my needles give this silent clue.” – Yes, they do! I’ve had a few encounters while hiking! What fun that your seed catalogs gave you a poem!
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