Prickly Pear Cactus

I finally found some prickly pear cactus that was in bloom.

This is an edible cactus. It's leaves are used in Mexican cooking.

And in the late summer, these pretty yellow blossoms will give way to tasty purplish fruit.

Prickly pear cacti are all over the place.

And when the fruit is ripe, you can pick them off the ground in the parks and streets of Lubbock just like you can pick up apples off the ground in any New England apple orchard.

Just be careful of the prickly spines. After all, it's called "prickly pear" for a reason.