Reflections

Oputina

The Oputina, or Prickly Pear, is native in the Southwest and was used by the historical Pueblo dwellers as food dating back hundreds of years. In spring the cactus blooms. I initially thought the blooms were not opening due to rain (it was a rainy week) and the unopened flowers I saw looked in ways like new buds. But then I realized the bloom cycle included the flowers curling up upon themselves, much like the buds, and the falling off, leaving the fruit pods behind.