Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus (Opuntia humifusa)
I stumbled upon the location of a group of Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus plants on Long Island, NY, a few years ago while on a hike. The Prickly Pear is a rare cactus on LI. I returned a number of times to capture the yearly development of the flowers and fruit in photos.
June 26th
The Cactus had many new flower buds growing from the pads.
Some of the plants already had flowers.
July 27th
After the flowers are pollinated they fall off and the fruits mature and ripen.
October 16th
Ripened Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit.
October 29th
Prickly Pear Cactus Fruit still ripening
Found a surprise on one of the Prickly Pear Fruit -- a Spring Peeper!
More on the Prickly Pear Cactus
