"Girzzley Bear", or "Mojave" or "Oldman" Prickly Pear Cactus; Opuntia polyacantha var erinacea, with Bright Yellow Flowers

Prickly Pear Cactus Observations

Late June finally had an excuse/opportunity to learn something of the cactus which grows around here.  On early visits here, I noticed that there were quite a few relatively small cactus around. Often they would be in the shade of a Sage Brush or Pinyon Pine.  While it is very dry and very hot much of the year here, it quite often goes below freezing and quite often much colder. Plus, in "normal" non-drought years there can be significant snow fall. Not the place I would expect to find cactus. Up to this point I just gave this a glancing and occasional thought.

Mid to Late afternoon Saturday June 20, I was enjoying the shade of  our covered deck area when I noticed a bright yellow flower some 50 or so feet away.  All flowers I've seen nearby have been small and delicate and this was gigantic in comparison.

I had never seen such a huge flower here, so this was something to get excited about. 

Cactus #1---One Blooming Flower but Perhaps Many More to Come

Flowers Were filled with insects---ants, bees, wasps and not sure what all.

As I neared this first cactus a second cactus of six blooming flowers came into view!

Cactus # 2

This was getting even more exciting!  Looks like more buds on this one too!  

Later, in the early evening, I was very surprised to see the flower totally closed up......

but felt that tomorrow would be a grand day.

Cactus #2  Six Flowers Closed for the night---so I thought.

Next morning I awoke and walked out to see the progress on cactus #1 & #2.  Seemed like all was normal, but there would be another flower on cactus #1.  Check mid to late morning and I was surprised to only see one flower beginning to open....

Following is Cactus #2 in a sequence of three pictures......

 Begins with my first sighting Saturday afternoon.

Catctus # 2-----Mid day Saturday---6 Blooms

Cactus #2----Early Sunday Morning--But only one Bud going to Open

Cactus #2----Mid Day Sunday with but one Bloom

I thought this must be quite a unique plant which made this quite exciting!  But I was soon to discover this characteristic not so unique, for:  All cactus flowers are for but a single day.

Over the course of the next days and two weeks

I was to search and discover quite a few more plants with the same stunning flowers.

Some of the local Prickly Pear names of this are: "Grizzly Bear" or "Mojave" or "Old Man"

Its scientific name: Opuntia polyacantha var. erinacea  

AND Each flower gave us ONE DAY ONLY enjoyment with  their Yellow Brilliance!!!