PAINTED CANVAS OF THE DESERT 95 



zona; in July it changes this brilliant coloring with almost 

 TcaTeTdoscopic swiftness to purple and pink splashes of the 

 fine large fruit. Truly the 

 desert is aflame with glory 

 when the prickly pears come 

 forth in bloom! Is it the 

 soul of the Flower trying to 

 find expression in beauty 

 and fragrance, attuned to 

 the soul of the poet and the 

 lover of desert creation, 

 striving to grow in tune 

 with the Universe? Here 

 is a lesson, perchance, that 

 he who runs may read; for 

 those who can pierce the 

 vale of mysteries it is called 

 *'in tune with the Infinite." 

 Opunt 'i a laevisj ^sjhi£t to 

 S IX fee tJUiLgIth_ej:£ct_wide- 

 jp reading bran ches ascend- 

 ing from the base. A very 

 few lieedl^tTke spicules de- 

 velop along the stem, 

 crowned by the large strik- 

 ing lemon-colored flowers 

 with orange-red centers, 



nearly three inches long and as broad, opening in 

 morning and folding up in late afternoon. 



SMOOTH PRICKLY PEAR (Opuntia 



lae'vis) 



the 



Foothill Prickly Pear (Opuntia Toumeyi) 



Southern /Arizona and Sonora 



Opuntia Toumeyi is a most attractive species and a dis- 

 tinctive type among cacti, covering the foothills of southern 



