Opuntiads of the USA

Crossing into South Dakota from the North

A park in Lemmon, SD made in the early '30s of cemented together petrified wood!

Sunset over abandoned ranch near Philip, SD

Opuntia macrorhiza in road ditch near Philip, SD

Yucca glauca with previous year seed pods and new flower spikes forming

Opuntia macrorhiza in a grassy ditch near Phillip, SD

New growth forming on Opuntia macrorhiza

Opuntia macrorhiza buds forming

Giant Prairie Dog at entrance to Badlands National Park

The South Dakota "Bad Lands"!

Opuntia polyacantha putting on new growth and buds south of Badlands National Park

Opuntia polyacantha in a slow-motion battle against erosion

O. polyacantha on ranch land south of Badland National Park

Evening Primrose (Oenothera caespitosa) growing on mud flats

Climbing in the Badlands for a closer look at the area geology

Densely-spined Opuntia polyacantha near Badlands National Park

Pale-yellow flower of Opuntia polyacantha

Close-up of red anthers of O. polyacantha

Badlands

Opuntia polyacantha hanging over a ledge

Short-grass prairie dotted by flowers

Escobaria vivipara along a ranch fence line

Two small Escobaria vivipara south of Senic, SD

Opuntia polyacantha with very pale flowers and large red center

Ponderosa pines in Wind Cave, National Park. Note fire scars at base from a controlled burn

Echinocereus viridiflorus at Wind Cave National Park

O. macrorhiza at Wind Cave National Park

Grassy hillside habitat of Echinocereus viridiflorus, O. macrorhiza, and Escobaria vivipara at Wind Cave National Park

Seedling Echinocereus protected by rocks

Solitary Echinocereus viridiflorus with spent flowers

A damaged small Escobaria trying to recover, possibly trampled by elk or deer

Echinocereus viridiflorus with fruit and seedlings

Echinocereus viridiflorus with fruits

Echinocereus viridiflorus with fruits

Echinocereus in the pine-needle duff with ponderosa pine cones

Opuntia macrorhiza at Wind Cave National Park

A "pig tail" loop, tunnel, and bridge on the road to Mt. Rushmore

South Dakota's most famous landmark: Mt. Rushmore

Opuntia polyacantha near Badlands National Park

Inside world famous Wall Drug -"I'm shy around girls!"

Riding a "Jackalope" at Wall Drug, SD

Natural hot springs provide this hotel in Midland, S.D. with a "hot" commodity!

Cactus roof on a cabin from the late 1800's -used as a school for three years!

A yellow-orange-colored Opuntia polyacantha flower

A Badlands "table" held in place by grass and Opuntia

Caterpillar crawling across the dried mud from primrose to primrose, Note parasites (white bumps) on caterpillar head

Sheep Mountain Road, Badlands National Park

Bison in Custer State Park, Black Hills, SD