In the beginning it was only a small plant. It looked mismatched between the pine trees and the cypress trees. Who knows how the cactus seed landed there in the first place...
All we know is that one day, a small cactus plant appeared on the side of the road and started to grow.
...That was over 7 years ago.
Today the cactus is spreading and has already covered most of this rocky area. As I was riding my bicycle by this particular spot today, I stopped and took a photograph. It has a vivid green color and small burgundy cactus fruits are spread throughout the whole plant.
I had seen this cactus many times before, but never when I was with my bicycle. This road is used mostly by cars. The area there is hilly and the road is somewhat narrow. When passing this particular spot while sitting inside of a car, one cannot perceive the true beauty of this cactus.
If you think about it, it is amazing the fact that just from one seed and with time a plant can grow and cover such a large area. And although being mismatched at first, now this green cactus blends nicely with the environment.
I searched the Internet to find more information about this type of cactus, but sadly didn't find anything in particular. All I know is that it seems to like the rocky ground underneath, otherwise it wouldn't grow towards the road turn, where there are only rocks, but it would grow towards the other side.
Most people think that cacti are ugly. I don't share this opinion. I think that they are just unique and have their own, and I must say rather wild, beauty! When I first showed these pictures to a friend all he thought about was to uproot them. He believed these cacti would create accidents by being upon a road turn and that they are dangerous.
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| The road turn. The cactus is in the right side. Accidents are reported to the left side of the road. |
I believe the opposite, as they grow there for over 7 years and no accident has ever been reported at this side of the turn (at the other side, sadly yes, but for other reasons.)
I think this fear is mostly psychological, because a cactus has thorns. If it wasn't a cactus but a thyme bush, then he wouldn't want to uproot the whole plant.
Which type of cactus do you think it is? Isn't it beautiful?
Looks like a "Prickly Pear" cactus (genus "opuntia".) It's native to North America, but cacti are planted as landscaping over much of the world.
ReplyDeleteI translated the name to greek and I must say that I've heard the plant named "pricky pear" before (which here is called "fragkosykia"), but I didn't know it was a cactus! I thought it was a regular tree!
DeleteYour pricky pear and my prickly pear are probably entirely different plants!
ReplyDeleteIf you Google "prickly pear" and "images" you will see photos of what looks like the same plant that is on your roadside. Whatever it is, it is a beautiful sight along the road, something that car drivers usually won't see.
No, we are talking about the same plant. It's a cacti, you're right.
DeleteI meant "prickly" in my comment, too. It was a typing mistake.. I blame the touchphone, it "ate" my letter..
:-)