Opuntiads of the USA

Crossing into South Dakota from the North

A park in Lemmon, SD made in the early 1930s of cemented-together petrified wood!

Sunset over abandoned ranch near Philip, SD

Opuntia cymochila in road ditch near Philip, SD

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

Opuntia cymochila in a grassy ditch near Phillip, SD

New growth forming on Opuntia cymochila

Opuntia cymochila buds forming

Giant Prairie Dog at entrance to Badlands National Park

The South Dakota "Bad Lands"!

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

Opuntia polyacantha var. polyacantha in a slow-motion battle against erosion

O. polyacantha var 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 var polyacantha hanging over a ledge

Short-grass prairie dotted by flowers

Escobaria missouriensis var missouriensis along a ranch fence line

Two small Escobaria missouriensis var missouriensis south of Senic, SD

Opuntia polyacantha var 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. cymochila 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 cymochila 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 (Hyles lineata, the White-lined Sphinx Moth) 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