I was going through old files of photos I have taken over the years and came across this patch of prickly pear cacti.

The thing is, I honestly don't remember where specifically I took this picture, but I do have clues. In was during the 2003 Memorial Day weekend and the photo must have been taken somewhere in either Colorado Springs or Manitou Springs, perhaps in Garden of the Gods. It was definitely taken outside, as seen by the older leaves that were nestled in between the cactus leaves.

I guess this photo will hopefully illustrate for you that we really do have cacti in Colorado. Sure, they are not as prolific as they might be in Arizona, but it is actually quite common to come across different kinds of cactus plants in the dry southern Colorado regions. Colorado is a dry state and for cacti that do well with withstanding the cold are more apt to survive out here.

Here are some of my other photos of cacti in Colorado: Prickly Pears In Castlewood Canyon State Park, Purple Prickly Pear Cacti, Walking Stick Cactus

-The photo and essay was contributed by Steve Garufi in Buena Vista, Colorado.