Friday, October 17, 2008

Cactus, Anyone?



I never cease to be amazed at these desert creatures. Their tenacity is astounding. This is a very hot place in the summer, with drying wind. It is actually cold enough to occasionally freeze in the winter, and the wind is cold. It is dry year round. Yet, the abundance of life is still evident.

Last week, my husband planted some new cactus in our yard. A friend and neighbor was kind enough to give us some cuttings from his cactus. I don't know too much about growing cactus, but the neighbor told us to let them dry out, and then to plant them. So that is what Matthias did. Well, about two days after he planted these cactus, I was up early, looking out the front window at the full moon, when I spotted a jack rabbit, munching away at the cactus as though we planted it just for him!!!! I can't believe it! I mean, these jackrabbits apparently know how to eat between the prickly parts, or maybe they can eat the prickly parts, too. Whatever it is, I am impressed. So of course I had to go out and take some photos for you.


The biggest cactus, the one in the second photo, is now completely eaten. I mean, completely! I have put a wire cage around the other one, so it is still there, but a third cactus has been attacked, as of just last night. I had photos of that one, too, but Photoshop is not cooperating, and I need to finish my preparations for the Studio Tours.

Amazing!
Have a great weekend, all. I will post about the tours next week.

13 comments:

Guzzisue said...

I would have thought that this would make painful eating! they must taste good :-) ( to Jackrabbits)

lee said...

good luck on the studio tour hope you sell lots

bindu said...

That was funny! Good luck with the tour.

Archie and Melissa said...

hi karine!
wow! those are some hungry rabbits!
i cannot wait to hear all about your weekend! i am so excited for you!
xo
melissa

pRiyA said...

that second pict could be an abstract art sculpture?

julie king said...

i've always heard that jackrabbits are very tenacious. but, seriously? cactus?? good luck with the tour!

ArtPropelled said...

Those jackrabbits must have castiron tongues. I know one or two little cactus hairs in my finger can be unpleasant so I wonder about jack's tongu.

Unknown said...

holy cow - that is amazing. I wonder if cactus is a jackrabbit delicacy - a delicious juicy treat for them?

Anke Martin said...

OH, that is for sure amazing! Eating cactus.......I wonder how it tastes, but only withouth the stingy things.
So this weekend was the big one, I hope you had a great time and a great success. I had my fingers crossed for you and thought on you a couple of times. My opening went great. I had a fun time...more on my blog. I'm looking forward to hear about your weekend, smiles, Anke ;)

Anonymous said...

HA! that has always amazed me, too. and how the heck to they avoid prickers in the tongue???

High Desert Diva said...

Oh boy. The rabbits haven't started on our cactus yet....just everything else...

kate smudges said...

Rabbits seem to eat anything edible. Rabbits would find prickly pear cactus delicious ... they probably spit out the spines and get out to eating the juicy parts. (As I was reading your post, it put me in mind of coming across my dog happily munching away on pruned rose branches ... how he managed to eat through the prickles without hurting himself was beyond me. He was none-too-pleased when I took away his chewing material.)

I'm glad you are protecting the remaining cactus. Will keep my fingers crossed that they survive.

bindu said...

Karine - hope you had a good art tour last weekend. You've been tagged - check out my blog for details - only if you want to play along! :)