Multiple gunshots fired in drug deal gone bad
22 May 2013 - Pat Sunderland

A former Cedaredge resident was shot multiple times Sunday night during what appears to be a drug deal gone bad. Justin Coslett, 19, was initially treated at Delta County Memorial Hospital and was later airlifted to St. Mary's Hospital in Grand Junction.

Biggest float yet
22 May 2013 - Randy Sunderland

Photo by Randy Sunderland Biggest float yet The 14th annual river awareness float, sponsored by the Conservation Center in Paonia, attracted 209 to float from the Gunnison River Pleasure Park to Gunnison River Farms near Austin. With a flotilla of some 40 rafts, paddleboards and kayaks, the group saw firsthand how much safer the river is for recreational users thanks to the Relief Ditch Diversion dam project which removed a major obstacle in the Gunnison River. They also were treated to witnessing an archeaological dig in progress being conducted by the BLM along a bluff above the river valley. Watch for more on this river trip in the next issue of the Delta County Independent.

New business on Main Street
22 May 2013 - News Release

Vaughn and LaKen Duckworth prepare a cup of their signature salty caramel white mocha for a customer.Vaughn and LaKen Duckworth are the owners of a new business that just opened on Main Street in Cedaredge. The Dream Weaver Books and Coffee offers customers a cup of premium coffee in an atmosphere of relaxed browsing through a collection of new and used books that are also for sale.

Falling bricks raise safety concerns
22 May 2013 - Kathy Browning

Photo by Kathy Browning The Town of Paonia has contacted the Paonia Masonic Lodge concerning repairs. Daniel Gannon of the Masons said he has applied for a building permit so the repairs can be made.Recent strong winds have dislodged some bricks near the top of the Paonia Masonic Lodge. Citizen Jason Ross notified the Town of Paonia and attended the April 23 council meeting to receive an update.

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Delta County Independent

Plants of the Western Slope October 31, 2012

Evelyn Horn

Published on Thursday, 01 November 2012 14:28

Purple-fruited
Prickly Pear

I've been watching this cactus on Crane Point since last spring when it had an abundance of lovely yellow blossoms.

Now here it is in early November, with bright red-purple fruits, nearly two inches tall by an inch or so wide. The tops are dried tan . . . which leads to the question, "What was on top in the first place?" Answer: the petals. So a botanical detail that few of us even think about: the cactus has an "inferior" ovary. That is, the petals are on top with the fruit below, and when the petals fall away, this odd, tan area becomes obvious to us.

Another name is Brown-spined Prickly Pear. Looking closely at the cactus will reveal the brown spines. In the botanical name, Opuntia phaecantha, the last part means "brown-spined." "Opuntia" is perhaps the name of an ancient Greek town. The pronunciation is /o PUN shu/.

You'll probably notice the little brown spots at the base of the spines. These are called "glochids" and they look innocent enough. But they are actually clusters of tiny spines, each with a hooked tip! Beware!

This large, fleshy fruit, called a "tuna," is consumed by humans as well as by animals such as pack-rat, coyote and especially by the javelin in the warmer areas to our south. I've been told that jams, jellies and candy can be made from the fruit (after the spines and glochids are removed).

But the story takes new twists and turns. Just down slope from here are more prickly-pear and they had yellow blossoms too. But they don't have noticeable fruits now. My binoculars reveal that there are inch-tall, dry fruits at the tips of the cactus pads. A different cactus? There are a number of species, subspecies and varieties of prickly-pears or Opuntias and the flower color is no clue at all! They readily hybridize and range from red to pink to yellow and orange. The fruits may be dry or fleshy. The only sure identification is by the glochids and the spines, their characteristics and placements. Identification is, at best, a thorny prospect! So I choose to just call them prickly-pear cactus!

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Category: Evelyn Horn