Greetings. I do not live in the desert but was there in September and we harvested a bunch of cactus fruit. We made a nice syrup and canned it for later use! It is a beautiful pink/red. The glochids are something else, we rolled the fruit in sand to eliminate them before we processed the fruit. But I got a few in my shirt and that is annoying. That plant is quite wise in it's ability to protect itself.

For me I make an oil and ointment with cottonwood buds. It smells good and has the same acids in it as willow, which were extracted to create the first aspirin. So cottonwood, like willow and apirin is an analgesic and antinflmatory herb. I primarly use it topically-oil, salves, lotion, soap. Cottonwood is also highly antibacterial, (bees actually apply this resin to their hive as an antibacterial agent). This is an amazing plant and abundant in many places.

Blessings
Linda

Maggie,
Where are you located? Where I am the ground is frozen, so of course I can't harvest roots. If you can harvest them, then this is a fine time. Anytime from October-early spring works. Have fun, they are always fun and alot of work to harvest.
Blessings
Linda

And the irony? I'm in frickin California! I could grow things all year round outside.

*sobs more*

Oh, where have a gone wrong?

apologies ... although my home garden is a little wild, i see i've got my tribes mixed up

Thanks for the replies - you folks rock! :D