Where did the name Prickly Ed's Cactus Patch come from you ask? One day, many years ago we learned that cactus (specifically Opuntia humifusa- Eastern Prickly Pear) belonged in our Barrington, RI yard much more than the grass that was growing there. And so began Ed's foray into winter hardy cactus gardening and Cindy’s journey down the rabbit hole of learning all about Native Plants and their many benefits. As more and more lawn was transformed into garden beds teeming with life 🐝🦋🐦🐿🦊🐸🦉🐛 we were hooked!
Our own quest for straight species, neonicotinoid free native plants left us frustrated here in the East Bay Rhode Island/SE Mass area. We also experienced a big void in the kind of down to earth advice that was needed to support the process of building back habitat at home. And so in the peak of COVID times we decided to stop waiting for somebody else to do something and we opened the growing Prickly Ed’s Enterprise.
But back to the name…it’s a fun play on our still favorite plant, the Prickly Pear 🙄and on Ed’s always charming personality 😉🙄😁! Cindy dreamed it up one afternoon, and it quickly caught on with family & friends! Thankfully despite his prickly name, Ed is actually a great sport & played along. Hey, in the end, it doesn't matter if you are laughing at us or laughing with us. So long as you are laughing...And so a Cactus Patch Native Plant Emporium was born …