Aquabord, archival varnish
How does something so tough you dare not touch it wear such rich, velvety color? What kind of self-image must this desert plant possess? “Purple Panache” is a cactus portrait from winter in Big Bend Ranch State Park.

This isn't one of those smooth, touchable "blind" prickly pears landscapers use—this is Opuntia azurea, "Big Bend prickly pear", a true Texan. Endemic to the Big Bend, it's famous for turning a regal shade of purple when the going gets rough. (Would that we all turned prettier under stress.) During harsh weather, the cactus pads are at their most dramatic. But this rosy-lilac cactus, gilded with accents of emerald, amber and ruby isn't simply showing off. The regal coloration (which often matches its surrounding rock formations) is a survival mechanism, a natural sunscreen that helps the cactus thrive through cold snaps and droughts. Come summer rains, those same pads may mellow to lawn green, but in the depths of winter, they strut their stuff like peacocks flaunting their feathers and demanding attention.

Even in the harshest terrain, color and life find a way.

Hang “Purple Panache” where you need a daily dose of Texas grit, or give it to someone who could use a little reminder that beauty often comes from weathering a few storms. (Bonus: no fertilizer is required to maintain these colors. This isn't a hydrangea!)