This is a very unusual plant. Do you know what it is? I'd sure be interested to know.

Garr, thank you for your comment. :) It's a Purple Prickly Pear.

Thanks, Natalie. Do they grow around Dallas like the green ones? I've seen lots of the green but never anything else.

Garr, I've never seen anything like this around Dallas. They are pretty abundant around Big Bend National Park area (Chihuahuan Desert).
I just did a search for a "purple prickly pear" and found this. Now I'm not sure which one it really was; there are so many...

The video at that link sure had a lot of information about prickly pear cactus that I never knew. I didn't know there were so many varieties either. I'll have to keep my eyes open for the purple ones next time I head south. Thanks!

Garr, you're welcome. :) I'm glad you've asked that question of yours; we both learned a few things about prickly pears. :)