Pickle Pears

If you venture very far off the beaten path on Ocracoke Island you are likely to encounter "pickle pears." That's not their real name, of course, but it is the name often used by old-time O'cockers. They are prickly pears, cacti that grow abundantly in the sand dunes in certain locations on Ocracoke. These deep purple and green cacti with long, sharp needles, grow close to the ground, and are easy to miss seeing.  But your feet can usually find them!!

Crystal Canterbury has written an engaging and informative article about prickly island plants. You can read it here: http://www.ocracokecurrent.com/149455.

If you have ever wondered how the street you live on or vacation on got its name, or are just curious about other street names, take a look at this month's Ocracoke Newsletter. We have compiled a list of every official street in Ocracoke village, along with one or more paragraphs explaining how they came to be named. You can read the Newsletter here.