Prickly Pear Cactus Bloom

I finally caught a cactus bloom in decent condition, vs. not open, damaged or withered. This was along Clear Creek in Arvada:

Theses blooms always remind me of the inner leaves of artichoke hearts (delicate, end in a thorn), and I noticed in a documentary the other day are similar in Saguaro cactus, at least when the latter first open.