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Sunset Garden Club sets show

The Sunset Garden Club will holding its 17th annual flower show May 2 at the Paseo Verde Library, 280 S. Green Valley Parkway in Henderson. The show is scheduled from noon to 4 p.m.

The flower show is free and open to the public.

Cacti focus of Slow Food event

The University of Nevada Cooperative Extension and Slow Food Las Vegas are co-hosting an event May 3 to teach area residents how to grow and prepare nopal cacti. The event is scheduled from 1-4 p.m. at the Cooperative Extension's Lifelong Learning Center, 8050 Paradise Road, Suite 100.

Native to the warm, arid regions of Mexico, these cacti love the desert heat and don't like much water.

Research conducted at the University of California and the University of Sonora in Mexico demonstrated that these cacti, when consumed as a fresh vegetable, show promise in reducing heart disease and have a positive effect on individuals inflicted with Type 2 diabetes. Research has demonstrated food from nopal cactus contains significant amounts of protein, fiber, complex carbohydrates, simple sugars, ascorbic acid, and carotenes thiamine, riboflavin and niacin.

Two Sonoran selections of nopal cacti have been grown organically at Cooperative Extension's Research and Demonstration Orchard since 2004 in an international research project. Single pads from these plants will be distributed at the event to participating families for home planting. Additionally, recipes developed at the University of Sonora will be demonstrated and distributed during the event.

The event also will feature faculty and volunteers from University of Nevada Cooperative Extension teaching participants how to grow these plants in their backyards.

There is a $10 fee for the program to help defray costs.

For more information about these classes in English, contact Bob Morris at 257-5509 or e-mail morrisr@unce.unr.edu. For Spanish speakers, please call Martha Barajas at 257-5522 or e-mail barajasm@unce.unr.edu.