This will be my last Arizona post...I hope! On our last day there we drove through the Saguaro National Park...east section. The west section has more cactus, but the east seems nicer for driving through and stopping for photos. It is a one-way road running through the park with pull-over areas and trails.
There aren't as many cactus now as there were years ago. Many factors....temperature, people, lightning, wind, cattle before the area was protected, etc. The Saguaro cactus here have been protected since 1933.
At one time this area was packed with cactus.
Saguaro grow very slowly. One this tall with this many arms must be over 100 years old.
Cacti have very shallow roots. Here is a fallen one.
Antelope Ground Squirrel
Desert Marigold, I believe.
I stared at that spot above the arm hoping it was an owl looking back at me....but alas, it is just where an arm broke off. Some day I hope to see an owl!
The variety of arms is interesting. The first arm doesn't begin until the cactus is 75 years old!
A baby arm beginning to sprout
Another small one.
Ocotillo beginning to bloom.
Fairy Duster
A large Ocotillo and the mountains beyond.
Globe Mallow
Young saguaro cactus often grow under trees that are called "nurse trees". They only grow maybe an inch a year. We saw many trees with small saguaros coming up under them. The tree will be dead long before the cactus is really big. One this size is probably only 30 years old. They are only about 12" at 15 years.
Don't know the name.
Ocotillo
Curve-billed Thrasher
These blooming cacti were near the nature center. None of the ones in the desert are blooming yet.
Penstemon
Curve-billed Thrasher again :-) I like him.
Here is a size comparison. Mike is 6'4"....this cactus might be well over 100 years old. At 150 years they can be 50 feet tall and weigh 16,000 pounds!
Another young branch
An interesting nest....wonder what made it??
This one is really massive with lots of nice arms!
Two deer ran across the road in front of us and Mike got a shot of one of them! Mule deer?
Staghorn cactus.
That's it for Arizona for this year! Hope I didn't make any big errors. I don't have any guide books for the area here at home.
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9 comments:
Hi Mary...Such a amazing place the desert ..makes you wonder how anything grows there...,but God plan provides for all form of life!!
For me I just love all the flowers..those cacti blooms are just gorgeous!!
You know I thought I could see an Owl in that hole to ; ] then I read you didn't.. darn that would have been great!! lol
Great post...really show's what it is like there!!
Grace
Fascinating.I have always wanted to see one of those huge cactus.
Wonderful post, Mary! I love all the information you gave too. The saguaro are so fascinating, and I love the flowers and other cactus you show here. We used to love to drive through the eastern Saguaro Ntl Park when we lived here in the 70s and one time we came upon a wedding that was taking place in the rocks, complete with string quartet for the music! Other times we heard a lot of coyote howling. We mostly go to the western park now. You're right that it does seem like it has a lot more saguaros on that side.
I really enjoyed this...I would love to know what kind of nest that is. Just so curious about that.
Beautiful, Mary... THAT is what Arizona looks like in my mind...Hope they can preserve the Saguaro Cactus. I had no idea that they grew that slowly... They are just so beautiful. Thanks for sharing Arizona with us.
Hugs,
Betsy
I have to say that Arizona is interesting and so different, even if I miss the green of Indiana when I am here. I hope they can continue to protect the cacti. Tucson is sprawling outward so fast. Thanks for all the comments everyone!
Mary, now I have found what I was looking for...your posts from AZ! How wonderful that you were able to go here. I love driving this loop and I think I was fooled by the same "Owl" in the cactus! I never did find an elf owl in the cacti but finally saw a western screech owl in one up at Catalina State park!
Mary, I went through and read all of your Tucson Posts and commented on most of them. It looks like you had such a wonderful time. I am so glad you were able to meet Marie and go to Sweetwater Wetlands! What a great place it is! Thanks for the tour of my old haunts!
Now this is a place I'd love to visit. I love cactus, but have not had such luck growing them, and especially getting them to flower. Pretty flowers. Thanks so much for sharing all your wonderful trip photos.
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