Saguaro NP

Earlier this week I roamed around the western part of Saguaro National Park, near Tucson. This has been a favorite spot for many years. I noticed that there were a lot of young saguaros there, a good sign that the desert is healthy and self sustaining. This saguaro is only a few years old, maybe 3-6. It has sprouted under a paloverde tree, a common occurrence. The tree shelters the seedlings from animals who might eat it; humans who might trample it; and the weather. Many saguaros grow to maturity from underneath a desert plant.

These are older saguaros, probably aged a century or close to it. When I first visited this park in the mid 1970s, most of the cacti were young, with few or no arms. Now, 35 years later, the cacti are that much older and the cactus forest is reaching a mature stage, but with many young plants as well, indicating a promising future.

Yeah, I've taken many pictures of saguaro spines close up, but it's always worth a shot. The gnarly plants of the desert are major factors in its surreal atmosphere.

A fishhook barrel with fruit. No cactus flowers now; but with decent rain so far this winter the coming spring could be glorious.

This winter trip has not been to the lizards' liking with all the rain and cold weather. But they did get a little saguaro time here.