Saguaro and Crested Saguaro near Congress and Tucson Arizona

Before leaving Arizona this Spring we spent a lot of time out in the desert and we continue to be amazed at the number, size and shapes of the Saguaros we find.  The first four pictures are taken at the Saguaro National Park near Tucson Arizona where we went with good friends.

 

Just one small hillside with more Saguaro than you could even think about counting. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We arrived a little early in the season but some of them are starting to bloom at the tops.

The bees just love the flowers so there has to be lots there for them to collect.

Some with arms and some reaching for the sky.  We would guess over 30' tall.

Back closer to home (Congress) we took a ride with our quad out in the desert and found this rare Crested Saguaro.

Taken from the internet so it's not our writing but it does give a little insight into the following pictures.

"The magnificent Saguaro Cactus grows only in the 120,000 square mile area of the Sonoran Desert in the southwestern US and northern Mexico. It is arguably one of the most recognized natural wonders of Arizona.
A rare condition that affects roughly one in every 200,000 appears like a fan-like abnormality. These are known as “Crested Saguaros.” The cause of this deformity, which sometimes resembles a burl on trees, is unknown. Theories include everything from lighting strikes to genetic abnormalities. The most widely accepted explanation is that cresting is caused by damage to the apex of the plant, either from some sudden trauma or by freezing. The crest doesn’t seem to harm the saguaro, which can continue to produce flowers and fruit."

A little closer view.

On another day we took a hike with a guide near Stanton Arizona, an old ghost town where there are several Crested Saguaros spread out over several acres.

This one is called the Elephant, complete with curled trunk.

Nothing crested here but a lot of new arms trying to grow.

Not the same from the back but interesting.  There are several more in the area but it was time to head back and find some shade.

 

 

And near the base of one of the Saguaro was a very unique spiders nest.

To be continued...

Kofa day one..

That would be Kofa National Wildlife Refuge located just south of Quartzsite Arizona. We took a day trip here and traveled the east west road on the north end of the park and it took us most of the day as the road was called "pipe line road" and it was really, really rough, we only needed 4 wheel drive a few times.

We traveled off that road on a worse one for 6 miles to find a working well with a windmill out in the desert. The Jumping Cholla, (pronounced choy-ya) Cactus was thick like weeds we but had to show some of the beauty in nature around here. I don't think I have seen more thorns on any cactus in this area. And they are hard and sharp.

All the white you see are thorns and they must be about 1 1/2" to 2" long.

Not sure if the flower is in bloom or just working it's way there.

Don't get close or you will learn all about the jumping they do. It took 5 minutes to get all the tines out of Dick's shoe (and foot). This happened to both of us at Quartzsite later that day. They must have followed us there. This is one foot you don't want to stick in your mouth.

The Saguaro are just huge, these must all be over 25 feet tall and just down the road from the cholla.

We found a shorter one on the way home.

Check back next week for "Kofa day two and palm canyon hike.

To be continued...