 |
| Saguaro Cactus Forest - Saguaro National Park - Tuscon, Arizona |
Welcome to Arizona, where summer spends the winter – and hell spends the
summer. ~Popular saying, modified from a booster slogan in the 1930s
Visited Saguaro National Park– East Unit in Tucson, Arizona and took the
opportunity to study up on the Sonoran Desert a bit, particularly, the
different kinds of plants found here. Obviously, the Saguaro Cactus –
Pronounced “sah-WAH-row” was the most amazing in my opinion. I learned a lot of
interesting information from the park handouts, a booklet I bought and the
informational panels on the trails in the park. Here is a bit of what I
discovered. Saguaros can live up to 150-200 years and they can reach a height
of over 50 feet tall. Saguaro tissue can consist of up to 85% water and larger
cactus can weigh up to 8 tons!! Lots of critters call the Saguaro home, some of
which are owls, mice, snakes, spiders and other birds. These cacti grow more
arms to increase the processes of photosynthesis. Arms only grow upwards and if
you see some that are turned down it is because of disease or possibly freezing
has killed the limb. One Saguaro cactus can produce nearly 40 million seeds
over the life of the plant but the amazing thing is that on average, only 1 of
those seeds will likely ever grow into a viable cactus. When I visited this
park it was extremely hot and I went through 2.5 liters of water like it was
nothing. I followed the Desert Ecology Trail and learned a lot about the plants
of the Sonoran Desert. Had a good, long conversation with a friendly and
informative U.S. Park Ranger at the visitors center who told me about a strange
animal called a “Coatimundi” I had never heard of such a thing and he stated
that it was in the raccoon family. It could grow to the size of a large dog and
it had a long snout and a long tail that stuck upwards in the back. Apparently
the females run in packs – now that would be a sight to see! He also told me
about a small jaguar type animal called an Ocelot which is a pretty looking
spotted wildcat. Interesting to discover different types of animals in
different parts of the Country. On the Desert Ecology Trail I couldn’t help but
notice how good it smelled and how fresh the air was. It was quite surprising
as this park is right next to a very large city. It almost smelled like a fresh
dryer sheet as the different plants were putting off their aromas in the heat
of the day. It was so very hot that I could sense myself getting weak and a bit
of a headache so I slugged down another bottle of water. I followed the 9 mile
“Cactus Forest Drive” in my vehicle, stopping at various vantage points along
the way to look at this and that and take some pictures. The Rincon Mountains
and the Tanque Verde Ridge in particular, dominate the scenery to the east.
Mica Peak, the highest point in the park at 8,666 feet is in the Rincon
Mountains and the Ponderosa Pine forest of that “SkyIsland” as many of the
peaks in southern Arizona are called, is a much different environment than the
hot Saguaro forest. There are over 100 miles of hiking trails in the park and the
Cactus Forest Road and most of the trails and facilities were built by the CCC
(Civilian Conservation Corps) way back in the 1930s.
 |
| Palo Verde Trees - Remind me of white bark Aspen in Utah |
It was amazing to me to
discover that Saguaro Cactus have a massive root network that is only 3 inches
or so below the surface and it branches out up to 70 feet from the main plant.
These amazing roots are capable of soaking up over 200 gallons of water from a
single storm – which coincidentally is enough to last the plant all year. These
giants are usually 75 years old before they even sprout an arm! There are all
kinds of other plants in this park as well and they are nearly all of em
“MEAN”! There were Barrel Cactus, Sotol, Agave, Cholla, Prickly Pear (in great
bunches everywhere), Creosote Bush, Mesquite, Ocotillo and the green bark Palo
Verde trees. According to park information – and I can vouch for it because I
saw the pictures taken from their motion sensing cameras – there are Javelina,
Road Runner, Quail, Rattlesnakes, Lizards, Gila Monsters, Bobcats, Cougar, Desert
Tortoise, Bats, Toads, Foxes, Squirrels, Mice, Owls, Red Tailed Hawks and White
Tailed Deer. The numerous plants and animals that grow and live here are quite
resilient as the area only receives about 12 inches of rain per year and the
temperatures in the summer are brutally hot – usually over 100 degrees and
sometimes much higher. Monsoon season brings this moisture in violent, short
lived and intense downpours that cause otherwise bone dry and sandy washes to
become raging flash flood torrents. This strange terrain and even stranger
vegetation is something that you should put on your bucket list as something to
see. It is like no other place that I have been. If you’re in Tucson………..don’t
miss it!
For more information, address and visiting hours……………………….
http://www.nps.gov/sagu/index.htm
 |
| Barrel Cactus Blooms - Saguaro National Park - Tuscon, Arizona |
 |
| Foliage is mean in the desert but it can be beautiful |
 |
| Ocotillo and Caprock - Saguaro National Park - Tuscon, Arizona |
Comments
Post a Comment