Spring in the desert means lots of colour. Wildflowers and cacti bloom through most of March and April. One of the last to bloom is the Saguaro, the large and majestic cactus that towers over the desert landscape. It’s the icon of Arizona, appearing everywhere including the state’s license plate.
The Saguaro can grow to be over 20 meters (~70 ft) tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in the state of Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and parts of California. The saguaro blossom is the State Wildflower of Arizona.
Saguaros have a relatively long life span. They may grow their first side arm anywhere from 75-100 years of age, but some never grow one at all. My first picture today features a beautiful example of a Saguaro, boasting six arms and an abundance of blossoms. The picture was taken just before sunset in the soft light of evening. You can see the warm glow of the fading sunlight on the sides of the cactus. The many holes were created by woodpeckers but they are inhabited by a number of native birds.
My next picture focuses on the white flowers that emerge at this time of year. Judging by the number of pods about to burst into flower, this will be a bountiful year for this cactus.
I captured this gilded flicker perched atop the cactus. He and his companions were engaged in a feeding frenzy, picking off bees that were seeking pollen from the flowers.
My final picture for today’s post was taken early in the morning with the moon setting behind the Saguaro’s main trunk. It’s a good time of day to capture the moon in a scene like this; it’s much easier to photograph with less contrast between it and the background sky.
I had spotted this particular cactus a few days earlier while playing golf. It sits beside one of the holes but I hadn’t really noticed it until it began to sprout its blossoms. Accompanied by Paul Murphy, friend and photographer I made an early morning trip to the course (without any golf clubs) to photograph this remarkable specimen. I did return a day later to capture the first picture, an evening shot.
As my time here grows short this spring, I hope to capture a little more of the colour of the desert to share with you.