Archive for the ‘Saguaro’ Tag
While hiking on the Sutherland Trail in Catalina State Park, we spotted this most unusual cristate (or crested) saguaro not far from the trail. Most cristate saguaros have a mutation that forms at the top of the cactus, giving it a crown appearance. At one time, this may have been the case with this saguaro; however, as it grew and aged, its new arms grew taller than the crown. Of course, this is a guess using my limited knowledge of saguaros, especially the mutated ones. Even though I refer to the unusual growth as a mutation, biologists disagree on the cause.
The nest in the cactus is probably that of a Curve-billed Thrasher since they like to build their nest in a dense thorny shrub or a clump of cactus. Click here to see many more images of the rare form of cactus
— kenne
Images by kenne
Buffelgrass has taken over most of the left slop of this area in the Esperero Canyon. Even so, Markus has dedicated himself to removing buffelgrass one plant at a time.
Esperero Trail runs from Sabino Canyon, through Rattlesnake and Bird Canyons before entering Esperero Canyon and a series of switchbacks up to a ridge, appropriately called “Cardiac Gap.” This is the second time in a little over a month that we have hiked this trial to the gap. This time, as in January, the weather was beautiful, with an abundance of “Tucson blue” sky, but this time the wildflowers were making an early spring appearance, especially at the higher elevations along the trail.
Even with all the natural beauty of the Santa Catalina Mountains, on this day it was being co-opted by invasive plants species, one of which is buffelgrass. Although much too common to southern Arizona and most of Sonora, it is native to most of Africa, the Middle East, Indonesia and nearby islands, and tropical Asia. A big competitor for water, it weakens and kills larger desert plants, while making it difficult for new native plant growth. Additionally, buffelgrass provides “gas on the fire” for wildfires, which would destroy most desert plants like the Saguaro cactus, but not buffelgrass — buffelgrass would be the first to grow back.
Although there are several southern Arizona organized efforts to rid the areas of this invasive plant, i.e., Southern Arizona Buffelgrass Coordinating Center (SABCC) and the Sonoran Desert Weedwackers, many individuals put in long hours along on the difficult canyon slops of the picturesque Catalina Mountains. My hat’s off to Markus and the many others with his passion and drive.
kenne
Markus removing buffelgrass in the Esperero Canyon, February 24, 2012 — Images by kenne
Source: “Buffelgrass is a wildfire waiting to happen.” http://www.buffelgrass.org/
“Call Me The Rock” Saguaro Cactus On Cliff-side — Image by kenne
By any name
this saguaro cactus
is a real survivor.
Perched on a cliff-side,
given its size
this low-growing saguaro cactus,
has probably survived 30-40 years.
“I touch no one
and no one touches me,
I am the rock!”
Paul and Jim On The Cam-Boa Trail Headed Toward Panther Peak — Image by kenne
We left the Cam-Boh Picnic Area , located off Picture Rocks Road, on the Cam-Boa trail at the western edge of the Tucson Mountain District of the Saguaro National Park – West. Part of this trail in the Panther Peak Wash, however we cut across the wash headed toward the draw or gully between Panther Peak and Sombrero Peak to the east. This time of year the floor of the desert is showing a lot of green from the early growth of desert wild-flowers.
Once near the base of the two peaks, the hike becomes a fun bush whack climb to the saddle between the peaks. This part of the park is beautiful, as is most of the Tucson Mountains — plenty of large saguaros, palo verde trees and cholla cactus. 
My hiking partners, Jim and Paul, shared time leading as we tried to pick the best route up through the draw, trying to spot an occasional cairn. Stopping along the way, I took several photos, some meant to form panorama images of the surrounding mountains.
Looking back down through the draw between Panther Peak and Sombrero Peak, with Wasson Peak in the distance.
This is a fun hike with beautiful views in every direction. People who know the area well can probably point out many of the southern Arizona landmarks. Click here to see a slide show of photos taken, Monday, January 9, 2012. 
Paul and Jim At The Top Of Panther Peak — Images by kenne
Happy Hiking!
kenne
A Young Saguaro Cactus Has A Barrel Cactus As A Nurse Tree — Image by kenne
The Sonoran desert is the home of saguaro cacti. Often, for young saguaros to survive, they are located near another faster-growing tree that shelters the slower-growing plant by providing shade, shelter from the wind and sun, or protection from animals that may feed on the young plant. Such a plant is called a nurse tree. In the Sonoran desert, such trees are usually Palo Verde, Ironwood, or mesquite trees, which explains why young saguaros are often seen near trees. It is therefore unusual that a young saguaro would have a barrel cactus as its nurse tree. Let’s hope this quirk of nature works for both since both will be competing for resources, possibly hastening the death of the young slow-growing saguaro.
kenne
Saguaro Cactus That Have Out-Lived Their Nurse Tree — Image by kenne
A rare form of vandalism has occurred in Sabino Canyon. The tops of several Saguaro Cactus have been cut off. Why would anyone do such a thing?
kenne
Images by kenne
A casualty of extreme weather, July 2011 — Image by kenne
inspiration for “Nude Runners” November 2011 — Image by kenne
Nude Runners 1st Posted November 10, 2010 — Image by kenne
Saguaro Cactus are large trees that live to be hundreds of years old. It is one of the defining plants of the Sonoran Desert. Like this Saguaro in Tanuri Ridge, these plants are giant, tree-like columnar cacti that develop branches (or arms) as they age, although some never grow arms. The number of arms and the likely age of this particular plant may have helped shorten this plant’s life due to the current long drought and unusually cold weather this past winter. Our Saguaro was one impressive plant when I first photographed it last November. I’m sure that over the life of this plant, it experienced harsh conditions, but none as severe as the previous nine months. Even with some of the arms reaching down to help support this giant (most Saguaro arms point up), our freaky weather took its toll.
Its many arms help depict many images in one’s “mind’s eye,” i.e., runners embracing one another at the finish line, or a symbol of, “He out heavy, he’s my brother.” Although the age of this plant is hard for this novice to determine, the Saguaro rarely grows its arms until after the age of 75. Definitely a slow maturer, the cactus only puts up a main stem or spike for three-quarters of a century, during which it might grow as high as a foot after fifteen years and even seven feet after fifty years. Yet, for many, they may still not have any arms. As the images show, this “big guy” in Tanuri Ridge had a lot of arms, all of which now lie helpless on the ground near the Rillito River.
This is a significant loss to those who walk the Tanuri Ridge trails along the riverside. However, as someone who loves to “capture the moment,” the two (several exist from each shooting) I have near the end of its long life only cause one to challenge the imagination as to other moments that might have been captured over the years. For example, at one time, there was running water in the river with large cottonwoods lining its edge — just imagine! Such imaginative moments are priceless.
— kenne
Saguaro National Park
Cam-Boh Trail in the Saguaro National Park — Image by kenne
Tucson is located in the Sonoran Desert, one of the natural beauties of the American southwest and has one of our great National Parks, the Saguaro National Park. Since this is National Park Week, I would be remiss not to share some information on our neighbor park. The park is divided into two sections, lying about 20 miles east and 15 miles (24 km) west of the center of Tucson. Each section includes ranges of significant hills, the Tucson Mountains in the west and the Rincon Mountains in the east. The park gets its name from the saguaro cactus which is native to the region. Many other kinds of cactus, including barrel cactus, cholla cactus, and prickly pear, are also abundant in the park.
The park was established as Saguaro National Monument on March 1, 1933, and changed to a national park on October 14, 1994. For more information on the park, click here.
kenne
Cactus Wren — Image by kenne
Arizona’s state bird, the Cactus Wren is seven to eight inches long and likes to build nests in the protection of thorny desert plants like that of the giant saguaro cactus. It is not unusual to see the bird sitting atop the saguaro cactus, however, this was my first opportunity to capture the moment.
kenne
Crested Saguaro Cactus — Image by kenne
The cristate (or crested) saguaro is rare in the plant world. Science has not yet fully explained why this mutation occurs — many explanations have been offered. This one is located near the Sabino Canyon dam.
kenne
Images by kenne
A rare form of vandalism has occurred in Sabino Canyon. The tops of several Saguaro Cactus have been cut off. Why would anyone do such a thing?
kenne
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