Hirsute

Hairy Sentium in the rain. Closeup tomorrow.

Bright eyes

This twisted cactus with bright, deep flowers was photographed in Tucson -- don't know the name, as there was no descriptive sign.

Mini me

Nora chose a barrel cactus as her desert double. April 2004

Double trouble

From the look on Marjorie's face, it's clear she wasn't crazy about posing as a Saguaro twin. But she went along like a good egg. April 2004

Doppelganger

Asked the kids to pose with a kindred spirit. Aidan was then young enough to get into it. April 2004

Hole in one

This cactus at the foot of the Superstition Mountains has a fairly large hole where birds or animals have been at it. This may prove to be the foundation for a shelter to be used in future by some desert critter.

King of the mountain

The growth at the top of this Saguaro is mindful of a crown.
Some have crested tops -- something I hope to photograph and add to the blog in the future, but in the meantime, here's a great shot from Saguaro National Park.

Cosmic

Now and then the "arms" take a downward turn

Peekaboo

The raised "hands" appear to be sheltering a bird's nest.

Bearing fruit

The fruit of this red hook cactus remind me of tiny pineapples. The faded flowers are above the yellow fruit.

Fruition

Flowers and fruit of a red hook cactus -- December 2010. Various cacti flower at different seasons. Interesting that flowering continues on this cactus even while the fruit is ripening.

Spineless

Well, not quite. While some cacti don't have spines, this Totem Pole cactus has a few short prickles here and there.

Mottled bark

The bark of this Saguaro is showing the wear and tear of the desert.

The "bones" of a cactus

This closeup of the bare trunk of a dead Saguaro shows the woody structure that keeps these cacti erect.

Patterns

Saguaro closeup

Spider web

Look closely to see a spider web spanning two trunks of this cactus.

Like a camel

This Saguaro appears bloated following a rainy day. A cactus soaks up as much water as it can to tide it over the dryness that prevails in the desert. There's a fantastic time-lapse sequence in the BBC's "Planet Earth" series that shows Saguaro becoming engorged with water after a desert rainfall. It's not available online, but definitely worth seeking out. I'll go back sometime on a dry day to photograph this Saguaro for comparison.

Barrel cactus flower

Gigantic!

Some Saguaro grow up to 50 feet tall, and this old-timer probably is close to that. It looms over Aidan, Marjorie and Nora in this 2004 photo.

Saguaro life cycle -- Sun-bleached skeleton

The bleached woody ribs of this Saguaro are all that remain after long exposure to harsh desert conditions. This is the final shot in the life cycle series, although later posts will revisit some of the stages.

Saguaro life cycle -- fallen soldiers

These Saguaro fell before their bark peeled away, although their pleated trunks are desiccated. Yet they continue to provide habitat for desert fauna.

Saguaro life cycle -- death

This Saguaro remains upright and still retains some of its bark after death. It still may provide shelter for desert insects, birds and animals.

Saguaro life cycle -- the old one

These cacti really are like people. To me, this looks like a person bent with age, gray and hobbling. A Saguaro lives for about 150 to 200 years under good conditions. This fellow appears to be in the twilight of its life.

Saguaro life cycle -- Cross section

This Saguaro had fallen across a trail in the McDowell Mountain Preserve, so it was cut up to clear the passage. Jackrabbits sometimes nibble at the base of cacti trunks, destabilizing them so that they topple over.

Saguaro life cycle -- flowering and reproduction

A mature Saguaro produces many flowers at the tips of its arms during the heat of late April through early June. Each flower opens at night and is spent by the next afternoon. Birds and insects pollinate some of the flowers, and the Saguaro produces red fruits and tiny black seeds. A Saguaro yields about 40 million seeds in its lifetime, but only a small fraction of them germinate, and fewer yet survive to adulthood.

Saguaro life cycle -- Reaching maturity

This well-established specimen is located in the bajada at the foot of the Superstition Mountains. Saguaro often grow in these shallow slopes created from rocky debris washed down from the mountains.

Saguaro life cycle -- first appendage

This cactus is about nine feet tall or more and perhaps well into its 50s or 60s -- and just developing its first "arm" bud.

Saguaro life cycle -- the early years

This Saguaro actually is no kid, but it would be difficult to find a baby, as seedlings may grow as little as 1/4 inch the first year. This specimen is growing in the midst of its "nurse plant." Seedlings often sprout in the shade of another plant, which offers protection from scalding sun and critters. However, in time the Saguaro robs its nurse of the scarce nutrients and water available in the desert, and the protective plant dies. For an interesting overview of this cactus, scroll down on the Saguaro National Park information page.

A face in the crowd

This Saguaro appears to have plenty of personality. Its "face" probably results from animals burrowing in to make a home. Woodpeckers drill holes; small owls occupy the cavity. Throughout its life cycle, the Saguaro offers haven to a variety of desert animals. My younger kids, Nora and Aidan, taught me about this when they came home from third grade, where their teacher, Martha MacDonald, had created a fascinating lesson plan based on the book Cactus Hotel. I learned quite a bit from them. The book's illustrations are wonderful. My next series of photos will show the Saguaro life cycle (although, alas, I don't have any shots showing animals).

Labyrinthian

Look at these twists and turns. 

Wonder how this specimen evolved. 

Photographed at the Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, Arizona.

Lighting up the New Year