BigCityChief
Member
I'd call that poetic justice.
Saguaro cactus
- Thread starter Gunslinger808
- Start date
I'd call that poetic justice.
That happens, but the specimens most in danger of theft are the extremely rare "christate" or "crested" saguaros, where the main stem quits growing upward and typically grows in a gnarly fan shape. They are prized by collectors, and are frequently stolen from public or State Trust lands. Several nice specimens have vanished in recent years from the desert not far from Gunslinger's home, including one that was just east of the intersection of the old and new alignments of the Florence-Kelvin highway, another near Grayback Peak, a couple near the Cochran road... Anybody looked in Gunslinger's back yard???
The main stems are also damaged by freezing, usually resulting in a "necked down" reduction in the stem's diameter, at the point in the plant's growth when the injury occurred. Saguaros of similar age growing close together exhibit similar spacing of these "pinch points" --- I once stood on a saguaro-studded desert ridge with a very savvy botanist who could start at the top of stem, and recite the dates of freezes that caused the rings in the stems --- "That was the freeze of January, 20xx, the next one down was caused by the freeze of 19xx, then 19xx, ...", and so on... These plants are so long lived, they provide a sort of living record of environmental anomalies such as hard freezes in places where saguaros survive...
longhorn too
Member
Uh! Nice photos!!!
LennyLames
Member
As previous posts have stated, they only grow branches when bigger. Unfortunately, those crested ones that get stolen have very low survival rates. I recall reading a study whose results indicated that a saguaro that's over 12 feet high will have a very low chance of survival when transplanted, so those beautiful plants will eventually die.
I have several mature specimens of the non-crested variety in my yard. All started growing long before any permanent human habitation in the area. Some even show apparent scars from unrecorded wildfires of long ago.
A few years ago, I started collecting the red fruit that dropped from my plants, and planted the seeds. In nature, very few of the total seeds produced actually germinate, and out of those that do, only about 1 % survive.
I lost all the prior batches, mostly from rodent predation, and a couple of times from too much sun exposure when I set the trays outside and forgot to bring them back in. Last year's batch has made it through so far with the help of peanut butter-laced "better mousetraps."
Here's a photo of the latest batch, now approaching a year old. Tape measure is in inches. I use harvested rainwater.
Once they reach the stage where they have large thorns and a protective outer layer, I'll transplant them outside under a "host" plant that will protect them from the elements. They can be made to grow much faster under ideal conditions (such as watering once or twice a week during hot, dry periods) so I hope I won't have to wait for my reincarnation to see them grow branches.
Attachments
OP
Gunslinger808
Member
An interesting side note:
My wife uses the fruit to make a great Jam, it sort of taste like a cross between Strawberry and Plum.
It also was used by the Native Americans to make a sweet syrup.
Neighbor across the street had a big saguaro in his front yard. He had desert landscaping and it looked very nice. Last year we had a hard freeze, about -9º, and it did for the saguaro. Big empty place their yard now. It also did for a big barrel cactus in my yard. I'm trying to get a lantana to grow there now. Even I can't klill a lantana.
Revenge of the Saguaro
I was working in that area then and I remember that incident.....killed him DRT.....as you said Darwin at work....
I was working in that area then and I remember that incident.....killed him DRT.....as you said Darwin at work....
From when I first moved to Arizona till now, I've always been facinated with the Saguaro (or Sahuaro) cactus.
These things are a regular part of our backdrops and photos here in Arizona, and yet we tend to overlook them.
Gene Autry movies just wouldn't be the same without them!
They can grow 60 foot tall, live for Centuries, and survive hurricaine force winds, yet are so delicate that one miss-placed shot can kill a 200 year old specimen.
You've seen them in all the old westerns, and probably recognize them as one of the icons of the Southwest not even realising what they are.
They grow only here in AZ, and a very narrow band in Mexico.
A few of my favorites, they were here before me, and will be here long after I'm gone.
This old man is my personal favorite, he can be seen on the drive between Florence and Tucson:
This one is at least 30 foot tall:
And they live through snow, freezing times, and drought:
Heck, if you take pics in our area they're as part of the landscape as dirt!:
focus on the background ya pervs!
Apologies, but not very easy to do my friend; not easy at all!
chaparrito
Member
I enjoyed our trip through Organ Pipe monument. We walked out among the saguaros and saw some great specimens. Huge. Did you know that they sing?? When the wind blows though them they give off sounds like a soft organ pipe. I wonder if this is why it's called 'Organ Pipe Monument"? I was also amazed at the amount of wild life in the area.
Organ Pipe National Monument has lots of Saguaros, but it gets its name from the Organ Pipe Cactus, another cereus variant which grows in beautiful profusion there. They're called that for obvious reason I'd say.
Alpo
Member
- Joined
- Feb 29, 2000
- Messages
- 2,297
- Reaction score
- 2,483
I try to never get too close to one. Just my luck to trip and fall, or be startle by a rattler, and be impaled too many places to COUNT!
They are gorgeous for sure. One of the things I can't understand is that they grow much fuller and thicker with age, whereas the base will looked pinched off and skinny. Nothing like a typical tree, which nearly always remains thicker at its base.
Their skeletons are also highly prized for their decorative nature.
They are gorgeous for sure. One of the things I can't understand is that they grow much fuller and thicker with age, whereas the base will looked pinched off and skinny. Nothing like a typical tree, which nearly always remains thicker at its base.
Their skeletons are also highly prized for their decorative nature.
Comrad
Member
A little chilly in Phoenix that day?
boatme99
Member
Ha! I lived in Flagstaff when that happened. A good day for cacti everywhere.
photobiker
Member
Did someone say Cactus Wren. Found this little guy in Portal, AZ this spring. We were there for the bird migration. Great little singers.
italiansport
Member
Living in Arizona to me is a real joy. I've been here permanently for 20 years and still marvel at the beauty of this State when out driving.
Arizona has 7 climatic zones ranging from evergreen forests in the North to low desert in the South the most of any State.
Jim
Arizona has 7 climatic zones ranging from evergreen forests in the North to low desert in the South the most of any State.
Jim
jlrhiner
US Veteran
Heck, I looked at those pics for 20 minutes before I saw the AK!
I saw my first Saguaro late one night in 1953. We were moving to California and had a flat tire. While dad got busy I got out of the back seat and all I could see was this monster going almost 40 feet straight up!!! What a sight...............I marvel at the lovely sights in Arizona (don't forget Utah also!!).
Always enjoy driving in the great Southwest....................
Always enjoy driving in the great Southwest....................
thomasinaz
US Veteran
I like taking pictures of cactus in different seasons. Here are a few to add to this enjoyable thread.
Winter time in the 4 Peaks area, looks like Christmas in AZ:
Late Springtime with some Cholla and Saguaro:
Summer Monsoon season. There's a large nest inside this big old Saguaro:
Early Spring Saguaros. The wild flowers don't last long, if they come out at all:
And the best kind of cactus; those with horses in the foreground. It doesn't get more Arizona than that:
Somewhere I have a picture of a giant Saguaro skeleton sticking out the back of a Prius, that a guy was trying to steal. It was 3 times longer than that tiny eco car. If I find it I'll throw it up...
Winter time in the 4 Peaks area, looks like Christmas in AZ:
Late Springtime with some Cholla and Saguaro:
Summer Monsoon season. There's a large nest inside this big old Saguaro:
Early Spring Saguaros. The wild flowers don't last long, if they come out at all:
And the best kind of cactus; those with horses in the foreground. It doesn't get more Arizona than that:
Somewhere I have a picture of a giant Saguaro skeleton sticking out the back of a Prius, that a guy was trying to steal. It was 3 times longer than that tiny eco car. If I find it I'll throw it up...
Last edited:
Hunter8282
US Veteran
When we were there the week of May 18th, 2014 (our first visit to AZ), the Saguaro were in bloom. It took a lot of looking on my hikes to find one that I could get above to take a nice picture or two. I too really enjoyed them! Here's my best!
Last edited:
