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Photo essay: Saguaros of Southern Arizona

Photo essay: Saguaros of Southern Arizona

Last Updated on January 25, 2024

When I visited Arizona for the first time in 2010, I immediately fell in love with the scenery there. I loved the diverse Arizona landscape, from the deep red canyons and pine forests of the north to the rough, other-worldly areas of the west. But my favorite is the desertscape of the southern part of the state. Despite an intense immigration policy (we always get stopped by overly-firm, threatening border control agents without ever crossing a border), I love driving through the incredible Saguaros in Southern Arizona.

saguaros in arizona
tucson cacti
tucson cactus flower
When we were asked to return to housesit again in Tucson this past June we didn’t think twice and booked two one-way tickets from India, trading the balmy Asian summer for the scorching desert heat. For the first time we could feel what everyone says about it being a dry heat, with 100+ temperature coming as a relief from the same humid temps in India. Our permanently tanned skin easily took the temperatures as well, such a difference to the first time we came to town pale and pasty after four years of living in England.

jess sunglass reflection saguaros
southern arizona cactei
tucson cactus flowers
cactus bush arizonaThe minute we stepped out of the airport though I knew that we had made the right decision, with huge Saguaros right in the parking lot and the mountains in the background.

saguaros southern arizonaThe Sonoran desert surrounding Tucson spans across the South West and into northern Mexico – covering 311,000 square kilometers (120,000 sq mi).

arizona saguaros
cactus in southern arizonaIt is fascinating how many plants you actually find within what seems like such a barren place. But there are over 2,000 plant species there, and these plants are hard-core, having adapted to such harsh living conditions.

arizona desert flowers
tucson cactus flower
southern arizona desert flowersThe Sonoran desert is the only place in the world where the Saguaro cactus grows in the wild, and not only few of them but millions! Tucson’s Saguaro National Park alone is home to over 1 million Saguaros that grow to be 20 meters, or 70 feet, tall.

saguaros southern arizona
arizona saguaros
saguaros in southern arizona
huge saguaros in arizona
A ‘spear’ is what they are called until they grow an arm. This phase in growth deserves its own name, considering it takes over 75 years to grow that arm! This is only mid-life for Saguaros, though, that reach ages of 150-200 years old.

saguaro cactus sonoran desertIt takes a Saguaro up to 10 years to reach a height of one inch (2.54 cm), 15 years to reach one foot (30.5 cm), and 40 years to reach 10 feet (3 meters).

saguaro cacti in arizona
saguaros southern arizona
cactus bush and saguaroWhen it rains, you can actually see how the cactus expands, soaking up all the rain water, and then slowly consuming it over the next few weeks.

tucson cactus saguaro cactus armAt the age of 40, they start producing flowers, mainly on top of the cactus. Older saguaros have hundreds of flowers when they blossom in May and June each year.tucson saguaro flowers
cactus needles and flowerWe have always been in Arizona at the time when the sweet, ruby-colored fruit matures in June. The fruit is edible, and found in local jams, syrups and candies.cactus fruit arizonaThese big, tall and very stationary plants rely on cross-pollination to reproduce. This is mostly done by bats or gorgeous doves who transport seeds from the fruits from one plant to the next. This is such incredible work; it is a wonder there are so many millions of Saguaros!doves on saguaro cactiIn exchange for the help, many different bird species make themselves at home inside of the spine of the Saguaros.saguaro with holeUnfortunately saguaros are actually endangered due to over-development, wildfires, livestock grazing, and ‘cactus rustlers’ who cut them down and sell them elsewhere.dead saguaro cactus arizonaIn their normal life cycle, Saguaros die from drought or frost. Their skeletons remain intact for years, sometimes even petrifying, while the skin erodes away quickly.dead saguaro close-up arizona
dead saguaro cactus close-up arizonaRightfully referred to as ‘skeletons’, the remaining bones often stay proudly standing for many years.dead saguaros arizona

Prickly pear is another cactus that is widely spread across the Sonoran desert, and the big red fruit can be eaten or are used in drinks, most commonly in Mexico. They are pretty cold-resistant and  found in the northern States of the U.S. and even southern Canada.arizona cactiThey are also the main food source for the desert tortoises who live here – they don’t seem to be bothered by the sharp cactus needles!saguaros southern arizona
cactus with bite in arizonaThe Sonoran desert south of Tucson is actually the only place in the U.S. where jaguars live, but the only mammals that come out of their dens during the hot summer months are little rabbits.arizona desert rabbit

You can see plenty of colorful lizards!colorful lizard in arizonaOur favorite time of day is usually when the sun starts to set  – the sunsets of  the Sonoran desert never disappoint and the skies change colors in the most amazing ways – from purple to bright orange.tucson sunset skies & cactus
saguaros southern arizona

Katherine E Bland

Thursday 23rd of January 2014

Great shots.

Nicole @ Green Global Travel

Thursday 18th of July 2013

Great photos. The reflection in the sunglasses one is awesome. We been to Arizona a few times and love the rock formations and cacti.

Lisa

Tuesday 23rd of October 2012

I can't say i love Arizona as much as you, but the way you love it with your photography comes across well. Great shots.

Dani

Tuesday 23rd of October 2012

Thanks for the kind words, Lisa! I was trying to capture this place that I love so much as good as possible and it makes me happy to hear that this comes across :)

debbie

Friday 12th of October 2012

Beautiful photos!!! We're hoping to make Arizona one of our next trips!

Dani

Sunday 14th of October 2012

Thanks, Debbie! Highly recommend visiting Arizona - there is just so much to see!

northierthanthou

Sunday 23rd of September 2012

I do miss these cacti. ...except when mountain biking. When doing that i could wish them out of existence altogether.