It is difficult to believe that this area is forested with saguaro cacti totally to the top of the mountains. As you are driving up, you see no saguaro cacti and then before you know it there are cactus reaching for the sky as far as your eye can see. And they are huge. Some as tall as 78 feet and if mature can hold up to 1,500 gallons of water.
simply forms a hard callus around the hole area.
We had brought a small lunch in a backpack. Saw the tables didn’t have a cover so we would be sitting out in the sun. Harry spotted a cool table straight up a mountain and boy did we have a view while we ate!
We did go on a search for a crested saguaro. Had a botanist speak to us and we were fascinated. They are a rare mutation and there are very few. The one below is the only one we could get close enough to photograph and even it is fairly far away. Instead of growing straight up it forms folds, crests, or crowns on the top of it.
We also stopped at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. It was nice but after our full morning in the national park we decided we could have passed on it. I think if you had young children it would be more appealing. But we did see some cool things. Pictures to follow.
BTW…Arizona doesn’t change time. No springing ahead!
hkdorr 
Spectacular pictures….the sky is so blue and that sunset is beautiful. Shared your pictures of the saguaro cacti with Thomas. Very interesting facts..
It would be a great trip to rake him on, Debbie! We found these saguaro forests amazing!❤️ 🌵
Karen, this is unbelievable! I’d love to see all the places on your travels. Love you
Debbie…It truly is fantastically beautiful. When you drive across the country like this, the scenery changes seem to happen in a blink of an eye! What a great God we have to make these wonders for us to enjoy!❤️🌵
We saw both these places many years ago when Amber & Reid were small. It was good to see them again through your lens. Spectacular photos! Dan
Thank you! Coming from you, who photographs and documents all the time that means a lot! Steady rain this morning. We will see what that does for the desert this afternoon❣️🌵❣️
I liked seeing your pictures, too.
This morning I worked in the yard a little; Bruce and Lauren arrive tomorrow evening.
KL
I know you will have a special time with them! Is your yard bursting with color? It is always a spring wonder!🌸❤️
Lenten Roses and Snow Drops almost gone, but Daffodils are looking good.
My daffodils were just coming out when we left. They are beautiful in masses!
Ken & I were just watching a program yesterday on the Smithsonian Channel and it was talking about how people were trying to smuggle the cactus out of Arizona, as they are worth lots of money, and how there were huge fines and possible imprisonment for doing so! Take lots of pics but don’t you dare try smuggling any! We don’t have enough $$ for bail! LOL!
No worries about that. I drive by homes in the mountains at home and they have cactus planted and I think they are crazy. Who would want to garden/ weed around them? Saw a woman in the restroom who had fallen into one and her shin was scary! I sure have loved seeing these those…Amazing!🌵
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