Monday, August 10, 2009

Saguaro cacti

So I was in a parking lot yesterday and they had some HUGE saguaro cacti with lots of arms. The 'g' is silent btw, so it is pronounced "suh-war-oh". There were two in particualr that I liked because they were growing close to each other. Here they are.
Here's some fun facts about these cacti. They don't grow their first arm until they are about 50 to 70 years old, however, in areas with little rain it can take up to 100 years. They are considered to be adult plants at 125 years of age, and at this point may weigh 6 tons and be 50 feet tall. The average life span is 150 to 175 years although some live to be around 200. They only grow in the sonoran desert and even then, only in elevation between sea level and 4,000 feet. It is actually illegal to uproot a saguaro cactus and when removal is needed due to house building or something similar, a permit must be obtained. I feel very fortunate to live in a place where these wise cacti grow. Very few people have the opportunity to greet these ancient beings.










1 comment:

velvetwoods said...

Wow such majestic plants.Love those two growing close to each other too.I'm glad it's illegal to uproot one,they are so amazing.You are very lucky to live a place where they grow.
Thanks for sharing !