HAPPY NEW YEAR from Cactus Country
This celebrating prickly pear cactus was spotted in Saguaro National Park near Tucson. (OK, so I added the adornments... but he looks kind of cute don't you think?) And we do want to wish each and every one of you a wonderful new year. I am sure we all hope that 2010 will be less "prickly" than 2009.On two separate days, we visited Saguaro National Park East and West. This must be the only national park that has two totally separate locations. When we drove to the eastern side of Tucson, we were greeted with some great old cactus. It is hard not to admire, and photograph, these stately cactus with such graceful arms - no two are ever alike.
Consider that is me next to this brut and you get some idea of how very big this cactus is. Remember it takes about 75 years before they get their first "arm" and that the average saguaro lives to be 200 years old. I'd say this one must be nearly that and still growing straight and strong with new growth starting on several of the arms.
In addition to the grand and glorious, we saw some of the birds that use these cacti as homes. It is hard to believe, but many different animals burrow and peck their way into this cactus and use the cool interior as their home.
The hawk makes a nest where the arm attaches to the body of the plant. But we see them perched atop the tallest one around.
I don't know how the woodpecker avoids the needle like super sharp thorns when making a hole in the body of the cactus.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the eastern park, until we visited the western park - by far the best one in my opinion. We took the time to hike three different trails and found the most unusual cactus we have ever seen. Mike didn't really need the binoculars he is carrying as most of the views were up close.
Seems almost like this one was reaching out to give us a hug.
And there really isn't anything to say about his one, but wow! But there is a funny story. It seemed like this would be a great place to have our picture taken together so I asked a fellow who was hiking behind us. What I got was a closeup picture of MY right boob - he was evidently the wrong boob to ask! So here's another one of Mike.
The overall scenery was beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a better day. The sun was shining bright and it hit 70.
Consider that is me next to this brut and you get some idea of how very big this cactus is. Remember it takes about 75 years before they get their first "arm" and that the average saguaro lives to be 200 years old. I'd say this one must be nearly that and still growing straight and strong with new growth starting on several of the arms.
In addition to the grand and glorious, we saw some of the birds that use these cacti as homes. It is hard to believe, but many different animals burrow and peck their way into this cactus and use the cool interior as their home.
The hawk makes a nest where the arm attaches to the body of the plant. But we see them perched atop the tallest one around.
I don't know how the woodpecker avoids the needle like super sharp thorns when making a hole in the body of the cactus.
We thoroughly enjoyed our time at the eastern park, until we visited the western park - by far the best one in my opinion. We took the time to hike three different trails and found the most unusual cactus we have ever seen. Mike didn't really need the binoculars he is carrying as most of the views were up close.
Seems almost like this one was reaching out to give us a hug.
And there really isn't anything to say about his one, but wow! But there is a funny story. It seemed like this would be a great place to have our picture taken together so I asked a fellow who was hiking behind us. What I got was a closeup picture of MY right boob - he was evidently the wrong boob to ask! So here's another one of Mike.
The overall scenery was beautiful and we couldn't have asked for a better day. The sun was shining bright and it hit 70.
In Minnesota, my mom was celebrating her 91st birthday and many of the the family gathered to honor her and enjoy the day and each other. We found our visit to the park a good distraction as this is one time, we really would have liked to have been in Minnesota...
The western side of the park overlooks a vast valley and a short walk took us up to a spectacular view.
It was a good day and a beautiful park. (And thanks to modern technology, I got a cell phone picture of mom, with her birthday cake, while we were walking around - made us feel closer.)
The western side of the park overlooks a vast valley and a short walk took us up to a spectacular view.
It was a good day and a beautiful park. (And thanks to modern technology, I got a cell phone picture of mom, with her birthday cake, while we were walking around - made us feel closer.) posted by jf and me | 11:00 PM
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