The Desert Giant
It’s a hot windy afternoon today in Phoenix. I love to go hiking on a windy day because I enjoy hearing the wind whistling and whispering through the thousands of needles on a Saguaro cactus. It’s the proverbial conch shell of the southwest- you can hear the crash of the ocean waves as the wind blows through the thousands of spiny rows on the Desert Giant.
Hearing the wind sigh as it passes by the Saguaro is probably one of the most calming and therapeutic sounds of the desert. There are times that I go out in the desert just to try to find the most unusual Saguaro cactus. Because it’s a great reminder that no two cactus are the same, yet they are all beautiful in their individuality.
Some have ripples…
Some have fingers…
Some frame the moon…
Some are crested…
And best of all, the Saguaro cactus provides homes and food for a variety of wildlife.
In my humble opinion, the Saguaro may be one of the best parts of the southwest. Is there any other better cactus that provides a gorgeous silhouette to the southwestern sunset?
