Hollywood and mis-informed artists.
Made the saguaro a Texas Icon.
But the saguaro only grows in Arizona.
Where people’ve got em’ out on their lawn.
The Reverend Horton Heat
Indeed, its true. Often thought of as a symbol of the American West, the saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea) is confined to the Sonoran Desert in southern Arizona, and southward into the states of Sonora and Baja, in Mexico. However, despite its somewhat limited geographic range, the saguaro still symbolizes much of what we associate with the American West, like resilience and fortitude. Saguaros can grow quickly, even in the hot, dry environment of southern Arizona. On young plants, the spines can grow up to a millimeter a day. In addition, they’re long-lived. They don’t even start branching until they’re several decades old.
Even after their death, the skeletons of these magnificent cacti stand strong against the elements, preserved by the dry desert air. I found a couple of cacti skeletons on a recent trip to Phoenix. I thought the lines they made were artful, graceful, almost sensuous.
Saguaro Skeleton I, January 2011
Saguaro Skeleton II, January 2011
That first one has enormous personality, Greg! I always wonder how many visitors to New Mexico are perplexed and dismayed by the absence of saguaros. I suppose our iconic vegetable would have to be the cholla.
Amazing plants. I love the character in the first one and the lines in the second. Cool.
The skeleton reminds me of some primordial vulture lifting its wings. There’s an amazing group of saguaros on old Highway 89 between Oracle and Florence, south of the Tom Mix memorial. Have never been there in the right light, need to put it on the to-shoot list.
Thank you all for the comments!
Jackson, you’re right…I think some people do expect these guys to appear in New Mexico, but are disappointed when they aren’t. Since reading your comment I’ve been trying to think about what would be iconic for New Mexico…probably the cholla.
Ann, I hadn’t thought of a vulture…but you’re right! Thanks for the heads up on the group of saguaros down by Oracle. We’ll be in Phoenix in a few weeks; maybe I can sneak down there for sunset.
Some fantastic lines in the second image and intricate detail. Remarkable images.
Great series of dead saguaros Greg, I’ve always thought the dead ones were just as interesting as the live one. When they die they’re like a decomposing carcass in different states. I’ve looked at the map where they grow and have always wondered if a few seeds have blown across the Colorado River and have germinated here in California?
I’m glad you’re a Rev fan, he and Jimbo are great stage performers!
Thanks Steve. Yeah, I have always wondered about the small patch of land they occupy in California, too. If you’re driving into Arizona on I-10, its always surprised me that the saguaros seems to start immediately when you enter Arizona.
Cheers,
Greg
So is there a place on this side where they do grow?
Steve, I’ve seen references (in several places) to an area they occupy in the extreme SE corner of California, but just now doing some research I can’t find any definitive locations…
Wow, gorgeous photographs. It would be fun to make darkroom silver prints of these. Have you ever used black and white film?
David, I agree these would look great as silver prints.
I’ve never shot any black and white, but have considered it. I think I could borrow a camera easily enough…
The first shot is brilliant, Greg!
(BTW – you can have silver gelatin prints made from your digital images. I use a company called Digital Silver Imaging for this.)
Sharon
Thanks, Sharon! Also, thanks for the heads-up on the printer. I’ll check them out!
Really like the first image. I like the sepia tone that you used. I have been doing some toning lately and find that it really adds to an image.
Best Regards,
Greg….