SharivilleLife stories from Shari

What is it for me about the” Desert  Southwest?” I have asked myself  often before, because it keeps drawing me back. I don’t believe I would want to live here full time, but time here is wonderful.  I have a real fondness for Death Valley, its serene, peaceful and spiritual, and it’s on the way from California to the Great Desert Southwest.  Here I get a feeling I cannot explain.

We spent time today in two of the five Mt ranges that surround Tucson.  First we drove over to the Rincon Mts. and then turned around and drove to the Tucson Mts. both ranges are part of the Saguaro Natl. Park.  Everyone knows my fondness for Natl Parks. I now have another one chalked up. Can you say ” sah….WAH….row?  That’s how the ranger told me this park is  pronounced.  Of course it’s all about the Saguaro Cactus and they are something to behold.  They only grow here and nowhere else in the world.  Here in the Sonoran Desert. They are a treasure. They are spellbindingly glorious.  I have seen these cactus’ before but never a forest of them.  Saguaro Natl Park is definitely one of “My America’s” precious sights to see.  This park was created in 1933, that was a good yr.  In 1976 Congress designated over 70 %  of the park as wilderness area, thus providing this area solitude and a place to renew your spirit.  I think that’s just what the desert does for me, it renews my spirit.  The park in the Tucson Mts. varies in elevation and those tall giants can be seen at all levels.  They say the Saguaro cactus can live, if it gets a good start, which is difficult, 175 to 200 yrs.  Can you imagine what these cactus could tell us esp about this area.  From the Apache Indians, the outlaws like Billy the Kid, the Earp brothers and the Clantons, they had to be all over this area. They really did witness the “Wild West ” at it’s glory.  Yet they stand quietly in their place, some with out stretched arms and are ever so silent.  If they could only talk.  but then that would take the mystery away, wouldn’t it?

These marvelous green giants grow ever so slowly.  In a yr a seedling may grow a quarter of an inch.  In 15 yrs it may reach 12 inches. At about 30 yrs it may flower and by 50 yrs it can reach 7 ft. tall.  The Saguaro’ that live to 150 yrs. can reach 50 ft.  After about 75 yrs into this they may sprout arms from small prickly nubs that will grow out and up.  There’s a rather big poaching problem with these guys.  People steal them for landscaping and that’s a definite No No!!!  These are the largest cacti in the U.S.

While I was tromping around in the desert, very carefully, to take pictures I kept an eye out for the various creatures the rangers advised about.  I was so fortunate not to see a Diamond Back Rattler, a Scorpion, or a Tarantula.  But I was looking.  We saw Quail and Roadrunners, cute little guys. But this park is not just about the fantastic green giants, this is the Sonoran Desert, and it supports untold mammals and reptiles and birds of several kinds.  I would love to have seen an Elf Owl.  They nest in the Saguaro’, or a Desert Tortoise. That would have been the icing on the cake.  Imagine this environment with about 12 inches of rain per yr?  And yet it’s a wonderful place to come to to renew your spirit.

The cactus’ are not in bloom yet, but there are so many different kinds of them.  They are all special in their own way.   I love the Ocotillo’. I have seen them in bloom and the flower is orange.  There is lots of Creosote Bush and Barrel Cactus.  We caught the movie at the visitors center and it just explained so much.  I have longed to visit Tucson for as long as I have been traveling and finally we are here.  Tomorrow will bring another wonderful day of adventures, so tune in again, it will be interesting, esp for those who have caught the travel bug.