Saguaro Against the Sky

Most nights after feeding our miniature horses, I perch on a hill behind our courtyard wall to view the sunset.  If I aim my camera just above the wall, I get a spectacular image of my favorite giant saguaro against the evening sky.  I took these photos recently on three different August evenings.

I treasure every saguaro in our yard, their presence one of the main reasons we bought our home.  After living in north central Phoenix for several years, where palm trees and citrus dominate the landscape, I was excited to move a little farther out and experience more of Arizona's native plant life.  

Saguaros are found only in the Sonoran Desert.  These slow-growing cacti do not grow an arm until they are at least fifty years old.  For more interesting saguaro facts, visit the National Park Service website:  http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/the%20saguaro%20cactus.pdf  

Considering the size and arms on my favorite saguaro, it has seen its share of August sunsets.  I like to imagine the people who might have passed by this saguaro over the years.  A vivid picture comes to mind of a dusty cowboy circa 1912, laying on the ground beneath her arms, staring up at the glittering stars as he falls asleep on a hot August night.