Sonoran Saguaro Spring

The Saguaro, sentinel of the Sonoran Desert, has fascinated me from the very moment I laid eyes on them! So I excitedly anticipated the arrival of spring 2011 when I would be able to see this beautiful plant flower. Each winter walk at San Tan Mountain Park found me looking for signs of change and the promise of blossoms. In the photo above you can see the white ring on the lower right arm of the right Saguaro. I was sure that this meant that buds would be appearing soon. I was so excited! (Don't miss the Gambel's Quail in the middle of the picture.)

Late April brought sightings of Saguaro blossoms on many of these plants. I was surprised to notice that not many opened at the same time. If they all opened at once, it would leave the desert creatures who depend on the blossoms for moisture and nourishment with a very short window of time to have this available to them. Thankfully God knew best when He ordered the rhythms of nature!
Above are two beautiful blossoms I photographed this morning. You will note that there are other blooms in various stages of development. Most of them have already opened, been pollinated, and are beginning to develop fruit. The main pollinator of Saguaro blossoms is the White-winged Dove (cousin to the Mourning Dove), although other birds, mammals and insects also contribute to the pollination process.
The fruit of the Saguaro will also provide moisture and nourishment in the weeks to come. Without this stately plant, many birds and animals would not survive in the desert.
My fascination with the desert continues to grow as we explore it on almost a daily basis. I don't think I will ever grow tired of watching its rhythms. I look forward to sharing more of our new surroundings with you in future blogs.