2,000 of those tiny seeds, when dried out, will easily fit into the cap of your canteen. Oh. You're not from the desert southwest, and you don't have a canteen. Okay. They'll fit into the plastic cap of your G-2 sport drink bottle.
Either way, what you're looking at there in my grand-daughter's gloved hand is the ripe fruit of the Giant Saguaro Cactus.
It's food to every desert-dwelling creature creative (or lucky) enough to get some.
White winged doves perch on the top of the cacti, gorging themselves on the seeds. In the process, some get dislodged, and fall to the desert floor, where everything from the smallest mouse to coyotes consider it a delicacy.
Ancestral Indians considered the fruit a delicacy too, and harvested it using long poles created from the dead ribs of fallen Giant Saguaros.
Now you know.
If you haven't been to Tucson yet, come visit soon.
If you have, we look forward to seeing you again!
___________________
I'm Mike in Tucson, your preferred Tucson, AZ Mortgage lender.
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Hi Mike!
That is cool beyond words! Thanks for the history lesson...and the vivid experience!
Mike, I've seen the birds perched on top of the saguaro but never saw inside the flower. I know exactly why you are wearing the leather glove.
I learn something new every day...so much for that 'old dogs, new tricks' thing, huh? :)
Mike, Interesting post. Yes, those cacti are interesting plants...
Helping you live your American Dream...
I love those majestic plants. I still remember the awe I felt when, on a trip to Phoenix, I saw the Saguaro Cactus for the first time.
Lenn,
They're my favorite desert plant, and the predominant "tree" of the Arizona-Sonoran desert.
Michael,
Isn't it amazing that something weighing tons starts life as a seed about the size of the dot under the question mark at the end of this sentence?
Jesse,
You're doing all right for a "young dog." :)
Leolinda,
The inside of the fruit is pretty amazing, isn't it!
Paula,
You're welcome! Thanks for being the first to comment.
Mike in Tucson
Mike,
I love the Saguaro shot!
Buy your Grand daughter her own gloves!
Bill
Morning Mike I see you had a little helper along....now one question how do those seeds taste?
yes, Cynthia posted my question! how do they taste?
Janie & Cynthia,
The truth is, I don't know!
Bill,
She likes to wear Grandpa's gloves. Go figure. :)
Mike in Tucson
My question is where did you plant the seeds. I'm sure you have a Saguaro farm somewhere.
Do they grow anywhere outside of Arizona? I've never seen this type before.
Mike, love the photo. I assume your granddaughter is wearing gloves because it's a cactus and she needs them. Great picture. You put it in your canteen because it tastes so good? Thank you again for your call yesterday. I appreciate your help!
Mike, That picture of the sunset and cactua is incredible. I haven't yet been to Tucson but have been to Arizona and loved it! Those cactus are a magnificent sight!
Gorgeous photos. Being from the Pacific Northwest, we rarely see a cactus, much less any of the size you have there in AZ. So, what's the story I remember about drinking cactus juice of eating cactus....? Something about it being mind alterning? LOL..or is that all fictional?
Coleen,
It's not fictional. Peyote is what you're thinking about. You'll find the answer on Wikipedia; thanks for commenting.
Carole,
It's something you'll want to add to the bucket list!
Connie,
We were hiking, and we wear gloves when hiking because most things in the desert stick you, sting you or (sometimes) try to bite you!
IMF,
Saguaro cacti grow in Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. That's it. Nowhere else on earth.
Larry,
Looking at the surrounding mountains from my backyard, trying to count the saguaros I can see is like trying to count the stars at night.
Mike in Tucson
They are very majestic when you see them in person. Didn't know that flower/seed ball was so big. Thanks for the pics so I know better.
I have never seen a cactus flower. Very interesting, once in a lifetime viewing...
Mike, at first I thought that was your gloved hand until I noticed the pink shoe laces below. :) Beautiful picture. Kate
Kate,
My little grand daughter is 10, and she's been visiting Arizona since she was 18 months.
Caron,
That's the fruit; the flower is white. I'll see if I can find a photo to upload for you.
Lyn,
Ditto my comment to Caron; I'll see what I can find in my photo morgue.
Mike in Tucson
Mike,
Thank you for sharing this information on the cactus and how it is food for the dwellers.
Those seeds remind me of pomegranate seeds. Wonder if they taste the same?
Isn't it amazing that something so imposing can produce something that appears so delicate? But the Saguaro is beautiful in its own way, that's for sure. Thanks for the look at your desert! :)
Mike,
Another phenomenal post and picture...!!! Thanks, Fran
I've never seen the flower or the fruit before. Thanks for the photo and info.
Mike, how interesting! So, the fruit opens up spontaneously and releases the seeds?
Exactly. The flowers open in late May, and they're white and waxy-looking, with a yellow center. (It's the Arizona state flower.) They're pollinated by bats at night, drinking the nectar. The fruit forms as a pod, which opens as you see it above when the fruit is ripe and the seeds are mature.
Terry,
You're welcome!
Fran,
Thanks for stopping by.
Carol,
It really is majestic and imposing. The largest are 50' tall, and weigh many tons.
Rita,
I don't know if they taste like pomegranate, but I'm going to google it, and see what others say about the taste.
Don,
Thanks for commenting, my friend!
Mike in Tucson
To me, the saguaro is one of the marvels of nature! I am interested in seeing what the fruit tastes like also! One of my favorite cactus fruits is prickly pear extract. Put a couple of drops in a margarita and YUM!
Renee,
When you press your finger against the skin of the saguaro, it gives. It's sort of like the skin of a watermelon, except for the vertical rows of thorns. Prickly pear is delicious!
Mike in Tucson
We love the saguaros -- you have many more than we do.
Mike you take great pictures. I need a camera.