Friday, April 30, 2010
Saguaro National Park
There are two parts to this national park and they are on opposite sides of Tucson. The larger segment is just east of Tucson and is about 85 square miles. The smaller segment is northwest of Tucson and is about 55 square miles. We just got to see the eastern part of the park.
Love those saguaros !!
Gila Monster - about 18" long. It was crossing the street just as we began our driving tour. About 15 seconds after I took this, it disappeared into the brush.
Antelope ground squirrel. It was just a little bit bigger than a chipmonk.
Lunch at Saguaro.
The desert marigolds were in full bloom.
White easter-bonnet.
Fish hook cactus. It was about 2' tall. Fall on this and you may never get up !
Saguaros this tall are about 50 to 60 years old. They can live up to 200 years, grow as tall as 50' and weigh 8 tons or more.
This landscape is just... different.
Close up of a prickly pear cactus flower.
Dead saguaro.
They come in all shapes !
Looking out from an overlook.
One with arms and a crested top. I like what the park service folks call it: brain mutant. It is estimated that only 1 in 200,000 develope this crest.
Close up of the crest.
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