Saguaro Cactus Blooms Boom in Quartzsite

If you’re still parked in your RV near Quartzsite–or any other part of the Sonora Desert–you’ve probably been astounded with the blooms on the saguaros. It’s no wonder the saguaro blossom is the state’s official flower–it’s just an amazing and very short term beauty.

No, they aren’t “sag-wahr-ohs,” they’re properly pronounced “sah-wah-roh” and they’re a slow grower. It may take 75 years for the first “arm” to pop out of this southwestern sentinel, but right now, these giant cactus have a longer life span than you or me. Limited to a very narrow zone, mostly in parts of Old Mexico and Arizona, and a few in a tiny portion of California.

The saguaro bloom makes itself known as a bulbous bud prior to coming open. But the opening of the blossom is something you’ll need to stay up later than Leno to see. Saguaro blossoms open at night, and are typically pollinated by bats. A misconception is that the blossom is a goner before the noonday sun–unless they heat is super torrid, they may hang around a bit longer. Nevertheless, saguaro blooms must be appreciated quickly. In a month or so, the blooms we’ll be replaced with a red fruit, bearing thousands of seeds. Natives knocked these fruits off the cactus and fermented their juice.

It may be a teensy bit warm for some RVers to appreciate the saguaro bloom. Nevertheless, as you plan your next seasonal excursion down Quartzsite way, be sure to put a cactus tour on your agenda. An excellent book that covers the saguaro forests near Tucson is Monumental Places National Parks & Monuments in the Grand Canyon State. The author walks you through these erie “forests” and other fascinating spots around Arizona. The book is on sale now at the RV Bookstore. Check it out!

photo: R&T DeMaris