The Saguaro Endurance Test

[lindyannajones]

More Saguaros? Just when you were getting used to recess and your Saguaro reprieve. Consider these photos a reward for your patient endurance of Saguaro School: the saguaro harvest! Here's the scope. Consider the entire city of Tucson and desert that extends west towards Yuma a Saguaro Orchard. Now think harvest time and pictures thousands of Saguaros topped with bright red fruit. It's quite spectacular.



The White-winged dove spends his spring and summer in Tucson. "Hello? It's hot as blue blazes, little bird. Why would you do that?" "Saguaro fruit" you coo, adding your familiar refrain "who cooks for y-o-o-o-u?" (See Stevie Nicks White-winged Dove below)



The Gila (pronounced heela) Woodpecker is a friend to the Saguaro Cactus. They are one of the chief sowers of Saguaro seed. They also feed on the insects that attack the cactus. A children's author calls him "Dr. Bird."



You may remember this:

Just like the white winged dove...
Sings a song...

I went today... maybe I will go again...
Tomorrow
And the music there it was hauntingly...
Familiar
And I see you doing...
What I try to do for me
With the words from a poet...
And the voice from a choir
And a melody... nothing else mattered

[jakethepig]

Edge of seventeen, I found it eventually from your words and listened to it while viewing this lovely presentation as promised. The lovely fruit of the suguaro and bringing in the White Winged Doves for a lovely treat. And because of your eye for the beauty in the desert, we also get treat from the fruit. So sit back relax view the beauty and listen the lovely words of the song. Ahhhhhhh. Thats better.
Thank You Lindy.

Dave.

[beatles2]

I love the dove love. Beautiful..!!!

[billmac57]

Absolutely beautiful pictures of the white dove and the cactus, I was going to say perfect!. It`s funny how pictures bring music or a song mind. I listened to the music but I kept coming back to the song ``On the Wings of Snow White Dove``

[jack russell]

thx for taking us back

[Chewys Dad]

Another Great Presentation Lindyanna! Theres another favorite desert bird that is one of my favorites, it's the cactus wren; I used to love sitting on my patio and watching them fly in and eat the dogs food; I didn't mind as they are fun to watch.
Thanks for the new lesson on seed sowers and insectivores.
Michael.

[lindyannajones]

Originally Posted by jakethepig

Edge of seventeen, I found it eventually from your words and listened to it while viewing this lovely presentation as promised. The lovely fruit of the suguaro and bringing in the White Winged Doves for a lovely treat. And because of your eye for the beauty in the desert, we also get treat from the fruit. So sit back relax view the beauty and listen the lovely words of the song. Ahhhhhhh. Thats better.
Thank You Lindy.

Dave.

Dave, How you viewed them is what I hoped for. Stevie Nicks grew up in Phoenix which is how she knows the WWD. Spotting them in March is the first official sign of Spring. Glad you liked these photos.

Originally Posted by beatles2

I love the dove love. Beautiful..!!!

Thanks Paul. Where you might see an occasional dove on the top of a Saguaro throughout the year, they are now vying for the tops and eating to their heart's content.

Originally Posted by billmac57

Absolutely beautiful pictures of the white dove and the cactus, I was going to say perfect!. It`s funny how pictures bring music or a song mind. I listened to the music but I kept coming back to the song ``On the Wings of Snow White Dove``

Shhh. I think we should pretend like we know the Edge of Seventeen album by heart while we quietly hark back just a few years earlier to this song by Ferlin Husky. It was the first one that popped into my mind but quickly realized it was not very hip. BTW I always thought this tune was pure cornball and can't believe it made it across the pond. And yet, at the mention of the title, every word and note returns!

Originally Posted by jack russell

thx for taking us back

My pleasure. I'd love to send some jelly samples for your toast in the morning. This is seriously good stuff!

Originally Posted by Chewys Dad

Another Great Presentation Lindyanna! Theres another favorite desert bird that is one of my favorites, it's the cactus wren; I used to love sitting on my patio and watching them fly in and eat the dogs food; I didn't mind as they are fun to watch.
Thanks for the new lesson on seed sowers and insectivores.
Michael.

Here you go. Listen first and then watch. In fact, you might look at the photos again with this as a back drop. The Gila Woodpecker photo is sort of frustrating. That's the guy I tried to feature in the Saguaro series but wouldn't come near when I had my camera. The week after I posted the last in the series, I went back and got this shot. Argh! Better late than never, I guess. Cactus wren and dog food? That's a new one. Reminds me a little mouse that used to eat my Sheltie's dog food.

[pjflan7]

Nice shots Lindy, I have to interrupt with an inquisitive question....How long does it take for the saguaro to go from its bald top to having fruit the size of what is represented in the photos?

[lindyannajones]

Originally Posted by pjflan7

Nice shots Lindy, I have to interrupt with an inquisitive question....How long does it take for the saguaro to go from its bald top to having fruit the size of what is represented in the photos?

Hi Patrick, The average Saguaro doesn't begin to produce blooms > fruit until it is 35-40 years old. By that time, they are probably 5' tall. A well developed Saguaro can produce 100 pears depending upon how many arms it has. Here's one that has 14 arms. This is very unusual, BTW.

[fstopMike]

Thanks, Lindy. I'm not tired of Sagauro yet! Love the colors of the fruit and the marvel of nature as each participant plays an important part in the Saguaro story.