Saguaro blossom

Arizona’s state flower is the saguaro cactus blossom. This one took a looooong time to complete because of the amount of detail in the center of the flower, the two weeks that I was sick, a visit from @unclebacon65 and two trips out of town! Let’s see if I can back to finishing one flower a week. How did I do a flower a day last October?? Don’t forget to click over to @unclebacon65 and see his saguaro flower, too! #ijustwanttodrawprettypictures

Saguaro Flower is a photograph by Saija Lehtonen which was uploaded on May 11th, 2012. The photograph may be purchased as wall art, home decor, apparel, phone cases, greeting cards, and more. All products are produced on-demand and shipped worldwide within 2 - 3 business days.

Saguaros begin blossoming during the months of April and May in the Sonoran desert. A single bud will produce a large white flower lasting one night & day, pollinated by birds, bees, and bats, before it withers. This shot was taken in my back yard, west of Tucson Arizona. See large view. Explore #262 5/21/10

It's getting to the end of the saguaro flower season. Although the flowers are still blooming on this plant, others already have fruit. The green saguaro fruit bursts open to reveal a bright red interior. Fortunately for the plant, the birds and the animals, the fruit tastes wonderful. It's unfortunate for photographers, though, because hungry beaks usually get to the fruit long before curious lenses. By tradition, the local Native Americans collect the fruit using long poles. I've seen…

The Sonoran desert landscape would not be complete without the large green saguaro cactus, native to only Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora and small parts of Baja California. It's arms can take up to 75 years to develop. The Saguaro cactus bloom is the state flower of Arizona.

It's only mid-May and the saguaros are already blooming. Normally, the flowers appear later this month, but everything seems to be happening early in the desert this year. The prickly pears flowered early, one or two cicadas are already singing, and some horned lizards are already out and about. I took this photo this morning at sunrise. The flowers were well above head-height. Fortunately, I bought a taller stepladder yesterday. I'd never have been able to take this photo using the…