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Tuesday, 24 January 2012

So Handsome

We are very lucky to have dozens of Saguaro Cacti in our yard that cover all age groups from ancients who have obviously been standing sentinel for several hundred years to tiny little babies that are still hiding from the sun under their nursery plant. There are only a couple of the Saguaros that we have given names to, so far - I know it sounds a little odd to give them names but they are all so unique.
There is a young one close to the back of the house that is very chubby, that became Cartman! Right outside the dining room is a very old one that bears the scars of many woodpecker inhabitants that has been christened Madala (an African term of respect for an older man) and next to it, growing up in its shadow is one that is probably only about fifty years old, that has become Junior.
And then there is Adonis, a saguaro that stands alone, further up the yard. It is quite magnificent, so perfect that it looks almost more like a model of a saguaro than the real thing!


Unlike some of the mature saguaros that are pockmarked with dozens of woodpecker holes, Adonis has only one or two to spoil the perfection. The limbs are straight and strong.


And it looks splendid no matter which angle you look at it from.



And like all top models, Adonis is very smooth. All those unsightly spines that younger cacti have to deter predators are gone to leave a perfectly smooth physique that will stand any number of close-ups!


And as the desert sun begins to set the beautiful Adonis is lit up to perfection.


What a magnificent specimen!


Nature Notes
hosted by Michelle at Rambling Woods.


13 comments:

EG CameraGirl said...

Adonis is very handsome! I wonder how old he is, do you have any idea?

Carver said...

Stunning set of shots.

eileeninmd said...

Your Adonis is beautiful. It is a perfect shot of Adonis in the sunshine. Gorgeous series of photos!

??? said...

I love the sunset spots. Adonis really is perfectly named and no, I don't find it weird at all to name plants, especially not one with so much character.

Rambling Woods said...

I love these...I would name them. Are you now living in the south west Celeste?....

Celeste said...

EGWow, I am not very sure because everyone seems to have different theories on how to age them. I would think Adonis is somewhere in the region of 100 to 150 years old.

Celeste said...

Thank you Carver, Adonis is a very obliging model, he doesn't move around much! :)

Celeste said...

Thanks Eileeninmd I seem to always be taking saguaro pictures, I have hundreds of them!

Celeste said...

Jedediah, they do have loads of character and everyone is different. I tried to comment on your post but I couldn't find the comment link - your photo of the frosty fern was so beautiful.

Celeste said...

I am flitting back and forth Michelle. I wish I could live in the southwest as it suits me far better than city life but unfortunately work doesn't allow for such things at present :(

Great Grandma Lin said...

beautiful cacti and photo, I surfed over from rambling woods. Check out my blog sometime-I live in St. George Utah in the desert too but no saguaros.

Celeste said...

Hi Lin, thanks for dropping by. I see you have four blogs! How do you manage to keep them all going? That is a lot of work :)

Kathie Brown said...

Oh, I so agree! I do not think it weird to name your cactus! I often name trees and these are as large as trees. Besides, I think trees and cacti have personalities and perhaps even spirits! You have every right to name your friends! In fact, I think they tell you their names and you are perceptive enough to hear it!

BTW, have you seen these beauties sway in the wind or heard the wind whistling through the spines? It's an amazing sound!

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