VISITING WESTERN ARIZONA

This is the fourth in a series of articles about visiting western Arizona

SAGUARO NATIONAL PARK

By Charles N. Stevens

Photos by Dolores Seidman

If there is a symbol for the state of Arizona it is the saguaro cactus with its tall many armed presence. We began to see them on the rocky slopes almost as soon as we crossed the Colorado River on our way into Arizona. Today we’ll see a whole forest of them in the Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona.

As we enter the park, we are soon surrounded by the saguaros, these majestic cacti rising out of the rocky soil. In my imagination they are like creatures all turning toward us, looking at us intruding on their territory. Coming down to earth, we visit the park’s Visitors Center.

In the Visitors Center we learn that the shallow roots of the saguaro extend out underground to a distance equal to the height of the tree. The fact that the roots are close to the surface allows the plant to absorb water during the rainy seasons. They have one rainy season like ours during the winter and another during the summer monsoon season. I was amazed that the cactus was so tall yet rigid. A cut-away exhibit shows that woody “ribs” run up through the cactus to support the bulk of it.

Some of the saguaros we saw stood about 40 to 50 feet tall and were estimated to be around 150 years in age. During early summer cream-colored flowers bloom near their tops. These are very useful to doves, bats and bees that are attracted to their sweetness and use the flowers as food. At the same time, they pollinize the flowers. The flowers eventually develop into deep red fruit tempting to desert animals and humans. Indians, to this day, collect the fruit and use its bright red pulp to make syrup, jelly and ceremonial wine.

At the end of our stay in the park we are treated to a bus ride on a loop road that winds through the park. Our intrepid bus driver manned his 52-passenger bus around sharp curves and up and down hills, treating us to great views of the saguaro forest. As the sun was beginning to set, we saw saguaros from all angles in all shades of light. The silhouettes of these magnificent cacti against the setting sun was a vision of breathtaking beauty.

Saguaro cacti near Visitors Center. Note the young one (no arms) between the more mature specimens.

Some of the older saguaros are 50 feet high.

Wood-like ribs run the length of the cactus, keeping it rigid.

MONTEREY PARK AUTHOR PUBLISHES 4th BOOK – Seeking More of the Sky: Growing Up in the 1930’s:

Charles “Norm” Stevens, a 43 year resident of Monterey Park has recently published his 4^th book: Seeking More of the Sky: Growing Up in the 1930’s. This is the story of a young boy growing up in Inglewood, California in the l930’s. This was a time during the depression when unemployment was affecting many and the banks were closed, while the clouds of war were gathering in Europe. But he was lucky enough to be raised in a loving family, the power of that love reflected throughout his stories.

Stevens is the author of three previous books about his experiences during WWII:

An Innocent at Polebrook: A Memoir of an 8th Air Force Bombardier (Story of his 34 bombing missions from his base at Polebrook, England over Germany and France)

The Innocent Cadet: Becoming A World War II Bombardier (A prequel to the first, telling of his training in the U.S. before going overseas into combat.)

Back from Combat: A WWII Bombardier Faces His Military Future from Combat: (This book details the time from when he returned from combat in England until the end of the war.)

He is known to the readers of The Citizen’s Voice as the author of Travel Log Articles including “Cruising the Rhine and Mosel”,” Best of the West”, “In Search of Snow” ,  “From Paris to Normandy on the Seine”, and “Exploring New York”.  He is retired, having taught for 32 years, primarily in the Montebello Unified School District.

Those interested in purchasing an autographed copy of any of his books, may contact the author at 323-721-8230 or  Normstevens24@gmail.com.