A Saguaro Extravaganza
by Janet Marie
Title
A Saguaro Extravaganza
Artist
Janet Marie
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
đź’•Feel free to explore my collection of cactus flowers at "Desert Cactus Flowers"đź’•
I really love showing off the intricate beauty of the Saguaro Cactus Flowers. Saguaros are monarchs of Arizona's Sonoran Desert, whose home is in that desert only. I went to visit the Dove Mountain area of Marana, Arizona (next door to Tucson, USA), hoping to photograph blooms in a different part of the Tucson area. I have captured them at Saguaro National Park and Sabino Canyon Recreation Area. Now this lovely area has them in abundance.
Saguaro cacti are putting on a spectacular bloom extravaganza as always. Especially during the trying times of the spring of 2020.
I also thought you might enjoy a few fun facts about these special flowers: Peak blooming is from early May to early June. They have a lot of "flower power" as a single saguaro can produce as many as 100 flowers in a season. The saguaro cactus flower "gets by with a little help from their friends" with the pollination process — this includes bats, bees, moths, hummingbirds and white-winged doves. An added bonus is they have a delightful fragrance, not Christian Dior's J'adore, but the desert friends can't get enough of that sweet melon scent.
Saguaro flowers bloom for less than 24 hours, opening at night, and remain open through the next day. It is during that time period I am getting to photograph them. They only have that very short time to attract an animal to be pollinated (during the night the flowers are pollinated by the lesser long-nosed bat and the Mexican long-tongued bat, and during the daytime, the flowers are pollinated by bees and birds such as the white-winged dove.)
Oh yes, and one more point, these brilliant blooms were designated Arizona's state flower in 1931.
A Saguaro Extravaganza © 2020 Janet Marie Photography, all rights reserved.
Uploaded
June 9th, 2020
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Viewed 1,233 Times - Last Visitor from New York, NY on 04/17/2024 at 2:04 PM
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Comments (49)
Sharon W
A most amazing capture of this stunning beauty dear Janet!! Fabulous image!
Janet Marie replied:
Thank you, Sharon. The saguaro cactus are very tall, stately monarchs of the Arizona Sonoran Desert. In the month of May, they gift us with these gorgeous blooms for a day. They smell like watermelon. They require my zoom lens to photograph them.
Linda MacFarland
Magnificent bloom. Beautiful details Janet.
Janet Marie replied:
Thank you so much Linda, for your wonderful comment. They are indeed magnificent, like no other. Of course the saguaro cactus is a favorite subject of mine to photograph, with or without flowers.
Toni Abdnour
Outstanding photography, Janet! Such beauty! l/f/tw
Janet Marie replied:
Toni! How delighted I am that you stopped by my gallery and shared such a wonderful comment about my work. An outstanding subject helps me to accomplish a satisfying feeling. The saguaro cactus flowers are a beauty indeed. Thank you so much for the fave and Tweet.
Meryl Goudey
Catching the sun! LF
Janet Marie replied:
Thank you Meryl for your delightful comment. I really appreciate it and the fave.
Zenya Zenyaris
Fabulous work! I am so glad to see this close up Cactus Flower! L/F
Janet Marie replied:
Zenya! Thank you for visiting my gallery and sharing your wonderful comment about my photography. I really appreciate that and the fave! The unique Saguaro cactus and its blooms are truly amazing.
Larisa Fedotova
Very nice! Love it! L/F/TW
Janet Marie replied:
Larisa! Thank you for stopping by my gallery to share your wonderful comment about my photography. I really appreciate that, the Tweet, and the fave! Janetđź’•
Laurie Search
This is so beautiful, dear Janet!!! I love your composition and color!! :)))vf
Janet Marie replied:
Laurie! You are so sweet. Thank you so much for stopping by my gallery to share such a wonderful comment about my photography. I really appreciate that and choosing this as a fave. What a fabulous flower to photograph. They are so unique and Arizona’s state flower. Janet💕
Nieves Egelkraut
So pure and beautiful. Well-thought angle and presentation. I also love the clarity of the thorns and the background .
Janet Marie replied:
Nieves! Thank you so much for stopping by my gallery to share such a wonderful comment about my photography. I really appreciate. The saguaro cactus blooms are difficult to photograph as they so tall. I had to use my 300 mm lens to photograph this. It’s fun when you get it right. Thank you for noticing. Janet💕
Nikolyn McDonald
I always enjoy cactus flowers - somehow the contrast between their soft, floral beauty - like the ruffly petals here - and the prickly plant itself makes them more interesting.
Janet Marie replied:
Not only is the Saguaro Cactus unique (as exists only in the Sonoran Desert) but it's blooms equally so. They open only at night and wither by the next day's afternoon. These beautiful cactus, that have been in place for 150+ years, are being removed to make room for the building boom. Very sad for me. I am so glad I was able to share in this photographic moment. Thank you, Nikolyn for stopping by and sharing such a delightful comment. I really appreciate it! Janetđź’•
Janet Marie
Featured in "FOR THE LOVE OF FLOWERS" 12/14/2020. Appreciating the opportunity to showcase my photography, in this special way. Janetđź’•
Janet Marie
Karen! Thank you for FEATURING this image on the HOMEPAGE of your Art Group, “LADY PHOTOGRAPHERS AND ARTISTS!” I am honored and truly appreciate the opportunity to showcase my photography in this special way! 💕Janet
Janet Marie
Brooks! Thank you for FEATURING this image on the HOMEPAGE of your Art Group, “A WOMAN'S TOUCH !” I am honored and truly appreciate the opportunity to showcase my photography in this special way! 💕Janet
Roseanne Schellenberger
Congrats! Beautiful image of this wonderful bloom. L F
Janet Marie replied:
Roseanne! Thank you for visiting my gallery and sharing your wonderful thoughts about my photography. I really appreciate it! Janetđź’•
Janet Marie
Bob! Thank you for the HOMEPAGE FEATURE in your wonderful Art Group, "NEW FAA UPLOADS LIMIT 1 PER DAY! I am happy to have my photography recognized in this special way. I really appreciate it! Janetđź’•
Connie Allen
Congrats!
Janet Marie replied:
Thank you Connie for stopping by to Congratulate for the Contest Win. I really appreciate it!
Jerry Bokowski
CONGRATULATIONS, Janet, for your 1st place WIN, in the "SAGUARO CACTUS ONLY" CONTEST! You really deserve it. I know first hand how you feel about the Saguaro Cactus. This really showcases the super detail on the bloom and the intricacy of the cactus itself. Well done, Brava!
Janet Marie replied:
Thank you Jerry for stopping by to Congratulate for the Contest Win. I really appreciate it! It is wonderful to know that you won a contest for something I love to photograph.
Janet Marie
Thank you, Ann Warrenton, for coming in 1st PLACE, in your wonderful CONTEST, "SAGUARO CACTUS ONLY!" I am quite surprised to say the least, as I didn't know. It is quite an honor to be voted by my fellow artists for this reward, and the prize is "A BIG smile," for 1st place. And I do have a big smile, because, beside clouds, saguaros are my favorite to photograph, especially when in bloom. So, I also want to thank all those who voted for my photography, "A Saguaro Extravaganza!" I am truly touched. Janetđź’•
Gary F Richards
Amazing capture and artwork! Congratulations to your winning 1st place in the Cactus contest ! Fl
Janet Marie replied:
Wow, Gary! Leave it to receiving a beautiful congrats from a fellow artist, to know that I won. How wonderful that is. I am very surprised! So, a BIG thank you for stopping by to congratulate for this win. It means a lot, because these monarchs of the Sonoran Desert are my faves. I appreciate your lovely words expressed and choosing this as one of your favorites too!
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