When my wife DiAnne and I searched for a location to retire, the first priority was a location warmer than Minnesota. We quickly found ourselves drawn to the beauty of the sunsets, cacti and succulents located in the Sonoran Desert.

The Sonoran Desert covers large parts of the Southwestern United States in Arizona and California and of Northwestern Mexico. The Sonoran Desert is the home of Saguaro (pronounced “suh-wah-roe”) Cactus. The Saguaro is often referred to as the ‘Sentinel of the Desert’ because it stands boldly against the elements like a giant, prickly guardian. 

Contrary to what you might see in movies and old television series, the Saguaro is found only within the Sonoran Desert. No wild saguaros are found anywhere in New Mexico, Texas, Colorado, Utah, or Nevada, nor in the high deserts of northern Arizona.

While Saguaros typically reach a height of 40-50 feet, they grow very slowly at first. During the first 6-8 years they grow only an inch or so annually. A Saguaro doesn’t begin to grow its first arm until it is about 75 years old. Typically, a Saguaro has a lifespan that exceeds 150 years. 

The Saguaro can survive long periods of desert drought because of its ability to store large amounts of rainwater. When rain is plentiful and the saguaro is fully hydrated it can weigh between 3,200–4,800 pounds. While these cacti are heavy with water you don’t necessarily want to drink it. A little water from a cactus may keep you alive but drinking too much will make you sick and cause even more dehydration.

In 1982, two inebriated roommates were struck with the notion of taking pot shots at a saguaro cactus, a class four felony in Arizona with a possible 3+ year maximum sentence. One of the roommates took aim at the arm from underneath a 26 feet high Saguaro estimated to be a hundred years old. The gunshots severed a four-foot spiny appendage which landed on him crushing him to death. This event was documented in the song, ‘Saguaro’ by the Austin Lounge Lizards.

The best place to see these mystic giants of the desert is in the Saguaro National Park just outside of Tucson. Here you’ll find hiking trails, driving loops and prehistoric artifacts from the Hohokam Culture. You can read stories of how the Hohokam harvested the Saguaro fruit to make syrups, jellies and wine. The first 62,000 acre portion of the park was constructed from 1933 to 1942 by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The park grew over the years to its current size of 92,000 acres and now consists of two separate areas—the Tucson Mountain District and the Rincon Mountain District. Be sure to include this historical destination on your next trip to southern Arizona.