Happy Cactus Monday!
Many of the saguaro flowers have dried and ripe fruit are starting to split open revealing their red color.
A few white blossoms are still lingering on some cacti. Here's the crested saguaro on the Nature Loop trail.
Traditionally, the fruit is picked off the tops of the cacti with long poles made of saguaro ribs.
Image by David Bygott (Kibuyu)
After the fruit is boiled for syrup, the seeds and pulp are spread out to dry in the sun.
Image by Calc-tufa
Each fruit has about 2000 tiny black poppy like seeds inside. Some say saguaro fruit tastes like figs with a hint of strawberry flavor. Saguaro fruit were once an important food source for the Tohono O'odham (Papago) Native Americans. Now they're mostly enjoyed by birds and bats. Chris and I plan to visit the canyon in the evening to see if we can observe bats feeding on the saguaro fruits.
For more Cactus Monday posts, visit Teri's Painted Daisies.
For more Cactus Monday posts, visit Teri's Painted Daisies.
What an interesting post, Diane. I had no idea the flowers turned into fruit. I learn so much from you. I'm sure the birds love that fruit. Hope you do get some pictures of the bats eating it...
ReplyDeleteKeep us posted.
Hugs,
Betsy
I really enjoyed this post!
ReplyDeleteSuch interesting info and gorgeous flowers!
Thanks!
Happy Cactus Monday!
I love the cactus pictures! And this is so informative too - I never knew there was fruit on a cactus.
ReplyDeleteHave you ever tried the fruit? Just curious - I haven't.
ReplyDeleteHi Deedee, I haven't tasted any saguaro fruit, but I understand it's a lot sweeter than prickly pear fruit.
ReplyDeleteOutstanding photos again! I have never seen the open fruit of the saguaro...what a brilliant color. Thanks for another delightful cactus Monday post! :) HCM!
ReplyDeleteThis was a beautiful post, Diane! The pictures are gorgeous, and the information you've provided is a joy to learn!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! The red is stunning on the cactus.
ReplyDeleteWe saw the whit flowers while there couple or weeks ago. I will have to try the saguaro fruit-I like sweets.
Always enjoy learning about our beautiful Sonoran Desert. I'll be sitting out on the patio tonight and watching the bats, to see if they dine on our neighbor's saguaro flower/fruit.
ReplyDeleteThanks for identifying my (desert spiny)lizard. :)
These photos are just FABULOUS!! I have never seen the fruit either and really, not even such great photos. I always love your images and information!! Thank you.
ReplyDeleteHCM!!
I didn't know the fruit were harvested! The photos are gorgeous. I never cease to be amazed by those wonderful Saguaro shapes, and the way the lines all run parallel and then converge.
ReplyDeleteIt was very interesting to see how the fruit is picked and dried in the sun. I think that cactus as a food resource is, sadly, far under-utilized. I always enjoy reading about ethnobotanical uses of native plants worldwide.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots. Really like that crested saguaro. Lucky birds. I love that sweet fruit. Watching the bats would be fun.
ReplyDeletestunning pictures, the crested saguaro looks like a different cactus, it is so unique, though the saguaro for me is also very unique, i love them. love also those birds perched on top of the saguaro.
ReplyDeleteWhat beautiful photos...certainly something you can only see out west! I am so jealous!!! LOL! Happy Cactus MOnday (late). Those fruits burst open really are pretty!
ReplyDeleteI have never seen these before. What remarkable pictures.
ReplyDeleteI am always amazed at the N number of cacti photos that you have and the info on them...really wonderful!!!
ReplyDeleteHCM, Diane!
These photos are absoulutely amazingly beautiful. I enjoyed the information too. thanks. Wow.
ReplyDeleteThe Photographs Are Really Amazing!! Thanks For Sharing The Information Too !!Also I Have Started My Own Website And Would Like You To Have A Look At It.I Would Love To Have Your Comments On That Also.Unseen Rajasthan
ReplyDeleteI never realized there was a commercial use for the suguaro. I'll have to take a look next time I'm down.
ReplyDeleteSure would be cool to see some photos of the bats!
my envy knows no bounds, i wish i could see these every day...sigh...what beauty. happy very late cactus monday fellow cactuteer.
ReplyDeleteThese saquaro are both beautiful and so interesting! I do hope you get to see bats feeding on them. What fun.
ReplyDelete