Saguaro Spines © 2011 Bo Mackison
The Tucson area has had very little rain this winter. Add a freezing spell colder than average, and the result is little to nothing blooming in the desert I’ve been hiking. Rather than come home empty-handed with no photographs of flowering cacti, I have been concentrating on patterns and colors in tiny landscapes in the desert. This is a macro-photograph of the spines on a saguaro.
I’ve also been reading A Natural History of the Sonoran Desert by the staff of Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and edited by Steven J. Phillips and Patricia Wentworth Comus (a fascinatingly informative book). So I was beginning to feel like I had been well introduced to the mighty saguaro.
Patience in the Desert © 2011 Bo Mackison
Then I hiked in a desert garden filled with rocks inscribed with quotes about the desert.
And I realized that my gathering of information about the saguaro has been only that — an introduction.
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Bo Mackison is a photographer and owner of Seeded Earth Studio LLC. She is living in Tucson for two months, exhibiting her photography in art shows, taking photographs, and blogging about photography, art fairs, and living life “solo.” She spends a little time each day exploring the desert. There is so much to see, so much to learn–about the Sonoran desert, about creating art, and about living a full life.
About Bo Mackison
Bo, Bo, Bo……I simply must have a print of this photograph. Your imagery, your interpretation of the detail of a saguaro speaks to me deeply. This is sheer beauty in its rawest form – simple, elegant, true. Saguaros are my favorite cactus and the Sonoran Desert is my favorite desert. Have I mentioned that already? I love this – rock on, sister friend. Keep it comin.’
You may certainly have a print. It’s not the kind of saguaro photo that most people expect, but I knew you would get it, Debi. I’ll keep shooting–promise!
Simple and elegant – both the image and your comments. I would, however, caution against becoming a Saguaro hugger – I’ve seen Yosemite Sam and Wiley Coyote have run ins with “The Saguaro” many a time. 🙂
Promise to never hug a Saguaro. Easy promise to keep, too!
Oh, I like Gandalf’s comment. (Funny). Saguaro’s do not look in the least bit huggable! Your photo looks rather like a weapon more so than a plant, Bo.
Yes, Gandalf has a wicked sense of humor, Joanne. And I agree — I wouldn’t want to have a run-in with a Saguaro.