Uploaded: May 11, 2012 10:59:15
Saguaro
The saguaro ( /səˈwɑroʊ/; scientific name Carnegiea gigantea) is a large, tree-sized cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea, which can grow to be over 50 feet tall. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in the U.S. state of Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, and the Whipple Mountains and Imperial County areas of California. The saguaro blossom is the State Wildflower of Arizona.
I had to do some climbing to get near the top of this one .My bad going where it says not to!
Exif: F Number: 4, Exposure Bias Value: 0.00, ExposureTime: 1/500 seconds, Flash: did not fire, auto mode, ISO: 80, White balance: Auto white balance, FocalLength: 7.40 mm, Model: Canon PowerShot G9
Tammy Espino May 11, 2012
The night blooming white and yellow flowers appear April through June and the sweet, ruby-colored fruit matures by late June. Saguaro flowers are self incompatible thus require cross pollination. Large quantities of pollen are required for complete pollination as there are numerous ovules. A well-pollinated fruit will contain several thousand tiny seeds.The major pollinators are bats, primarily the lesser long-nosed bat, feeding on the nectar from the night-blooming flowers, which often remain open in the morning. There are a number of floral characteristics geared toward bat pollination: nocturnal opening of the flowers, nocturnal maturation of pollen, very rich nectar, position high above the ground, durable blooms that can withstand a bat's weight, and fragrance emitted at night. One additional piece of evidence is that the amino acids in the pollen appear to help sustain lactation in bats. The flowers remain open into the daylight hours and continue to produce nectar after sunrise. Doves and bees appear to be the primary daytime pollinators
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John Connolly May 11, 2012
What a superb capture of this wonderful flower Tammy! Your information is amazing, you did a fantastic job with this one! #10133939Julianne Bradford May 11, 2012
WOW!! What a beauty Tammy!! #10133977Patrick Rouzes May 11, 2012
The tones, textures, detail, clarity, focus & close up are spectacular, Tammy! Fascinating info on this beautiful image & flower! #10134217Robert R. Goodman May 11, 2012
A couple more facts,they need a host plant for the first five years of their lives.In their lifetime they will produce a million seed and only one will suvive.Hi Tammy,Beautiful capture Buddy.!!!!!! #10134336Gina Cormier May 11, 2012
Beautiful Vegas!!!!!!!!! Such detail!!! #10134337Roxanne M. Bubar May 11, 2012
Outstanding and beautiful. #10134378Reynaldo D. Reyes May 11, 2012
I've always seen these big cactus trees towards Palmdale on route to Vegas. I didn't realize they had flowers, great shot here Tammy and wonderful info you've included. #10134405Tammy M. Anderson May 11, 2012
Such a beautiful and interesting cactus, Tammy. #10134429Val Feldman May 11, 2012
Rules are made to be broken...but some cautionary discretion ain't a bad idea either...so sayeth Mother Feldman! :) Glad you made the climb, tho, Vegas - this beautiful flower is incredibly detailed, with great light and color - worth every rule broken on second thought! :) (Superb info also!) #10134467Lorraine A. Cook May 12, 2012
What a BEAUTY! I am glad you are OK!Be careful out there, Tammy!!!
Night bloomer...does this mean the flowers open at the first sign of dusk??? How long does each flower last...a day or several days, My Friend??? #10134614
Nancy L. Green May 12, 2012
ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS Tammy, you lighting and detail are exquisite, I love everything about this wonderful image!!! <>< #10134740Tiia Vissak May 12, 2012
a cool floral! #10134827Kay E. Mahoney May 12, 2012
Beautiful flower Tammy. Loved the information. #10135034Terry Cervi May 12, 2012
Looks like it was worth the climb, Tammy! This is just gorgeous and your info is interesting too!! All around super work! #10135202Laura E. Swan May 12, 2012
Whoa! This is amazing! Such beauty!!! I love it Tam-tam!Loo-loo!!! #10135227
Ellen Hodges May 12, 2012
Awesome in every way, Tammy! The detail is gorgeous, girl!! #10135251Liz blahh May 12, 2012
Ditto, awesome! #10135267frank w. degenhardt May 13, 2012
As always CIty, I find as much pleasure in reading all about your subject as I do in seeing the beauty you capture. Absolutely gorgeous girl. I dont get the chance to see the cattus boom often, so for me its a treat. Incredible in all phases that make a picture stand out dear friend. Have a wonderfull day and be you. #10135492Mitch Spence May 13, 2012
Beautiful bloom, Tammy. That climb sounds a little dangerous to me. #10135703Barbara Waldoch May 13, 2012
WHat a cool looking flower and capture, Tammy! #10135977Carol L. Fowler May 13, 2012
What an incredible-looking flower!! #10136130Wm Nosal May 14, 2012
Beautiful Image, Tammy! #10136625Kitty R. Rodehorst-Hanna May 14, 2012
OH MY OH MY OH MY...MAGNIFICENT, Vegas! k #10137288Dianne Brin May 14, 2012
Beautiful capture Tammy! The climb was well worth it! :) #10137582Leslie McLain May 15, 2012
Amazing capture, Tammy. #10138454Karen Slagle May 15, 2012
Looks like a sticky situation, Tammy. A most excellent capture full of details. #10138462Stefania Barbier May 16, 2012
sorry, previous comment it was me with wrong login :0)) #10138895Nancyj E. Hovey May 16, 2012
WOW, this flower is gorgeous! I don't think I have ever seen one! Perfect presentation! 8o) #10139805Heather Loewenhardt May 18, 2012
Wow big and beautiful. What a lovely capture. #10141868Boyd L. Alexander May 22, 2012
The climb was worth it for sure Tammy! This macro is outstanding..love it!!! #10145730Patricia A. Casey May 25, 2012
Wonderful capture, Tammy..... #10149557Wm Nosal July 30, 2012
Congratulations, Tammy! #10250611Tammy Espino July 30, 2012
Thank you everyone!! :) #10251180Tammy M. Anderson July 30, 2012
Congrats again, Tammy. #10251340Dianne Brin July 30, 2012
Congrats on your great finalist, Tammy!! #10251724Robert R. Goodman July 30, 2012
Hi Tammy,WTG my friend.Congratulations on this beautiful finalist.LOL!!Cool cactus,never seen one before!!!! #10251926Stefania Barbier July 30, 2012
Congratulations! #10252029Kathy Salerni July 30, 2012
Huge congrats on Another wonderful Finalist, Tammy! Best of luck in the next round! #10252041Leslie McLain July 30, 2012
Congrats on a stunning finalist, Tammy. #10252162JO ANN CLEVELAND July 30, 2012
Congratulations on this wonderful finalist Tammy! Totally gorgeous...jo ann c.
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Laura E. Swan July 30, 2012
I Always loved this one! :D WTG Girly!
-LooLoo #10253620
Colette Ms Messinger July 30, 2012
Fab Tammy just love it, well done again x #10253849Ellen Hodges July 31, 2012
Huge congrats and very best luck with this beauty, Tammy!!! #10254148Val Feldman July 31, 2012
Hey, Tammy! CONGRATS!! #10254369Julianne Bradford July 31, 2012
Whoo whoo..how could they miss this?? Congrats Tammy! #10254713Patrick Rouzes July 31, 2012
Thought we would see this beauty again, Tammy CONGRATS & good luck, my friend!Chris Budny July 31, 2012
Great closeup; love the details in the petals and stamens(?) Congratulations! #10255107Nancy (Peaches) Harker August 08, 2012
Congratulations girl, I love this one, beautiful!!!(shaking finger at you ) LOLOL #10268351
Nancy L. Green October 31, 2012
CONGRATULATIONS Tammy on this wonderful finalist, WTG!! <>< #10397300Sign up for an interactive online photography course to get critiques on your photos.
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