They’re Growing Arms!

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This was the only saguaro in our backyard that was growing an arm. We estimate this cactus is 50 to 75 years old. All our other cactus were arm free. Until this week. Now several are sprouting arms. My guess is that it has something to do with our weather. We are in our fifth or sixth consecutive week of rainy days. It’s been raining three to four days a week. FYI, the black holes on the saguaro are created by woodpeckers hollowing out nests. When they abandon their nests, other species of birds move in.

Here are a few more photos from our backyard of cactus arms and buds:

Here’s a barrel cactus growing arms on the side. They are also known as pups.

This saguaro is partially hidden by branches from a mesquite tree. There’s a small arm popping out the front, too.

This is called a Peruvian Apple Cactus (the skinny one that look like it’s growing an arm.) I learned that’s actually the fruit growing. There are several of them in our yards.

Here’s another one. The black string that hangs from the fruit is the dried up blossom.

Photos from the McDowell Sonoran Preserve:

This is a saguaro out in the wilds of the preserve across the street. It’s saguaro like this that my husband says he has cactus arm envy!

My husband and I on the trails at the nature’s preserve across the street. It takes a saguaro 50 to 75 years to grow their first arm. I wonder how old these are?

Do you have any feedback on my cactus arm info?

Are you having tons of rain, too?

29 thoughts on “They’re Growing Arms!”

  2. Love that the water is speeding up the process a bit for these plants. What fun to see them changing right before your eyes!
    Our 14er mountains are getting feet of snow but sadly the south that just flooded is flooding again as the rivers are the highest they’ve been in many, many years. So many people have lost everything down along the border. It’s horrendous.

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  4. Wow, apparently lots and lots of water is the key to these beautiful cacti sprouting arms, I love them! They are like people, all different with different shapes and sizes. 😂❤️ Happy Monday Elizabeth.

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  6. I love it! How fun! I can’t remember what a saguaro feels like but your husband has your hand on it like it’s smooth (and not prickly) enough to lean against. Is that true?

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    • You have to watch out for the spikes. There are open smooth spaces called pleats or accordion folds between the rows of spines. They swell with rain and contract in dry weather. Some have bigger smooth spaces than others. I’m glad you enjoyed the photos.

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      • I have a rain gauge and I checked it this morning. 5″ of rain since Saturday morning. One person hiking on the preserve across the street was airlifted after a giant saguaro fell over on her! They can get water logged and crash.

  8. I’m no expert on the cactus arms. Saguaros are fascinating, though. Our rain finally stopped, but the flooding yesterday and today was even worse than 10 days ago, which was also record-breaking.

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