THE SAGUAROS

WHEN WE DROVE THROUGH TUCSON LAST YEAR HEADING  TO TEXAS TO SELL CHRISTMAS TREES, I NOTICED THE GIANT CACTUS GROWING ALONG SIDE THE INTERSTATE,  BUT WE  DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO STOP AND CHECK THEM OUT, SO WHEN I PLANNED OUR TRIP, I MADE TUCSON A STOP. WE STAYED AT ANOTHER REALLY NICE PASSPORT AMERICA PARK. IT WAS A HUGE RV PARK, BUT AGAIN PRACTICALLY DESERTED!

THE GIRLS ENJOYED THE BEAUTIFUL LAWN AND WHAT AN UNUSUAL TREE!

IT HAD A BEAUTIFUL POOL AND HOT TUB!

WE WERE IN THERE EVERY CHANCE WE GOT!

BUT, MOSTLY I WANTED TO SEE THE MAGESTIC GIANTS! ON SUNDAY MORNING WE HEADED OUT TO SAGUARO (PRONOUNCED SAH-WA-RO)  NATIONAL PARK.

WE WENT TO THE VISITOR CENTER AND WATCHED A FILM ON THE SAGUARO.

IT WAS VERY INTERESTING TO LEARN ABOUT THESE CACTI! THEY LIVE TO BE OVER A HUNDRED YEARS OLD!

THE INDIAN TRIBE FEEL THAT WHEN MEMBERS OF THEIR FAMILY DIE, THEY BECOME ONE OF THESE SAGUARO. THEY SORT OF DID LOOK LIKE PEOPLE AND THEY ARE ALL VERY  DIFFERENT.

I WAS ENCHANTED BY THESE MAJESTIC GIANTS!!

I FOUND AN AUTHENTIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT ONLINE. SO AFTERWARDS WE WENT THERE AND HAD THE MOST DELICIOUS SPAGHETTI !
WHILE I WAS WALKING ONE MORNING I NOTICED  THIS TREE WITH FRUIT ON IT, I REALIZED THE FRUIT WAS A KUMQUAT......THEY WERE DELICIOUS!

I WOULD HAVE LIKED TO STAY LONGER IN TUCSON, BUT WE HAD RESERVATIONS IN PALM  SPRINGS,  CALIFORNIA  FOR THE 23RD OF SEPTEMBER AND WE WERE QUITE A FEW HOURS AWAY. THE NEXT DAY WE WERE HEADED FOR TONAPAH, AZ AND SADDLE MOUNTAIN RV PARK.