Hello,
I just now saw you looking my way. Are you surprised to see me standing out here in the hot sun? You know, I stand tall and proud day in, day out. I can not move, you see. I am often quite thirsty and you may notice that many more like me are standing also. We cannot sit down and must stand with our arms lifted to the blue sky.
My life began as a very small me...in the shade of a nurse, who protected me because I grew very slowly. I can only grow about an inch a year, but I can grow to be quite old, to about 200 years of age. I send out a part of myself searching for moisture. My skin is quite smooth and waxy and I have spines all over that hurt a person who would be dumb enough to touch them. They protect me from animals that would want to harm me. People look for me when they are out here in the sun and get thirsty.
Do you see the beautiful white flowers with yellow centers that are blooming on the tips of my arms and at the top of my head? I have adapted to the heat of the desert here, and it does not harm me. I have five arms when I am fully grown.My height can be anywhere from 15 to 50 feet.
When it rains, I can soak up a lot of moisture with my shallow roots which grow laterally. I am the state flower of Arizona. My name is Saguaro Cactus. I am a Xerophyte.
Hey, Y'all,
Hope you like my little informational story about xerophytes. Yeah, I admit I had to use the dictionary to find an "x" word. Did you know there is only one page of x words? Then I did some research. I am also posting this very late on Tuesday evening because Wednesday is a busy day. Haven't had time to do any reading of other blogs. Sorry. I will catch up though over the next few days. I am putting my husband in Assisted living for a couple of weeks on Wednesday.
This is Blabbin' Grammy signing off for tonight. More later. Much love to each of you, my friends out there in Blogland. Bye for now.
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16 comments:
That was very interesting Grammy!
I'm so sorry to hear about your husband. You take care of yourself ... :)
Hi Ruby - Very clever X post!
Hope Gramps is okay and you get a well deserved rest.
Very ingenius Ruby, loved the post,
hope all goes well Wednesday,
Take care.
Yvonne.
I looked up pictures of the flower. It's stunning. What a great post. I hope everything goes well for Gramps.
Hey, Y'all,
I am going to be doing some things that require Gramps to be away from me for awhile. For one thing, I have a wedding to attend that he didn't want to go to. He just is not up to travel. I promise I will get to reading all of the blogs some time this evening.
I did get the baby quilt finished for our new great grand-daughter, Brooke, who was born a month ago. I was up at 6:30 this morning finishing up the binding around the edge, and I will post a pic of it when I am sure that her parents have it. Thanks for the good things you say about my posting.
Bye for now.
Ruby
Hi Grammy. Your posts are always interesting. Does Gramps mind going to the assisted living quarters? I would have to knock Bill out and tye him up to get him to stay that long. I still can't believe he stayed 5 days in respite at Hospice. Enjoy the wedding and take care of yourself. One of these days I will get to meet you in person.
You write so beautifully Ruby, hope Gramps enjoys his time with others...you have a nice time at that wedding and can't wait to see pictures of that beautiful quilt!
X didn't provide a lot of choices, did it?
Hey, Y'all,
Alex, you are correct, it did not give a lot of choices so we had to be inventive.
Gramps went peacefully to the Terrace Estates, since he had been there twice before he knew what to expect. I was his Aunt Lula today. That is how he introduced me to someone up there. When I know that is who he thinks I am , I speak of "Ruby" in the third person voice as his Aunt. It keeps from confusing him any more.
I really enjoyed pretending to be a cactus in my posting today.
Ruby
I live in Arizona and I really loved this post. I've seen some saguaros with many more than 5 arms though. :-) You should google saguaro national monument and see what you find. It's quite a sight.
Hope everything goes well for gramps while he is away.
Hi Ruby -- I've spent the last two days trying to catch up with all the blog-reading I want to do -- my eyes are crossed and I'm still way behind. I think I'll just have to skip a bunch of posts and start fresh. Hope you have a wonderful trip.
I did enjoy that, but can I just call it a cactus? :)
And yes ma'am, I am the commentor who lives near Dallas, in answer to your question in my comments.
Have a blessed evening Ms. Ruby!
Hi Grammy,
I loved how you described your X word, it was really lovely!
Sorry to hear about Gramps! I hope this is a temporary situation!
Take care of you~
All the x's are great and interesting. Thanks for the info. and take care of yourself.
That is one awesome plant, it is!!!
Have I ever told you my father studied and worked in Colorado, Wyoming and Arizona for several years- I used to love seeing some the slides he brought back.
And hope Gramps is better.
~ Rayna
Awesome post, Ruby! I'm sorry I didn't get over to your blog until now. I hope Gramps is doing well.
My sweetie is in law enforcement training right now, but he's moving to AZ when he's done. He'll see a lot of those cactus! I drove through the state once and enjoyed seeing them grow wild. I have some in a pot in my house, but I think a couple of them are dead. Oh well!
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