OUTDOORS

Saguaro census wrapping up in Valley

Saguaro blooms are in season right now. There’s more to these desert icons than just beauty, whether they’re growing in the wild or in your West Valley backyard.

Bees enjoy pollenating this saguaro’s blossoms, which bloom in May and June.

(Sun Life Magazine/Steve Stockmar)

Kevin Thorson, an interpretive ranger with Maricopa County Parks and Recreation, leads a hike through Estrella Mountain Regional Park in Goodyear to take part in the annual saguaro census.

(Sun Life Magazine/Steve Stockmar)

A long-nosed leopard lizard makes an appearance at Estrella Mountain Regional Park. The carnivore was out hunting other lizards, insects, and small snakes.

(Sun Life Magazine/Steve Stockmar)

Ranger Kevin Thorson looks over a saguaro that’s long since died, leaving only its internal wooden skeleton. Even dead or fallen saguaros are part of the annual saguaro census.

(Sun Life Magazine/Steve Stockmar)

The desert ironwood tree blooms for a very short window, only for a couple weeks, and it doesn’t even bloom every year, which makes this particular one at Estrella Mountain Regional Park in Goodyear in mid-May worth another look. Unlike mesquite or palo verde trees, which bloom yellow flowers, the desert ironwood blooms pinkish purple flowers, much to the delight of pollenating bees.

(Sun Life Magazine/Steve Stockmar)

Editor's note: This article first appeared in Sun Life Magazine, a Daily Independent publication.

Saguaros are everywhere in the desert Valley of Arizona. The blossom of the giant saguaro has been Arizona’s state flower for more than 90 years. And heck, the saguaro’s image is even on our license plates.

Definitely don’t take them for granted, though.

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