The Saguaro cactus is unique, and beautiful.  They are very protected and they take years to grow, living as long as 150-200 years.  Each spring they flower, and the stark white of the flower is gorgeous against the green of the plant and the blue of the sky.

This morning I took a leisurely hike nearby and discovered the flowering saguaro with it’s many bee visitors.  Bees fascinate me, and I know they are a important part of our existence as they pollinate the plants we see and eat. Previous posts include Lemon Blossoms and Bottle Brush plants with their bee pollinators.

According to Wikipedia, bees are one of the main Saguaro pollinators, along with several other winged creatures:

Main pollinators are honey bees, bats, and white-winged doves. In most years, diurnal visitors, mostly honey bees, are the main contributors for fruit. Other diurnal pollinators are birds such as Costa’s hummingbird, the black-chinned hummingbird, the broad-billed hummingbird, the hooded oriole, Scott’s oriole, the Gila woodpecker, the gilded flicker, the verdin, and the house finch.The primary nocturnal pollinator is the lesser long-nosed bat, feeding on the nectar. A number of floral characteristics are geared toward bat pollination: nocturnal opening of the flowers, nocturnal maturation of pollen, very rich nectar, position high above ground, durable blooms that can withstand a bat’s weight, and fragrance emitted at night. Further, the amino acids in the pollen appear to help sustain lactation in bats.

With the mornings still cool, it was a most rejuvenating and peaceful walk.