The Fronds of Cactus Palm...

People from all over the country, and around the world, associate the iconic saguaro cactus with the Desert Southwest Region of the USA. However, most are likely unaware that this type of cactus can be found in only the Sonoran Desert, an area that encompasses less than one-third of Arizona, and an even smaller segment of southern California, along with portions of the Mexican states of Sonora, Baja California, and Baja California Sur.

Generally speaking, in order to find saguaros growing in abundance, one must travel through the part of southern Arizona that lies between Tucson and the border of Mexico. I've lived in the Southwest for more than half my life and, for the majority of that time, Tucson has been my home. In fact, it is the only place in the world I have ever felt truly at home.

It is also quite common to see saguaros growing near various types of palm trees in landscaped public spaces. It's a combination that is relatively unique to the Tucson Metropolitan Area, and so it became a symbol for the happiness and satisfaction that living here has brought to my life. With an average of 312 days per year without rain, Tucson is, most certainly, a place where the sun, and the mind, are always shining.