It"s getting to be wildflower season in the Sonoran Desert in Arizona. That means it won"t be long before we see blooms from the big daddy of the cactus world—the saguaro. Our homepage pic shows just a glimpse of this amazing succulent. The saguaro is the largest of them all, with some of the oldest specimens reaching more than 50 feet tall. It can hold huge amounts of water—after plentiful rains when it"s fully hydrated, a saguaro can weigh between 3,200 and 4,800 pounds. In the right conditions, it will live more than 100 years, growing arms as it ages, creating that classic cactus profile that"s associated with the desert and Old West.
The desert blooms
Today in History
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Climb a tree for wild animals and plants
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Look before you leap
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International Museum Day
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Saffron in bloom
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Happy Mother’s Day
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Yosemite National Park, California
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Fire-damaged forest near Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado
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Native American Heritage Month
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A seabird gets schooled
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A stunning sight in Mexico s wilderness
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Tintern Abbey, Wales
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3, 2, 1 … Happy New Year!
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Manatees rebound
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Do spirits haunt the Gardens of Versailles?
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Lavender fields on the Valensole Plateau in Provence, France
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Twosday
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It s Slovenia s Independence and Unity Day
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Celebrate Mandela Day
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A wassailing we go
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Smoking nights in Austria
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Yarn for Distaff Day
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Watch your step
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Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah
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Manhattan
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International Day of the Tropics
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Racers pushing past sunflowers in the 2018 Tour de France
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Stepping stones in Tollymore Forest Park, Northern Ireland
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Work out on your way to work
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Santo Antão Island in the Republic of Cabo Verde
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Gifford Pinchot National Forest