I live in the Sonoran Desert.
One of the most cherished native plants in this area is the Saguaro Cactus. They are a popular icon of this area and one of the first images that comes to mind for most people when they hear the word desert (besides scorching sand or hot sun). So naturally when people come to visit it's fun to see one up close and have your picture made with it.
When my mom came to the desert to visit me not long ago we stopped at a particularly nice looking Saguaro for a photo op. I told her there's something you just don't realize about these cactuses (I know cacti is the proper plural word but for some reason I hate saying it) unless you get up close to them.
The picture you see above is not the photo I took of my mom and the saguaro.
After looking at the original photo, I wanted a way to illustrate the perception versus the reality of the mighty Saguaro, so I doctored it. The photo above is what you might perceive when viewing a Saguaro from the road, but once you get up close, you find this...
That is the original photo! I know, it's pretty crazy. Those things are huge. So if you're ever in the area take the time to get a closer look and of course, take a pic.
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