Giant Saguaro

The only place in the world that Giant Saguaro cactus grow is in the Sonoran Desert. That's where I am. I'm an ocean-kind-of-girl, who ever thought I'd be living in the desert? The desert isn't what you think of - there are not just vast wastelands of sand. There's tons of vegetation, trees (although not very tall), cactus. There are lots of things to stab you. All different kinds of cactus. None of which you want to touch. I've heard lots of stories of people falling into cactus, being thrown off of horses into cactus...then there are the jumping cholla cactus. You don't want to get too close to them, or the cactus will jump off and attack you. Seriously!
Our first house here was very pretty, in a development. However, still in the desert. I was planting flowers by the front door, near this huge agave plant - a succulent. It stabbed me in the upper arm. I couldn't lift my arm for a week. It has poison on the ends of the little spikes! Who knew??
Anyway, the giant saguaro don't grow arms until they are at least 50 years old. And they are protected - the builders building their vast armies of houses all right next to each other have to replant the saguaro. Or build around them. Here's one in my front yard...