A Venerable Saguaro Cactus Stands Like A Statue In The Hot Desert Landscape, Its Armlike Branches Reaching Fifty Feet Into The Air. From A Distance It Appears To Be Completely Still And Solitary--but Appearances Can Be Deceptive. In Fact, This Giant Tree Of The Desert Is Alive With Activity. Its Spiny Trunk And Branches Are Home To A Surprising Number Of Animals, And Its Flowers And Fruit Feed Many Desert Dwellers.
gila Woodpeckers And Miniature Elf Owls Make Their Homes Inside The Saguaro's Trunk. Long-Nosed Bats And Fluttering White Doves Drink The Nectar From Its Showy White Flowers. People Also Play A Role In The Saguaro's Story: Each Year The Tohono O'Odham Indians Gather Its Sweet Fruit In A Centuries-Old Harvest Ritual.
in This First Volume Of Sierra Club Books' Tree Tales Series, A Simple, Easy-To-read Text And Appealing Drawings Document The Life Cycle Of This Amazing Cactus Tree And The Creatures It Helps To Support. Readers Will Come Away With A Better Understanding Of And A Lasting Respect For This Accomodating Giant Of The Desert.