Desert Discovery

A desert is land that is very dry and receives very little rain. Strong winds often blow.

The weather can be either hot or cold in the desert. Some deserts sizzle with temperatures as high as 130 degrees F. That's hot enough to melt your crayons!!

Plants and animals have learned to live in these unfriendly surroundings.

Cacti of the Desert

More than one cactus is called cacti.

A cactus is a plant with a plump stem and a woody inner skeleton. When it rains, the cactus soaks up water like a sponge.

Cactus plants live in harsh, dry climates where other plants that need water often cannot survive.

Cactus plants have areoles. Areoles are small pits, or spots, from which spines grow, and sometimes tiny hairs, as well. The areoles help to keep heat out and moisture inside the plant.

Saguaro-Giants of the Desert

One of the largest cacti in the whole world is found in the Sonoran Desert. It is called a saguaro. It takes many years for these cacti to grow so big. The oldest ones can be more than 250 years old and nearly 50 feet tall. A saguaro cactus must become mature before it can grow a fruit and flower. This may take about 40 years, if living in its natural surroundings. By the time the saguaro celebrates its 50th birthday, it may begin to grow an arm. Saguaros that have two arms are probably about 100 to 150 years old.

Native Americans have eaten the red saguaro fruit for hundreds of years. The fruit is harvested in summer and boiled into sweet syrup.

Arizona chose the flower that blooms at the very top of the saguaro each May or June as their state flower. More sagauro grow in Arizona than in any other place in the United States.

Plant a Miniature Cactus Garden

You don't need to live in a desert to enjoy your own minature cacti garden. Here's what you need:

Potting soil
A few small varieties of cacti available at your garden center (try to but three different sizes and shapes)
A shallow clay pot or bowl
Plant food
Some interesting stones or rocks

Directions:

1. Arrange your cacti in the soil, so that you can balance out the shapes and sizes. Gently pack the soil around the roots. Arrange some decorative rocks or stones in the cactus dish. You may wish to paint the rocks natural sand and sun colors.

2. Water your cacti generously right after you plant them. Then water them when the sand feels dry, but NEVER overwater. Keep your cacti in a sunny to partial sunny room.

3. Feed your cacti with plant food once a month.

*Note to parents: Cactus plants can be very prickly and can actually hurt little fingers! You may wish to do the actual planting-if you have your child plant the cacti-make sure they are wearing thick gardenening gloves.

Lizards

The lizards we know today are much like the tiny animals that lived in the days of the giant dinosaurs. We just don't hear as much about the smaller ancient reptiles.

Lizards are cold-blooded. Their body temperature is very nearly the same as the air temperature around them. If the weather is warm, their temperature rises. When it gets cold, they cool down. In cold weather, they slow down so much they sleep or hibernate.

Desert Tortoise

The desert tortoise looks like a walking helmet. It has short, stumpy feet for walking on sand and burrowing in the earth. Only water turtles have webbed feet. The desert tortoise doesn't need to swin.

The desert tortoise likes to eat grass, flowers, and other plants. The tortoise lives in its shell and quickly tucks itself into the shell when danger is near.

Very few tortoises are left in their natural habitat. If you see one, do not handle it, because it can become sick and die from human germs. The desert tortoise has become endangered.