The desert can be a beautiful, but harsh place. At Saguaro National Park in Arizona, the namesake cacti grow very slowly, using a large root system to soak up all available water and nutrients. Rarely branching before the age of 50, an adult saguaro may weigh six tons and be over 50 feet tall. The average lifespan of a saguaro is usually 150 – 175 years, but biologists believe that some plants may live over 200 years. That means they’re patiently waiting for your visit. Photo by Hongxun Gao (www.sharetheexperience.org).