巨人柱，铁木森林国家纪念地，亚利桑那州，美国 Saguaro cacti, Ironwood National Monument, Arizona (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures)

巨人柱，铁木森林国家纪念地，亚利桑那州，美国 Saguaro cacti, Ironwood National Monument, Arizona (© Jack Dykinga/Minden Pictures)

你今天过得怎么样？ 'Saguaro' you today?

巨人柱，铁木森林国家纪念地，亚利桑那州，美国

在亚利桑那州阳光普照的天空下，大片的仙人掌在群山的映衬下格外显眼。照片上的是巨人柱仙人掌，拍摄于铁木森林国家纪念地。即使你没有亲眼见过巨人柱仙人掌，但当你听到“巨人柱”这个名字时，也能联想到它们的样子：苍绿高大的圆柱形仙人掌，直指天空。虽然巨人柱生长缓慢，但它们的寿命超过200年，有足够的时间慢慢生长，创纪录的一株巨人柱仙人掌甚至高达78英尺。曾有一株被称为“老爷爷”的仙人掌存活了约有300年，最终在20世纪90年代寿终正寝。

Saguaro cacti, Ironwood Forest National Monument, Arizona

Massive succulents against a mountainous backdrop, underneath the sun-kissed Arizona sky—it's prickly perfection. Pictured here are saguaro (pronounced 'sah-wah-roh') cacti at the Ironwood Forest National Monument in the Sonoran Desert. Even if you haven't seen one in person, when you hear the word cactus, you're probably thinking of saguaro—tall, green, cylindrical, with arms pointing upward. From tattoos to coffee cups, you'll find this iconic symbol of Arizona on almost everything. Though they are slow growers, these plants have been known to live over 200 years and reach enormous heights, with a 78-footer setting the record. Another cactus, known as 'Grandaddy,' survived in the sweltering desert for about 300 years, eventually succumbing to old age in the early 1990s. Cacti may not be for everyone, but they tend to grow on you (figuratively, of course)!