America’s National Parks Saguaro
Yann Sochaczewski, Henry M Mix
USA | 2015 | 48’
Saguaro National Park in Arizona stands out as North America’s most unique desert. Home to the iconic symbol of the Southwest, the saguaro cacti towers above all else, it’s shallow roots keeping some as old as 200 years precariously in place. Here, under the shade of the Saguaro, a rich diversity of fauna and flora turns this seemingly uninhabitable landscape into a wild oasis. What makes all this possible is the aptly named fifth season, which brings with it wild, tropical-like thunderstorms and heavy rains. After a brief but powerful storm, the reinvigorated wildflowers blossom with unprecedented beauty and many of the park's animals, big and small, reappear from the cracks and crevasses to take advantage of this new burst of life. Javelinas and their offspring roam the desert floor for food, the famous roadrunner darts between spiky shrubs, western diamondback rattlesnakes show off their mating rituals, and the Costa’s hummingbird starts the delicate construction of its nest, built primarily from spider webs. With its array of plant and animal life, Saguaro National Park is a fascinating and fragile paradise, which sits between heaven and hell.