Organ Pipe Cactus AlcUianal Matiument ARIZONA ORGAN PIPE CACTUS During the months of March and for others, of which the White-wing­ April, portions of the desert are car­ ed Dove, the Pyrrhuloxia, and the jVatiasuU Ma*tume*it peted with masses of wildflowers of Arizona Cardinal are examples, different hues. Golden Desert Pop­ summertime is best. Many, such United States Department of the Interior pies, magenta Owls Clover, blue as the Gambel Quail and the noisy Harold L. Ickes, Secretary Lupines, yellow Encelias and Des­ Cactus Wren, are year-around res­ National Park Service, Newton B. Drury, Director ert Marigolds, and apricot-tinged idents. Following the Sonoyta Valley of garden which a whim of nature has Wild Hollyhocks occur in solid col­ Organ Pipe Cactus National- Mon­ Mexico northeastward from the Gulf placed on the north side of the In­ ors or blended in a delicate pattern. ument offers an unbelievable vari­ of California to the International ternational Boundary. One of these, the Desert Lily or Ajo ety of habitat conditions, each par­ Boundary, extends the finger of a (ah'-hoe), adds to the spang oreeze ticularly suited to some form of subtropical climatic zone. The tip Organ Pipe Cactus and Other a delicate aroma not unlike that of animal life. From the moist fem- of this finger reaches across into Desert Plants orange blossoms. clad cliffs at Dripping Springs and the United States bringing with it Most conspicuous of the Sonoran the rocky stream banks at Alamo Animal Life Canyon to the dusty creosote-bush picturesque spine and thorn pro­ Desert plants found in abundance Many forms of animal life take flats of La Abra Plain and from the tected plants of the Sonoran Desert in this national monument are the advantage of the food and cover sandy washes of the Sonoyta Hills —plants found nowhere else in the massive clusters of the strange ap­ provided by the great abundance to the wind-swept crests of the Ajo United States. Rainfall, although pearing, long-armed giants, the Or­ A fantastic display of desert vegetation and variety of plants here. For Mountains there are great differ­ relatively light, is sufficient to sup­ gan Pipe Cacti. So named because some species of birds, such as the ences in moisture, exposure, and port a growth of strange vegetation of the fancied resemblance to the of which reach a height of nearly characterized by long, hair-like, Lark Bunting and the Gambel Spar­ temperature conditions, all of which which becomes dense along moist huge rows of pipes of a pipe organ, 20 feet. Although found in dense grey spines at the tips of older arms, row, this is the winter home; while have a bearing on the plant and In Alamo Canyon the Organ Pipe Cactus covers the rocky slopes drainage channels or "washes." a single plant clump may contain stands in some parts of the monu­ looking like uncombed hair or whis­ animal life to be found. This differ­ Here is a native Mexican desert 30 or more unbranched arms, some ment, especially on the southern kers. Arms of the Sinita are less Historical Background tury and a half later, came the in­ Blossom of Organ Pipe Cactus ence accounts in a measure for the slopes of the several ranges of hills, trepid Jesuit, Father Kino, to estab­ At International Boundary looking south into Mexico finely fluted or ridged than those of Hillsides of the monument are biological wealth of this part of the lish the San Marcel Mission at what this species occurs but rarely on the the Organ Pipe, the cross section pitted with both ancient and mod­ arboreal desert. is now the little town of Sonoyta. level alluvial plains lying between of an arm resembling a five- or six- ern prospect holes and mines from In addition to the many varieties ranges. pointed star; hence, this species is some of which ore was taken by the In his journeys Father Kino also of small animals which are charac­ Blossoms of the Organ Pipe Cac­ sometimes called Star Cactus lo­ Spaniards and Mexicans and by developed a route which later be­ teristic of the Sonoran Desert, Organ tus appear in May at branch tips cally. early Americans, who hauled it came the much-traveled but dan­ Pipe Cactus National Monument, and occasionally on the sides of gerous Camino del Diablo (High­ Among other desert plants occur­ with its relatively inaccessible over the treacherous Camino del way of the Devil), traces of which the stems. The lavender - tinged ring in the monument is the Mexi­ mountain ranges and its sweeping Diablo to the Pacific Coast whence, may still be seen in the extreme white flowers open at night and can Jumping Bean, the Desert Wil­ stretches of brush-covered plain, in sailing vessels, it made the long southwestern corner of the monu­ close soon after sunrise the follow­ low (a relative of the catalpa), the provides a haven for many small trip around Cape Horn to smelters ment near Quitobaquito (Key'-tow- ing morning. Corona de Christo, or Crucifixion droves of the desert Wild Hog or in far-off Wales. bah-key'-toe). This route was used Somewhat similar to the Organ Thorn, and, in a few localities, the javalina (have - ah - leen' - ah); and Although it is only now being by de Anza and his followers in Pipe Cactus in general appearance, Smoke Tree. Mesquite (mees-keet'), remnants of the once abundant but found only in desert washes in Palo Verde, Ironwood, Ocotillo bands of Desert Bighorns, the ma­ reached by the extending tentacles their return to Tubac in 1776 from close proximity to the International (oh - koh - tee' - yoh), Saguaro (sah- jestic wild sheep of the Southwest, of modern civilization, this isolated the founding of San Francisco. Boundary, is the Sinita or Whisker wah'-roe), Creosote Bush, and many range in higher elevations. Ante­ corner of the Southwest was the Later it was marked by the bleach­ Cactus. This species does not grow other plants characteristic of the lope are occasionally seen, while scene of considerable activity in the ing bones of men and beasts of as tall as the Organ Pipe. Some­ desert of northern Mexico and deer, four subspecies of which oc­ early Spanish pioneer period. Here burden which fell by the wayside times it spreads to cover many southern Arizona occur in abun­ cur in the monument, are fairly passed Diaz in 1540 on his trek to from the crawling caravans of gold- square yards of sandy flat, and is dance. numerous. the Colorado River, and here, a cen­ seekers drawn from eastern Texas and other southern States during ries has been fenced, a monument the California gold rush of 1849. In headquarters site selected, and a 1853, this territory was purchased well drilled. by the United States from Mexico Tourists crossing southern Ari­ because it was considered the most zona on U. S. Highway No. 80 may desirable location for a transconti­ readily reach Organ Pipe Cactus nental railroad. National Monument with relatively little extra mileage by leaving U. S. The Monument Highway No. 80 at Tucson and go­ Largest of the national monu­ ing west via Sells and the Papago ments in Arizona, this desert re­ Indian Reservation. Twelve miles serve includes 328,162 acres, or ap­ east of Ajo, the Sonoyta-Rocky proximately 516 square miles, of Point Highway into Mexico takes rolling hills, mountain range, and the traveler into and across the na­ alluvial plain. To preserve one of tional monument. From Ajo it is 45 the most spectacular portions of the miles, via State Highway No. 85, rapidly dwindling area of the So- to Gila Bend, on U. S. 80. East- noran Desert the Organ Pipe Cac­ bound travel simply reverses the tus National Monument was estab­ route. lished by President Franklin D. Although the cross - monument Roosevelt on April 13, 1937. Since highway is the only improved road that time, a portion of the bounda­ in the monument, there are numer-

The Sinita or Whisker Cactus

Typical Lower Sonoran Desert Vegetation

ous desert roads available to visi­ some of the desert roads are sandy tors accustomed to such travel. Di­ in spots. rections may be obtained from the Organ Pipe Cactus National Mon­ custodian who resides in the monu­ ment. Permission to camp in the ument is administered by the Na­ monument must be secured from tional Park Service of the. United the custodian. There are no stores, States Department of the Interior. hotels, camps, or service stations on Immediate supervision is. exercised the reserve, although excellent fa­ by the custodian who will furnish cilities of this type are at the mod­ further details on request. Inquir­ ern cities of Ajo and Tucson. Visi­ ies and correspondence should be Organ Pipe Cactus tors to the monument should carry addressed to the Custodian, Organ sufficient supplies of gasoline and Pipe Cactus National Monument, water, and, if they plan to leave the Box 56, Ajo, Ariz., or to the Regional National Monument main highway, should be provided Director, Region Three, National with a shovel and bumper jack as Park Service, Santa Fe, N. Mex. CULLOM & GHERTNER CO., NASHVILLE 3, TENN.—25M—6-10-44 ARIZONA