Stre-e-e-e-etch!

Hello from Organ Pipe Cactus Nat Mon

Last week we had to take a little jaunt down to Mexico.  Dave had some dental work that was long overdue and we found a dentist in Sonoyta (only 40 miles from Ajo) that was only a hundred yards over the border.  We left the golf course on Sunday night planning to spend one night in Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument (about 7 miles from the border) then heading out Monday afternoon to Quartzsite for the rest of the week for the Author’s Fair.  Unfortunately…

Or maybe fortunately, Dave found out things were worse than he anticipated and he need to come back on Wednesday for oral surgery.  The good part about this was that we were able to stay at Organ Pipe for a total of 4 nights. 

What is so special about Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument?  Well first of all, it is a GREEN desert.  There is a lot of plant life since it represents the border of the Mojave and Chihuahuan Deserts and has plants and animals from both environments.  

Sonoran Desert orchestra

But what was so special for me personally is that it seemed like everything was STRETCHING upward toward the Creator.  Especially notable were the saguaro (pronounced “sa war oh”) cactus, the namesake organ pipe cactus, and the ocotillo (pronounced “oh-co-tee-ya).  There were also compass cactus, hedgehog cactus, cholla (“choy-ya”) in several varieties and palo verde and ironwood trees.  Conspicuously absent was any kind of yucca like we saw in the Mojave.

Ocotillo stretch

In addition Organ Pipe is notable for its dark skies and the stars

were incredible since we arrived near the new moon time of the month.

It made me think of Psalm 148--

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for at his command they were created,

And he established them for ever and ever—he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth, you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

Lighting and hail, snow and clouds, stormy winds that do his bidding,

Saguaro duet with ocotillo accompaniment

You mountains and all hills, fruit trees and all cedars,

Wild animals and all cattle, small creatures and flying birds,

Kings of the earth and all nations, you princes and all rulers on earth,

Young men and women, old men and children

Let them praise the name of the Lord, for his name alone is exalted; his splendor is above the earth and the heavens. 

Organ pipe choir

And he has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his faithful servants, of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

By the way, Dave recovered nicely and we did end up going to Quartzsite for the Author's Fair at the end of the week.  But that is another story...

Saguaro sunset praise