Tanisha Tucker Lohse participates in the annual harvest of bahidaj, the fruit of the saguaro cactus, a tradition she has maintained since childhood. She uses long poles to gather the fruit and prepares syrups and jellies from the pulp. Lohse organizes camps to teach these ancient practices to others. Saguaro flowers represent beauty amidst the harsh desert environment. While saguaros have been monitored for decades, research on their flowers is limited, but recent studies are uncovering how climate impacts their blooming patterns.
Tanisha Tucker Lohse dreams of bahidaj, the blood-red fruit of the saguaro cactus, envisioning the ancient tradition of harvesting it to create syrups and jellies.
Every June, Lohse heads into the Arizona desert to harvest bahidaj. She uses 20-foot-long poles to pluck the fruit and organizes camps to pass on ancestral customs.
The blossoms of saguaros remind us of the beauty that grows in harsh environments, representing hope and resilience in the Sonoran Desert.
Research efforts are beginning to uncover the factors that influence saguaro blooming, revealing how they respond to climate change.
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