Playing Cards - ARIZONA

The lovely, creamy white blossom of the giant Saguaro Cactus was designated the state flower of Arizona in 1931. The amazing, giant Saguaro Cactus is indigenous to Arizona. It grows to a height of forty to fifty feet and lives to an age of 150 to 200 years. The age of a Saguaro Cactus is determined by its height. Saguaros are very slow-growing and can take up to 75 years to develop a single side shoot. In the first EIGHT years of a Saguaro's life, it will only grow about one to one and a half inches. As they are also very slow at propagating, the Saguaro Cactus is a candidate for the endangered species list. In fact, harming a Saguaro Cactus in any manner is illegal in Arizona. The beautiful cactus flowers don't appear on this astonishing plant until its at least 35 years old. Also, amazingly enough, an adult Saguaro may weigh up to SIX TONS and is primarily made up of water -- rather unexpected in the desert. Most other blooming plants are named after the flower they support, in the case of cacti, however, the flower is named after the cactus on which it grows. Since they aren't inclusive of "flower arrangements", the symbolism of the cactus flower is usually also that of the cactus and includes, power, loneliness, endurance, protection and maternal warmth. But this design is not just a tribute to this spectacular plant or its bloom, it also pays homage to our 48th state -- the last of the "lower 48" or 48 contiguous United States. Arizona is known, of course, for its desert climate -- particularly in the south. Northern Arizona, on the other hand, has large forests of evergreens. There are also mountains and deep canyons in the topography of this fabulous state. As diverse as the state's terrain is, the people of Arizona are even moreso. About one-quarter of the state is made of of Indian reservations that serve as the home of 27 Native American tribes, including the Navajo Nation, the large in both the state and the country, with more than 325,000 citizens. This delightful design, celebrating the 48th addition to the United States, offers an outline of the state of Arizona, filled with their state flower, the remarkable Saguaro Cactus Flower. This delightful deck of cards is an excellent way of remembering that spectacular Arizona vacation.