The most notable present-day use of the Saguaro cactus is that of an icon. The Sonoran Desert is the only place in the world where this marvelous plant grows in the wild; therefore it has become a symbol of the American southwest. Companies use it as a logo; the state of Arizona claims its blooms as the state flower; photos are used for advertising and stories all over the world.

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When hiking in Saguaro country, fallen and dead Saguaros are easy to find. The wood of the cactus is referred to as bones or ribs because of the shape. If you were to take soft wood pulp and shape it into a cylinder, then place long, straight poles vertically around it, you would have a rough model of a Saguaro. Those ribs have a great many uses today.

One very common structure is the ramada, or open-air shelter. Typically they are built of sturdy tree limbs and the roof is of Saguaro bones or palm fronds. They can be found everywhere on the reservations; also in many Arizona parks and recreational areas.

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Just outside of Tucson, AZ is the historic Mission San Xavier del Bac, built nearly 300 years ago by Franciscan priests with the help of Tohono O’Odham natives. Inside is exquisite artwork, some of which is fashioned from Saguaro bones inlaid in the ceiling. Newer homes boast this type of craft as well. I visited a relative in his beautiful Tucson home, and was amazed to see that his cupboard doors were fashioned from Saguaro ribs; arranged vertically, lashed together at the top and bottom, and then lacquered. They were absolutely beautiful.

Douglas Edward Andrews runs Tlaquepaque Arts & Crafts Village in Sedona, and handcrafts sculpture tables, coffee and end tables, and wall hangings made from Saguaro bones. Other artisans can be found in Sedona, Jerome, and elsewhere. The beautiful crafts they create and sell range from furniture to jewelry, including walking sticks, medicine rattles, ornaments, and wall décor.

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Being somewhat artistic, and having plenty of desert in my back yard, I have made some of my own crafts over the years for gifts and for our home as well. This is a wall hanging of leather, framed with Saguaro bones. The rest of the picture is made from eucalyptus leaves, spines from a Fishhook Barrel cactus and tassels from its fruit, jojoba berries, and quail feathers. I have seen wall hangings for sale that were just as unique. It’s amazing what can be designed with just a little creativity and imagination.

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This is the foot of a cactus bone that we found while out hiking. It is about 8 inches in diameter at the bottom, and about 2 feet tall. I applied clear shellac, decorated it with flowers, stones, and some gold braid, and use it in my bathroom to hold my toilet paper. A friend had an umbrella stand made from similar bones that stood about 3 feet high, all the bones lashed together in a ring roughly 18 inches in diameter. It was a lovely piece.

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Beautiful art can also be made from the boots found in the Saguaro. While alive, the cactus is home to many birds like the Desert Woodpecker and the Gilded Flicker. These birds form holes in the flesh of the cactus and use them for their nests. Over time, the hole becomes covered with wood and hardens, much like a scar. This is called a boot. When foraging for bones, the boot (there are often several) can be carefully chipped off. The flaky outer layers are slipped off leaving a thin, fragile wood boot that is extraordinarily beautiful. Soaking in clear polyurethane ensures it will keep indefinitely.

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Some of the boots are strangely shaped, or warped and broken. But many are usable if great care is taken retrieving them, and can be used for all kinds of artwork. I made several wall hangings like the one shown here. The bud vase is the boot, backed with a peacock feather and encased in a wicker basket. I surrounded it with holly as it was for Christmas, but after the holidays I just couldn’t take it down. It has hung on the wall for fifteen years.

These are just a few examples of the uses of this cactus, which are only limited by one’s time, creativity and talent. Every study of the subject suggests more ideas, especially any study of early American peoples and their work. Arizona abounds in craft shows, art shows, artisan shops and websites, swap meets, etc., where expressive ideas can germinate and grow. Hopefully this article is enough upon which to start.

Sources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/saguaro
travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-2809760-mission_san_xavier_del_bac_tucson-i

Related articles: The Sonoran Desert, The Edible Saguaro Cactus