Saguaro National Park is in the Sonora Desert just north of the Arizona border with Mexico. I drove into the western unit of the park near sunset. It is an alien world.
Here's a prickypear cactus with its arms open wide to welcome you. You may not wish to return the embrace.
Pricklypear
If that didn't get your attention, continuing the welcome is Jumping Cholla.
backlit cholla
Time for a close encounter with Barrel cactus. You can see one behind the prickly pear above.
Barrel cactus
After sunset, rich colors fill the sky and Tucson mountains.
Dusk in Tucson Mountain District, Saguaro National Park, Arizona
The ancient rulers of this land, the Saguaro cactus, great the night and the rising moon.
Giant Saguaro and tiny moon