TheVoiceOfJoyce When the Saguaro’s start to die, that’s big news. The Desert Botanical Gardens are now planting seedlings, hoping they’ll adjust to the hotter temperatures. At 111 degrees Fahrenheit, if the Saguaros are wilting, what’s happening to people? Anyone investing in shaded areas, cooling stations, insulation? Arizona is looking forward to rain for relief. Are there reservoirs being built, or drainage available to disperse the water evenly, throughout areas inundated? We don’t have to live with flooding. Surely infrastructure can be built to capture the water ? #PoliticsAffectsUs

Posted on by jaslvr

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/03/phoenix-extreme-heat-withers-saguaros-cactus

As of Wednesday, there was no rain in the forecast for Phoenix anytime soon according to the National Weather Service. After two days of a slight drop, high temperatures reached 111F (43.9C) and are expected to be 110F or more for the next 10 days.

The Weather Service plans to issue an extreme heat warning Friday through Monday, when the highs will be between 111F (43.9C) and 117F (47.2C).

In the meantime, the Desert Botanical Garden has been working to propagate cactuses that seem better able to endure searing conditions after staffers noticed the 2020 heat was more difficult for some plants than others. Some just seemed to have a genetic makeup that allowed them to thrive.

“We want to try and capture that and grow more saguaros from seed here to add into our population at the garden with the idea that over time, that is going to bring more resiliency into our population here,” McCue said.

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