When I first saw a cardón cactus, I was shocked by how large and wide they are. They look very similar to the saguaro cactus found in the States, but I have only seen those in photos, so it was really amazing to see such a gigantic cactus in person. And there are so many of them! Here, I live in a small town, and the entirety of the town is surrounded by cardones (along with other cacti species). It’s beautiful to look outside the window on a drive outside of town!
The first time I saw a bark scorpion, I was pretty scared! They are nocturnal, so they are only active at night (how spooky!). Scorpions are common here in the desert so I have gotten used to them now, but the first time I saw one scurrying along the floor or climbing a tree, I absolutely took a step back. These are best to be admired from a distance!
Cardones survive best in arid (dry) and hot environments. This is perfect because Todos Santos consistently has hot weather and only gets rain 10-15 days out of the year. The most commonly grow in soil, but can thrive on rocks as well due to a symbiotic relationship with bacterial colonies.
Bark scorpions also live in arid environments. However, they do prefer humid areas like under rocks or bark from fallen trees. As they are great climbers, they can be found in trees, on cliffs and even on the walls or ceilings of people’s homes!
