Beauty of saguaro magical and potent

As a lifelong desert rat, I have a deep appreciation for the beauty of our state's various cactuses, especially the majestic saguaro.

During a hike in Tucson last week I came across a curious and moving site: two saguaros that appear to be embracing. But not just hugging; It looks as if the taller, healthier cactus is comforting and holding up the smaller, decaying one. (To see a photo, check out the online version of this column.) Is this Mother Nature at work or have humans manipulated the situation?

Growing up in Tucson, I learned to respect the saguaro. Others apparently didn't.

I don't know if this actually happened or if it's just an urban legend, but according to some friends, a drunken doofus was partying in the Tucson desert. He pulled out a gun and decided to use a giant saguaro for target practice.

He shot the cactus multiple times and damaged it so severely that it toppled over and fell on top of him, killing him on the spot.

Poetic justice?