We have wanted to see Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument for a few decades, but it has always been a low priority and too far away. With our trip on the old 66 we decided that Organ Pipe Cactus N. M. would be the destiny of the journey instead of California. When we arrived we learned that most of the park is closed off because of national security issues - not that we had a four wheel drive jeep to take on the long roads rocky roads inside of the park anyway... There was still a lot of beautiful cacti to see off of the paved roads in the park and we were satisfied with the small amount of the park we could drive through.

This Lophocereus scottii was in the visitors center garden and blooming. I understand the parts of the park is closed off now where one could see these growing in nature. I'm glad they at least had one growing at the visitors center.