Remember this? It was taken in March of 2021. It was the day my friend Cactus Jack came to live with us.
He bloomed that very first season with us.
Jack was a good sport about getting dressed up for Christmas.
We bought old people clothes to pose for a photo with him.
The second year he put on quite the show! My friend Kelly sent me pictures since we weren’t there to see it in person.
E3 fell in love and talked of nothing else for months after he visited.
I even made him a quilt with Jack on it.
Sadly, the extreme heat this summer has taken a toll on many saguaros in the valley. I decided when I was there that Jack needed a cool drink of water.
Wrong, wrong, wrong. It made him heavy. Too heavy.
Last weekend, our dear neighbors sent me a text to say Jack was leaning.
He was. I couldn’t get anyone out to help, so I went in to action mode. Things got worse before they got better.
With the help of wonderful neighbors and my dear SIL, we got him propped up as best we could.
But then the monsoons finally hit, bringing the first measurable rain in nearly 150 days.
I woke up to this picture on my phone from our Blink camera.
It’s silly to cry over a cactus, and yet, I did. He lived over 60 years before he came to live with us. He should have outlived me by at least a hundred years. I hope he knows how much I loved him.
RIP Jack.
KatyQuilts 
So sorry for Jack’s demise. He put on a lovely show of blossoms, and will be dearly missed.
A very touching tribute. I understand your sadness. If Jack could talk he would be so happy to have been part of your family. You made him feel so special!
Nope, crying when special plants die is a sign of intelligence and a big heart. So sorry.
Ceci
Oh, how sad. I was hoping you were going to show us how much he’d grown. I’m sorry Jack didn’t make it.
Awww My old Arizona heart feels for Jack and for you xoxo
Sorry to hear. He was magnificent and such a loss
Oh, how AWFUL! I’m so sorry, Katy. I understand the tears.
Bless your heart. I understand. I once had a 4 o’clock plant I had grown from a seed when I was little. I had it for years. One hard winter it didn’t come and my heart was broken. You gave Jack a good life. It may have been shorter but it was probably happier.
jack was so great. i’m glad you got to spend time with him. i was saddened by his demise. amazing how a cactus can capture our hearts. remember the good times. hugs, patti in florida
I’m so sorry to see that happen. So many plants are stressed this year. If it isn’t too late, save Jack and let him sit in your back yard. The flesh will detriorate and you’ll have a great cactus rib skeleton to decorate your yard. You’ll still be able to enjoy Jack for years to come.
I’m so sorry aboutJack. I know you enjoy having him. Hugs,
I’m sorry you lost Jack. 😦
oxoxo my friend. RIP Jack.