There are so many beautiful islands here in the San Juans – over 170, which is wild when you wrap your brain around it. What a diverse, magical place to explore! Today on our morning charter, we had the opportunity to cruise around a variety of these islands north of San Juan. Two of my favorites are the Cactus Islands, north of Spieden. But, as gorgeous as the scenery may be, there’s still a lot of confusion as to why they’re called the Cactus Islands. This ain’t no desert!
Well, as one might guess…there’s actually cactus on the island! This species is called the Brittle Prickly Pear cactus, and is native to western Washington. It is found on a few of the San Juan and Canadian Gulf Islands, as well as Whidbey Island, near Sequim, and by Port Townsend. These are all locations within the Olympic rain shadow, and it takes a very specific weather pattern for these cacti to thrive, which is what these places are able to provide. Many of these places are former Native American encampments where these cacti were grown after being acquired from Native Americans in Eastern Washington through trade. It’s believed that the juice from these plants may have been used in natural dyes as a fixing agent.
If you’re interested in botany – listen up! The Brittle Prickly Pear cacti form low mats and only grow to a height of about 6 inches. They have barbed spines and have beautiful yellow flowers that bloom in June, reminiscent of wild roses. They also tend to prefer the sunny, dry sides of the islands and other places they grow, and prefer isolation from other plants.
So there you have it! You now know where the beautiful Cactus Islands got their names. It’s always wonderful to enjoy the sights and scenery, as well as the wildlife, on our eco-tours.
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