Corona de Tucson
April 5, 2022
Gabe Zimmerman, the director of community outreach for U.S. Rep. Gabby Gifford, died January 8, 2011 in a shooting outside a Tucson supermarket at an event held for Gabby Gifford.
I mentioned in the previous post, that the Arizona National Scenic Trail (AZT) traverses through a special place near Tucson known as Davidson Canyon. Gabe was instrumental in the the Arizona Trail obtaining its National Scenic Trail status in 2009. We returned this morning to hike the section of trail on the ridge above Davidson Canyon. With warm sunshine, blue skies, a light breeze, and camera in hand, we headed west towards the Santa Rita Mountains on a new to us trail.
It wasn't long before we were walking along the ridge with views of Davidson Canyon below us with the Santa Ritas in the background.
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| The edge of the ridge is where the golden grass stops...its a pretty big drop to the canyon where the dark colored trees are. |
It is a curvy trail that meanders up and down thru groves of ocotillo, groves of creosote bushes, and golden grass and prickly pear. The constant is always the mountains.
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| Headed west toward the interstate...Santa Rita Mountains |
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| Headed east towards the parking lot...the Rincon Mountains |
Our destination for today was the underpass at I-10. It's little over 1 1/2 miles from the parking lot where we began.
It would be way cool to walk under the interstate one day and explore the other side.
The wildflowers along the ridge were dainty and colorful. None of them were more than just a few inches tall.
The first cacti bloom photo for 2022.
And the only wildlife sightings for the day...
Parking for the Gabe Zimmerman Davidson Canyon Trailhead is located at 16248 E Marsh Station Road in Vail, AZ. The parking lot has room for 22 vehicles.
The trail is used by hikers, bikers and horses. Both times we have visited the area, we have only seen a couple of people.
This past Saturday morning we joined Randy and his daughter Stacie for the Fourth Avenue Spring Street Fair. It was fun walking 4th Avenue. Some of the "crafts", which are mostly made by the vendors themselves, are quite stunning and unique. Of course food venues are a big part of the fair and the yummy smells sure do make me hungry. I was happy when it was lunchtime. We enjoyed another delicious meal at Caruso's Italian Restaurant...a Tucson tradition since 1938.
After lunch, Stacie and I were fitted for toe rings.
So far so good.
Sunday we needed a few things from Lowes. Wild Birds Unlimited is close to the Lowes on Speedway. I always enjoy going to Wild Birds and never leave empty handed. We purchased two new hummingbird feeders with raised perches. and a feeder that hooks to the fence in the backyard that serves a buffet of seasonal fruit and peanut butter bites.
We also added a second seed feeder.
and I love it when they come together.
That about wraps up the week. Life is good at the oasis !
Until next time,
HAPPY TRAILS!
Another fun trail with some nice artwork on the culvert. There are a few good 'spray can artists', but not that good.
ReplyDeleteI do keep the hummingbird feeders filled, but I do not put out seeds for fear those dropped will attract the wrong critters. do you have that as a problem?
The hummingbirds are my favorite Jeff. But I do like the variety. Loose seeds didn’t work for us either. The dove just scattered them all over the ground and last year we noticed mice were digging holes in the yard so we put out traps and stopped the seeds. This year, so far, the seeds that are in the wired feeder and the fruit are working OK. The dove can’t get to them and the other birds take a seed and leave. Time will tell if the mice return I guess. Fingers crossed!
DeleteIt was a nice trail today…and it’s close to home which is really nice.
Mike won't let me feed the birds in Arizona--he tells me we have enough varmints as it is and we do but I wonder if I could feed them as you do?? I do provide water in a birdbath and the birds LOVE that! I tried to talk Mike into going to the 4th Avenue Street Fair but no luck. Thanks for the restaurant suggestion! Love the photos of the birds eating the oranges--what are the birds?
ReplyDeleteThe Cactus Wren and Gila Woodpecker are the two birds enjoying the fruit. Fruit and hummingbird nectar would be a great start to feeding birds at your home. I don’t think either would invite the other undesirable varmints. It’s still iffy if the seed bar will stay…so far so good. Next year, if Mike doesn’t want to go to the Fourth Street Fair, you can stop by our house and go with us.
DeleteLove finding new places to hike and explore. Glad to see you have some wildflowers. I sure hope we eventually get at least a few blooms. Love your colorful array of birds.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam. Me too Pam, but I do have some old favorites! The birds sure know how to entertain!
DeleteLove your variety of feeders and all the pretties they attract. We left just in time for the flowers to start and more birds to return - glad I get to see them from your camera :-) Always nice to find a new trail in a familiar area.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jodee. All our trips have been cancelled so you will probably be very tired of birds and desert trails very soon!
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