Tucson Botanical Gardens

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
February 8, 2019

Tucson Botanical Gardens is one of the prettiest gardens we have visited.  It's located on N. Alvernon Way...a busy street with businesses, eateries and apartments lining the street.  Chances are you have ridden right past it and never even noticed it was there.  Sue and Dave had not visited these gardens before.  Knowing they love desert flora and birds, we asked them to join us.  


The one room adobe building was the home of the Porters who started Desert Gardens Nursery in 1931.  

The earliest buildings on the grounds date back to the 1920s and were constructed of adobe bricks made on site.

The Robert J Wick: Earth, Life, Man exhibit is featured at the gardens from January thru June.  Each piece carries a living plant or tree.

Robert J Wick says, "The flora are not decorations; but are an integral part of the art defining it's character by quality, shape and nature of the plants used...My works of art are a union of art, man and nature"

The gardens are divided into three parts...the Cacti and Succulent garden, the Herb Garden, and the Barrio Garden.

Cacti and Succulent Garden...

The Barrio Garden...

I didn't get pictures of the Herb Garden this visit so if you haven't been to the Botanical Gardens, you will just have to add it to the "to do" list for Tucson.

Also at the Botanical Gardens is the Cox Butterfly and Orchid Pavilion.  Butterflies from all around the world are featured October thru May.  

A Wandering Violin Mantis...native to India

  

Sue and Dave enjoying the butterflies lined up on the windowsill...

An Orchid Mantis native to Malaysia...

 We also enjoyed listening to and watching the birds...especially the hummingbirds and the thrashers.  I only had my phone so I didn't get any pictures of them. 

After our leisurely stroll thru the Gardens, we enjoyed a great Mexican lunch topped off with Sopaipillas at Guillermo's.  

I'll close with just a few more pictures.  Until next time,

Dave and Joe

HAPPY TRAILS !

Barely Scratched the Surface...

San Diego Metro KOA
Chula Vista, CA
January 27, 2015

 Balboa Park is ranked the nation's largest urban cultural park...a mere 1,200 acres. It is home to 15 major museums, performing arts venues, gardens, and the San Diego Zoo.

 According to Google, it was envisioned by civic leaders in 1868, developed in 1892, and master-planned in 1903. It is named after Vasco Nunez de Balboa, the first European to sight the Pacific Ocean. 

 Many of the "highly ornamented, flamboyant" Spanish-Renaissance style buildings were constructed for a World's Fair called the "Panama-California Exposition" held there in 1915-16.











Our walk through Balboa took a few hours. It was a beautiful day so going inside museums was not on our agenda. 

Carol and I did, however wander through the Botanical Gardens... the view of the Botanical Building with the Lily Pad and Lagoon in the foreground is one of the most photographed scenes in the park. 


It was and remains today "one of the largest lath buildings in the world". 

In the few hours we spent walking around Balboa Park, we barely scratched the surface...but were totally awed by the beauty and appreciative of the insight a few folks had many years ago. 

Until next time, take care and

 happy trails!