It's Spring !

Corona de Tucson

March 24, 2024

Sunny, warm and happy are words that come to mind this time of year.  It is the perfect time to be outside and enjoying the desert that surrounds us.  Finding wildflowers and water in the desert is fun and Sabino Canyon is one of our go to spots every spring to enjoy both. 

 

The wide open vistas, birds, beautiful sky and trails are a big draw too.

Black-tailed Gnatcatcher

Canyon Towhee

Phainopepla...enjoying a mosquito hawk for breakfast

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We also ventured over to Saguaro NP-East to walk the Cactus Forest Trail this week.  I have not counted the many times we have enjoyed this trail with its ups and downs, twists and turns, the cacti forest, and the always present Rincon Mountains in the background.  I just know we never tire of the beauty.  It's close to home AND stopping at the DQ afterwards is pretty darn close to perfection !   

The wildflowers were few and far between on this trail.  The Ocotillo are blooming... 

 in a few sections we enjoyed the brittlebush...

Lots of buds...and it should be very pretty in a week or so.

patches of desert zinnias nestled under the prickly pear...

creosote bushes...

 and lots of larger patches of these tiny little yellow flowers I can't name.

The cacti here are plentiful and showy...

Back at the oasis, the Yellow-rumped Warbler has stopped by for several quick visits.   

These tiny little featherd friends mostly eat insects in the summer, but winters will often find them eating wild berries and seeds and visiting feeders for sunflower seeds, peanut butter, raisins and suet...all of which we have.  He does not sit still long and is hard to photograph.  

For the past couple of weeks, we have enjoyed the Gamble's Quail meandering under the shrubs and thru the tall grasses on the other side of our fence.  

This week, they decided to visit...I counted at least 12 at one time Friday morning. 

The torch cactus is blooming...with lots more buds popping out.

Sally is usually half in and half out...

or keeping a watchful eye for anyone headed to the kitchen.

The skies are incredible...

And far away in South Carolina, Felix and Edith took their mom and dad to the farm.  One of many fun days they enjoyed during spring break.

And I love this picture of Edith.  Jena sends pictures just about everyday...thank you Jena !

In case I don't get a post in before next Sunday...Happy Easter. 

And as always, until next time...

HAPPY TRAILS!

Sabino Dam: A Desert Oasis

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
December 23, 2016


There is alot of history in Sabino Canyon.  Flat grindstones, stone points, and other tools found in the Sabino Canyon date back to the Cochise culture which hunted small game and food about 8000 years ago.  But even before them, the Clovis culture visited the area some 13500 years ago to hunt large game.  

Its no wonder visitors since, including the Hohokam people, made this oasis their home.  The peak of their culture occurred around 1100 AD.  The Hohokam were farmers and built villages along the rivers.  There is evidence of early dams to store water and collect soil as well as farming tools left behind from them.

Jump forward to the 1930s when plans were made to build a dam to provide a lake for swimming and boating.  The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) along with ERA crews built bridges, campgrounds, picnic tables, outhouses, and retaining walls which are still used.  Today the dam is a popular attraction although the lake has long since been filled in with silt and plant life. 
Our second hike in Sabino Canyon on  12/22 took us close enough to the dam to take a picture from an overlook.  Not much water flowing over the dam that day.

Our third hike (12/23) was on the Sabino Lake Trail, Creek Trail, and Sabino Dam Trail.  A nice easy loop !  What a difference a day of heavy rains made.

We had planned to connect to the Phoneline Trail, but Sabino Creek stopped us.  We weren't prepared to get wet.

This is the section of creek after the dam.  We have never seen it this high...it was even flowing over the bridge !
Looking left... 

 ...straight ahead...

...and to the right. 

It couldn't have been a prettier day.  The birds were singing...umm...some were fussing !  


We could hear the distinct loud sound of this Cactus Wren.  It's the largest wren in North America.

Cloudy gray skies quickly gave way to clear blue skies.




The cacti were showy with fruit.

And the best part,  I was with my honey !

 We will be busy our last week here.  I have a hair cut, Joe gets stitches out, Sally gets a hair cut and a bath,  and we hope to get in another hike.  

Until next time, 

HAPPY TRAILS !