October...So Far

Corona de Tucson

October 14, 2023 

I am always surprised at how quickly the months change.  We welcomed October with hopes of days less sad, cooler temps and pumpkins...lots of pumpkins.  I think fall is my favorite season because of the colors that come with it. The yellows, golds, oranges, reds, all shades of green, and deep rich hues of purple are so comforting and cheerful.  

Edith celebrated a birthday on October 1st.  It is hard to believe this little bundle of happiness is three years old already. 

And Jamie and Andra are married.  It was a beautiful small service at the Mission in the Sun that De Grazia built in 1952. 

The first weekend in October is the launch event for the winter market at St Phillips Plaza running through April.  It is every Saturday and Sunday...every weekend...from 10:00-3:00 both days.  It's always fun to peruse the plaza to find unique gifts.

  

The weather has been really nice...just the motivation we needed to visited Tucson Botanical Gardens.  Walking the gardens, new exhibits and lunch on the patio at Edna's Cafe makes for one of my favorite places to go in Tucson.  We were surprised at how much color there was.

Black-eyed Susans...

The most beautiful begonias we have ever seen...

Queen's Wreath...a gorgeous vine that can  bloom throughout the year... 

As many times as we have visited these gardens, it never looks quite the same as it did the last time.  

Behind the mound of marigolds were a few captivating sculptures by John Benedict in his exhibit titled Enchanted Gardens.

 

Twenty of his whimsical sculptures made from steel, copper, glass, and other natural materials are on display until January 14.  Garden fairies and larger than life critters sit among the plants and along the walks throughout the gardens.   John (with his family) lives and works in Tucson and has public works on display as far away as Taiwan.  He works with reclaimed materials to create metal sculptures, paintings, water features, and murals.  

Wise Owl

   

Angelica

Thru these doors is the Barrio Garden where some of the very colorful and symbolic sculptures from the La Calavera Catrina exhibition are featured by artist Ricardo Soltero.   This exhibit is on display thru December. (The other sculptures are on display in a room opposite the gift shop that you see when you exit the gardens.)

Ricardo is the set designer for the largest Dia de los Muertos celebration in the United States which takes place at the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.  He is both a sculptor and a costume designer. 

La Catrina, the most recognizable figure of Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead),  is the elegant female skeleton and an icon of Mexican Heritage.  

The colors yellow and orange are both used in this holiday to represent marigolds, the sun and light. Marigolds are the the flowers of the dead and are thought to help the deceased find their way back home due to their strong scent and bright colors.

Behind this door and inside the historical building constructed of adobe bricks made on site in the 1920s by the Porters is an exhibit by Joan McGann titled Drawn to the Desert.  It will be on display thru January 4. 

As a member of the American Society of Botanical Artists, Joan's current pieces  have an emphasis on plants native to the Sonoran Desert.   On display are pieces she created using graphite pencils, colored pencils, watercolor, and ink.

 

Beautiful art and beautifully displayed !

In the courtyard just outside the entrance to the tropical oasis better known as the Cox Butterfly and Orchid Pavilion was a new to us kaleidoscope. 

When you spin the flower pot and look thru the kaleidoscope it makes the prettiest designs.  I tried and tried to get a decent photo of what we saw...that didn't happen.  But it was fun trying !

As always, the butterflies and orchids were amazing.  The greenhouse features 30-50 different butterfly species everyday and around 100 over the course of the whole season.  There is a chrysalis exhibit located at the exit of the greenhouse where you can watch the butterflies hatch all season long.  Both are open thru May 31.

We saw two Atlas Moths...one of the largest moths in the world with a wingspan of about 10 inches. 

Back at the oasis, Ozzie spent the week with us as Jamie and Andra honeymooned in Savannah.  Ozzie is 1.7 years old and is an Australian Shepherd/Poodle mix.  He is a great puppy...very smart, energetic, playful, and lots of company.   

The birds continue to entertain...

  A javelina was grazing just outside the fence... 

Water birds are flying south...

And we spotted an owl on one of our morning walks...

The skies still "wow" us...

Patio buddies...

And until next time, 

Happy Trails

It's Already October !

Corona de Tucson 

October 2, 2021

I don't know about you, but I can hardly believe it is October.  The older I get, the faster time flies !  I always look forward to fall and this year is no exception.  

We are loving the cooler nights and days.  Last night I woke up with cold toes and had to pull up the quilt.  I say "Bring it on !" as we are looking forward to our first fall in Tucson in our new home.   

Our morning walk last Friday was one of my favorites...Sabino Canyon Recreation Area.  I chose the Sabino Lake Trail and the connected Esperero Trail for a nice loop.  

We have enjoyed this hike several times, but both agree we have never seen the desert so green and full of life.

 

And just look at all that water pouring over the dam...

...and flowing swiftly in the creek.

There were signs that a few weeks ago, the desert was full of blossoms.  I zoomed in on a few lingering bits of color.   I do have a soft spot for wildflowers ! 

We heard lots of birds and stopped often to look for them.  I saw a beautiful Ladder-backed Woodpecker in a bush, but couldn't get a focus before he flew away.  Also, we spotted several Gila Woodpeckers always pecking on the shady side of the saguaro which doesn't make for good photos, and a Curve-billed Thrasher.  I did capture a Black-throated Sparrow which was a first for me.

Its soft brown back and pale underparts help this sharp looking little bird blend in with its desert home.

What delicate wings on this red dragonfly.  Did you know that in Japan, dragonflies are considered to be sacred and that red dragonflies most often appear at the end of summer with the message that autumn is coming ? 

 There were hints of autumn in the canyon.  Seeded grass lined the trail in places...

...and trees with seed pods.

My favorite part of the hike is a climb that looks down on the creek...

...with never-ending vistas of mountains, saguaros and blue skies.

What a nice morning it was !

We rarely ever go anywhere on the week-ends.  But yesterday, we ventured out to St. Phillips Plaza to check out the market.  

It was the beginning of the "new" season with later hours and much nicer temps.  I read that 102 vendors were sharing their arts, crafts, and culinary delights.  

We did browse some, but I mostly wanted to see this historic Spanish-style courtyard...a Tucson landmark built in 1936.  

Today, the plaza offers boutique shopping, galleries, and restaurants.  

My favorite seller at the market was Alisha.  She is owner of Patagonia Flower Farm.   This time of year her flowers are dried and gorgeous.   

But what I really wanted and will return to purchase in a few weeks is one of these pumpkins she creates with dried flowers and succulents.  The pumpkins last for 2-4 months and the succulents can be repotted.  

That about wraps up our week.  Joe did have six more biopsies done last Tuesday so the cycle begins again !  One on each leg between the knee and ankle, one on the passenger side of his neck and three on the driver side of his neck...so we wait for results.  

On one of our morning walks, we finished just in time.

And I caught one of the locals in training for a gymnastics competition.    

Good save !

Happy Sunday everyone...

... and HAPPY TRAILS !