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!

Three Trails and Three W's...

Tucson/Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
March, 2019

If hiking is something you enjoy, the trails around Tucson definitely have a lot to offer.  But, between appointments, MOHs surgeries and winter weather in February, we didn't have much time to enjoy them.

We experienced freezing temps and snow...the first snow in ten years according to the locals.  







March roared in like a lion with strong winds and hard rains.  The weather finally turned with lots of wildflowers and mild temps.  The desert was calling !  

Here are three great trail choices with wildflowers, water, and wildlife ...

Linda Vista Loop Trail

Linda Vista Loop is a trail located in Oro Valley at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains.  The map at the trailhead shows several choices to go.  Joe and I hike the loop in the counter-clockwise direction.  It was especially pretty this year with the wildflowers blooming and as the name implies, there are vistas in all directions.

We saw our first Desert Cardinal.

Bluff Trail

Sabino Canyon Recreation Area is located at the base of the Santa Catalina Mountains featuring outstanding scenery, beautiful desert flora, and riparian corridors.  This day we chose to hike the Lower Sabino Creek Trail, connect to the Bluff Trail and finish the loop on the Esperero Trail. 

Just getting started on the Lower Sabino Creek Trail...

Thank goodness for rains and snowmelt...

Love the tannin-stained water...

Bluff Trail...

I love the Cactus Wrens.

A crested Saguaro on Bluff Trail...

Loma Verde and Squeeze Pen Loop Trail

We haven't hiked in Saguaro NP East in a couple of years. 

Loma Verde Trailhead starts off Cactus Drive.  It's a one-way drive and the trailhead will be on the left. 

 I don't now why because it sure is beautiful and maybe a little less congested than the west side.  At least this day, we had the trail almost to ourselves.  We had not done this trail before and the loop can be little tricky.  There are a couple of right hand turns...first on Pink Hill Trail and then on Squeeze Pen Trail...to make a loop just over 4 miles.  

So many trails...so many choices...

Curved-billed Thrasher.... and what a pretty song they have !

 We only passed a couple of hikers, but we did meet Leigh Anne and Jasmine.  Jasmine is a Jerusalem Donkey complete with the markings of a cross on her back.  Jasmine has been a park volunteer with Leigh Anne (her owner) for 13 years.  

We also thanked park workers for the great job they do.

On a different note, I wanted to share a couple of pictures from Mission San Xavier del Bac.  We have visited a couple of times including last February.  It is beautiful both inside and outside.  After visiting Ted DeGrazia's studio (see our last post) it has even more meaning.  The mission was one of the 24 missions founded by Padre Kino 

 

Fiesta at San Xavier, 1960

FYI...if you are in Tucson and need repairs on your RV, Cameron's Reliable Mobile Repairs is awesome. 

 Kenneth and his wife Rachel make a great team.

They fixed a hot water issue, installed a Gen Start (In case the land power goes off and it gets 85 degrees in the MH, the generator will start and run the AC.) to keep the puppies safe, 



and we have two new house batteries. Kenneth and Rachel are so totally knowledgeable, thorough and honest. We are very fortunate to have them as our primary MH repair providers !

Joe had his last two MOHs surgeries...one Monday above his elbow and one Tuesday on his shin.  Instead of sitting here three more weeks, we will have the stitches taken out in Moab.    

So, that's a wrap on Tucson for this winter.  Today we will pack and Friday we pull out bright and early...both of us healthy, happy, and thankful for the good doctors and care we have been given.  

Up next Moab.  Until then, 

  HAPPY TRAILS !