Corona de Tucson
May 5, 2023
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| I read that Saguaros are 35+ years old when they bloom. |
During the raising children and working stage of our life, we took the usual vacations staying in condos to the Florida gulf and the Smokey Mountains and didn't venture too far from home. In August of 2000 we purchased our first RV. It was a 28' tow behind.
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| Skidaway Island State Park in Savannah, GA...summer 2003 |
By that time the kiddos had all flown the coop and Helen (Joe's mom who moved in with us in 1995) was living under our care. We think back on those years and are so grateful for Joe's sister Jo and BIL Chuck who graciously gave up a month of their time every summer to come stay in our home to take care of Helen. We enjoyed many trips with that little tow behind for 10 years. It even made a trip from Georgia to Delaware so we could go to the Monster Mile Nascar race in June of 2003. That was the year I saw Richard Petty and Kyle Petty standing on the corner where we exited the huge field used for parking on race day. No one had even noticed them standing there and I was the first to get an autograph. Getting to Delaware, race day, and coming home from Delaware was such a great trip. We adopted Dover in 2007 and that adventure was the reason Dover is named Dover.
The years flew by, the tow behind was traded for a 5th wheel toy hauler and we retired. Visiting the desert was not in our radar. In fact, exploring anything beyond the Mississippi was not on our radar. It wasn't until we were completely on our own in 2011 that we decided to trade the toy hauler and 2003 pick-up for the MH and said, "Westward Ho !" What a thrill ride that was...here, there and places in between for nine years. No matter what the destination...the desert always called us back.
This week we ventured east again towards the Rincon Mountains. Our choice for desert solitude was Garwood Trail in Saguaro NP-East. It was a perfect morning...blue skies and 68 degrees with a light breeze when we arrived at the trailhead at 8:00 am.
Having done this trail a couple of times before, we knew lots of cholla grew here. The cholla blossoms have been lagging behind the other cacti and we were hoping to see lots of color. It was great timing...  |
| golden orange copper... |
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| crimson red |
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| yellow green... |
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| pink red... |
Stands of cholla are called cholla gardens. Individual plants within these colonies often have the same DNA and were "tubercles" from an original plant. It is impossible to capture all the cholla's collective blooming beauty in a single photograph, but here are a few close-ups...
I also think the woody trunks of the cholla trees are camera worthy.
About 1.5 miles into the trail, there is a crested growing on the banks of a dry wash. It is doing well. I love the arms !
The photo below was taken from the trail as we approached the wash.
The Rincon Mountains are a nice backdrop on this trail as it meanders up, down, and around in this tiny little section of the Sonoran Desert. We are happy to call this our backyard...
Back at the oasis it was nice week.
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| Life is good! |
