Madera Canyon

Tucson Lazydays KOA
Tucson, AZ
February 9, 2019

A great place to go when in Tucson is Madera Canyon.  We have been there several...well, make that many...times and have enjoyed lots of hikes.  When Carol and Ronnie were here, it was high on the list for a place to go as they had never been.  The weather wasn't the best for hiking the day we went, breezy, chilly, and with cloudy skies. We decided on the Proctor Trail with a turning around point at the Madera Picnic Area which is about a 3 mile round trip.

Most of the trail follows Madera Creek with nice bridges to cross the creek.  

Despite the cloudy skies, muted shades and bright colors made for a great camera day.  We can always depend on the birds for pops of color although we have not had the great fortune to see the Elegant Trogon...not yet anyway.

The Acorn Woodpecker with his bright red cap is always busy and easy to spot.    

These busy birds are so much fun to watch!

Each fall, acorns are stored in a single tree (called a granary) by jamming them into specially made holes.  One tree may have up to 50,000 holes in it, each of which is filled with an acorn.  Over time, the acorn becomes "locked" in its hole.  A group member is always on alert to guard the hoard from thieves.  That is just so cool !

 The Mexican Jay is another common bird we see at Madera Canyon.  

A beautiful blue adult Mexican Jay...

This is perhaps a juvenile jay since he is paler blue although I did read that the jays in Arizona are typically more pale than jays from other states.

After our hike we rode up to Santa Rita Lodge.  There is always a flurry of birds there.

 If you are not in a hurry to return to Tucson, taking the Box Canyon Road is a fun way to head home.   It's a sandy, gravelly, well maintained 12 mile (approximate) road that ends at Hwy 83.  

There are no saquaro here...just beautiful desert grasslands. This is cattle country.

 In real time, things are going well in Tucson.  Joe and I have had lots of appointments.  Joe is starting his fifth year cancer free...WAHOO!  On the other hand he has been hammered with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma.  He had his 10th MOHs surgery last Wednesday with 2 more to go making a grand total of 12 surgeries since mid October.  His doctor says it is common for these to come in batches.  

Well, I'll close with a few more pictures...so until next time,

  

 

  

     

HAPPY TRAILS !

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 !