Catalina Highway, Sky Island, and a Rainy Day

Corona de Tucson

October 21, 2023

Just look at that beautiful blue sky...

Catalina Highway, also know as the Sky Island Parkway National Scenic Byway and/or the Mt Lemmon Scenic Byway, is the only paved road that climbs Mount Lemmon which is the highest peak (9100+ feet) in the Santa Catalina Mountain Range. It is a gorgeous curvy drive with lots of switchbacks, numerous pull-outs and vistas as far as the eye can see.  The climb begins with giant saguaros, followed by manzanita scrub bush which then gives way to the ponderosa pines at about 7,000 feet elevation gain.  At the end of the drive aspens, maples, oak and Arizona walnut trees are included in the many broadleaf tree species found there. I read the biological diversity on this highway is equivalent to a drive from Mexico to Canada in just 27 miles...from desert to a shady conifer forest and everything in between.  

Exposed granite in all directions and Ponderosa Pines along the byway...  

 We had a goal of reaching the top so we kept our stops at pull-outs to a bare minimum with only one.  We just had to have an up close and personal visit with the Hoodoos. Hoodoos are abundant around mile marker 15 with a large pull-out parking lot (and restrooms) to better see and enjoy these eye-catching rock columns and interesting formations. 

 

What we saw when we parked...

A short climb and up close...
There is a small plaque in memory of Frank Harris Hitchcock whose sincere interest and unceasing efforts made this highway possible.  

While we were stopped here, I took this photo of Mt Lemmon Marigolds and Lodgepine needles and a cone.  This might be a good time to mention that Mt Lemmon is named for botanist Sara Plummer Lemmon who trekked to the top of the mountain with her husband and a local rancher by horse and foot in 1881.  She was the first woman who dared to climb the mountain.  She was taken aback by the beauty of the mountain's plant life and kept a journal with drawings and descriptions of the plants, trees, and wildlife she encountered along her journey.      

Mt Lemmon Marigolds just pop up all along the rock and tree debris. 

Our second stop of the day was Ski Valley.

The first ski lift installed at Ski Valley was in 1955.  The top elevation of Ski Valley is 9,157 feet above sea level and has 200 skiable acres with 21 runs.  Today, it is the southernmost ski destination in the continental United States.    

We don't ski, but there are several other notable "claim to fame" reasons to visit Ski Valley...fudge, cookies, chili and cornbread with honey, pie and fall colors come to mind.  We successfully indulged in all of those notables except the cookies and thats only because the cookie store was closed.  

The Iron Door, charming and quaint, has an awesome patio perfect for this time of year.  What a treat it was to sit among special guests...they were all giggles and whispers conjuring up things only they know about.  

But we did hear mention of cauldrons with fur of bats and eyes of newts.  

For us it was a simple decision...

with pie to carry home.

The pies are little whole pies.  
We chose Mt. Berry and Peach with crumbles.  

The lift is across the street with shops for fudge and cookies.  We also came home with chocolate fudge after several samples which included s'mores fudge and German chocolate fudge.  We didn't ride the lift, but decided next time, we would bring a picnic, ride the lift and have lunch at the top.  

Even though I read we were maybe a week early for fall color, we did see some beautiful trees.

The loop ride to the SkyCenter (Stewart's Observatory public astronomy outreach program) was the end of the climb.

Back at the oasis, we had a wonderful and much welcomed rainy day. 

The flowers were happy...

Joe and I were happy...

This little ladder-back woodpecker was happy... 

She had the yard and feeders to herself...

And we enjoyed a pretty sunset at the end of the day. 

 We logged in a few miles...

Sally looks forward to outside and morning sunshine.

The regular visitors stay busy...

And for a couple of weeks now we have had real snowbirds.  The White-crowned Sparrows have arrived. 

They fit right in with the House Sparrows.

 Sally had a much needed cut, bath, and nails trimmed.  

And just like that, another week is in the memory bank.  Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS... 

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