Middle Madera Canyon

Corona de Tucson

April 22, 2022

Madera Canyon Road...

Last Wednesday, Joe and I had to make a trip to the vet's office in Green Valley to pick up meds for Jack.  It was a beautiful morning so we decided to hike Middle Madera Canyon.   

An Acorn Woodpecker was the official greeter for the day.

We began the trail at the Amphitheater parking lot (about 5,000' elevation) and hike up to the Wrightson Picnic area and walk the road back to the jeep.  There was a new kiosk at the parking lot explaining the different regions in the canyon.  This hike begins in the Upper Sonoran Life Zone...a new to us term.  

It's a fun trail with lots of ups and downs, boulders, shade and great views.  

I used to take trees for granted when we lived in Georgia.  Not anymore !  In this section of middle Madera Canyon, oak trees and pine trees "blanket" the landscape.  Emory Oak is common.  They are wintergreen trees and keep their leaves throughout the winter until new leaves are produced.  

Male tassels or catkins shed pollen that is carried by the wind to female flowers... 

Pine trees produce two types of cones.  The hard woody cones we typically see on the ground and soft spongy cones.  

Soft, spongy male cones shed pollen carried by the wind to the hard, woody  female cones.  

I was surprised that a nice variety of wildflowers were blooming at this elevation.  Wild verbena, 

 lupine, 

Indian paintbrush, 

and my favorite for the day...these tiny little yellow blooms along the water flowing down to Madera Creek...seep monkeyflowers.

 I loved the shimmering grasses swaying in the breeze.  

And the beauty all around us.

  

We have hiked this trail many times.  It never disappoints !  

Back at the oasis, Dr Huang, our vet in Green Valley, called to say that Jack's tests show he has moderate degenerative heart valve disease.  The medication prescribed can slow down the progression of heart disease.  We have all enjoyed our time on the patio this week.  Jack especially enjoys naps in the warm sunshine.

In addition to our hike, we got in three good walks around the cart path this week.  This photo was taken about 6:40 am on Tuesday.  I love the sun and shadows this time of day.  If you squint your eyes tight, you can see a grouping of prickly pear cactus...in the center of the photo...in the field.  

These prickly pear are the healthiest and prettiest prickly pear I have ever seen. I stopped on Tuesday to get a picture.  Look at all those buds !  And every pad was full just like this one.

This morning (Saturday) I couldn't help but stop again...what a beautiful color !

Joe and I are enjoying the bottlebrush tree in the backyard.  It is full of buds and just  beginning to bloom.

The birds and the butterflies like it too.

A huge thank you to the Cactus Wren...that's a mouth full !

A coyote across the fairway in the early morning light...

a Gamble's Quail in the flower pot...

Dover beginning her day...

and Sally waiting for supper finish out the week.

It's been a nice week.

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS !

A Day Date and Canyon Loop Trail

Corona de Tucson

April 16, 2023

The evening glow...we haven't had a lot of clouds this week.

It's nice to have a day date.  It's a day when we head to town...no appointments, no errands...just for the fun of it !  We hadn't been to The Lost Barrio in a couple of months and it's one of my favorite places to meander and browse.  Gather:A Vintage Market was open for the April showing and the other stores along the street are fun, colorful, and offer a variety of old, new and unique things.   

Afterwards, CAFE a la C'ART was our lunch choice. 

  The patio is wonderful this time of year.

We have enjoyed brunch (which they serve all day) at the CAFE several times, but we both wanted to try something new.  I am happy to share that lunch is every bit as yummy as brunch.  

I had Salmon Nicoise  served with green beans, egg, radishes, grape tomatoes, kalamata olives, capers, a variety of mixed greens and the best herb vinaigrette ever.  Joe had a Cafe Burger cooked to order and piled high with smoked peppered bacon, avocado. pepper jack cheese, chipotle aioli on a challah roll served with fries.  Both are a mouth full to say, and both our mouths were full...we ate every bite !

Saturday morning we were up early and headed north to Catalina State Park.  The adventure for the day was a hike with Jamie and Andra.  Neither one of them had been to CSP.  It's such a beautiful setting and one we really wanted to share with them.  Even the short drive from the entrance to the parking lot (which is really the end of the road) for the trails tugs at my heart strings !  

The hike for the morning was Canyon Loop Trail. 

It's a great trail that crosses several different washes, follows the canyon rim, hugs the creek, and meanders at the base of a hillside covered in saguaros. 

 

The wash had just enough water to get our feet we.  Lots of fun memories crossing this wash from years past...

Beautiful mountain vistas on the rim...

 

Looking down on the wash we just crossed...

Lavender fields of clover...

thistle...

and asters lined the rim trail.

As we rounded the curve to drop into the canyon, lavender gave way to orange...no fields of poppies, but plenty blooming to put a big smile on my face !

And hot pink penstemons were blooming along the steps (there are 90 of them) that make the descent to the creek much easier.   

 

I was so happy the creek had water...flowing water ! 

From the creek, we crossed the wash and followed the trail as it curved around the base of a hill.

Crossed the wash again...

and followed the path back to the parking lot.

We all enjoyed an early lunch at Tucson Tamale. 

Nice to beat the crowd !

One green chili chicken tamale and one black bean and cheese tamale with a side of Mexican slaw and chips (the best chips ever!) and salsa. Yummy! 

It was such a nice morning...the weather, the trail, the flowers, the tamales, but mostly the company !  Life is good !

Back at the oasis,  we spent Wednesday morning with Jack at the vets.  He had an EKG, a CT scan and his blood pressure checked.  Hoping to hear from Dr. Huang mid week with the results.  He was a good boy at the vets and did not have to be anesthetized.  He was one tired little fella and went right to sleep on the way home.

The mornings have been perfect for coffee with the sunrise.

The Bottlebrush tree in the backyard is about to burst open.

The owl finally showed him/herself.  

And the rabbits...lots of them... have been enjoying the area on the other side of the fence. 

 The orioles have arrived and are enjoying the oranges.

And crane flies, better known as mosquito hawks at our house, have been buzzing around Tucson for weeks and finally made the news.  There have been kazillions of them in the yard and the rainy weather is said to be the cause. And to make matters worse, it's mating season which explains why we find them on the wall or ceiling from time to time paired up. The good news, crane flies are not harmful and do not bite.  They spend most of their life underground eating microbes which helps plants.  Nonetheless, I'm happy when I see the birds dining on them for breakfast, lunch and diner !

That's a wrap on the week...a really nice week I will add.  Red was a favorite color this week.

A male Cardinal in the bush on the other side of our fence...

The Bottlebrush tree in the front yard...

Begonias I potted on Wednesday...

Until next time,

HAPPY TRAILS!