a VISIT TO THE aRIZONA-sONORA dESERT

The Arizona-Sonora desert is green and alive with plants and animals.

A saguaro cactus, Carnegiea gigantea.

I’ve seen a few deserts in my time, but to my surprise the Senora Desert was not what I expected. Instead of a sandy vastness of naked dunes, tumbleweeds and bleached animal skulls, it’s surprisingly green and mountainous. It’s not lush of course, but it’s got quite a vast array of plants from shrubs, perennials, small trees, succulents and cacti. They are generously sprinkled throughout the desert plains and stagger up the jagged hills, but it’s the towering and stately saguaro cactus that sets this desert apart. There’s thousands of them. They stick out of the scenery bold as brass; tall and erect with arms pointing to the startling bright blue sky. ​

It's Alive! 

I recently came back from a botanical sojourn into Arizona’s hot and crispy Sonora desert. I was one of a group of women who ventured forth into the record breaking temperatures of the Arizona desert. Thanks to Kathy, our fearless leader’s guidance, we did not become skeletons in the sand.  We regularly stopped to take slugs of water in the shade, less we die of dehydration and heat stroke. It’s a good job too as we were in the middle of a heat wave with temperatures hitting 38 °C (100 °F) and above – lucky us.
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The Tucson Botanical Gardens shows how beautiful gardening in the desert can be.

I could write about all the wonderful, educational, intriguing beautiful gardens with their plant collections and features, but it is expertly explained on their excellent websites. And since pictures say a thousand words, I thought I would let my pictures do the talking. 

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the tucson botanical gardens

A beautiful mesquite (Prosopis sp.) lined path.

This opulent and educational five-and-a-half acre botanical garden beats in the heart of Tucson. They have many garden collections to educate, enlighten show the history of agriculture in the area, the history of its indigenous peoples: Cactus & Succulent Garden, the Herb Garden, Xeriscape Garden, Zen Garden, Shade Garden just to name a few. I was delighted to meet lots of lovely butterflies at the Cox Butterfly & Orchid Pavilion, but it was the metallic blue poison dart frog that was a pleasant surprise.  For more information and features click on The Tucson Botanical Gardens. 

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A Blue Poison Dart Frog.

A traditional shade ramada is made from Ocotillo plant.

A botanical collection of cacti is artfully arranged.

A desert Zen Garden at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

This grouping of Golden Barrel Cactus (Echinocactus grusonii) are the focal point in this cacti garden.

Old Man Cacti (Cephalocereus senilis) stand tall adding vertical drama.

A regal fountain provides water to the local wildlife.

A lush herb garden is one of many food gardens in the Tucson Botanical Garden.

A 'trellis' made out of old an old bedspring mattress is an innovative recycling idea.

Pomegranates seem to love the conditions at the Tucson Botanical Gardens.

A Tucson Botanical veggie garden.

A Mammillaria klissingiana cactus cluster.

Mexican Lime Cactus, Ferocactus pringlei, spent flower blossoms are still colourful.

Paper-spined cactus, Tephrocactus articulatus var. papyrancanthus, looks like it is covered in paper streamers.

Flowers from the Townsend Barrel Cactus, Ferocactus townsendianus.

Orange Jubilee Bells,Tecoma alata 'Orange Jubilee' flowers.

The flower of the Desert Willow, Chilopsos linearis.

Desert Marigold, Baileya multiradiata.

The Texas Rainbow, Echinocereus dasyacanthus.

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Clark’s Spiny Lizard, Sceloporus clarkii is camouflaged so well, it is practically invisible.

A butterfly feeding station at the Cox Butterfly & Orchid Pavilion,Tucson Botanical Gardens.

A butterfly feeding on nectar from a pink penta flower.

This Queen Owl Butterfly has exquisite blue wings when they are unfolded.

A Postman Butterfly sucks nectar from a red hibiscus flower.

Monarch butterflies gather on the windowsill of the Cox Butterfly & Orchid Pavilion.

The Arizona-Sonoran Desert museum

The view from one of the many paths that weave through the desert gardens of the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum.

This immense 98-acre living museum features animals as well as plants. Over 1,200 plant varieties and more than 230 animal species are displayed in their appropriate ecosystems. Research, conservation and education is their obvious objective. The Hummingbird Avery brings hummingbirds close-up and personal. Their plant collections included Desert Grasslands, Palo Verde Trees, Cactus Garden and Tropical Deciduous Forest were a few of the generous and sprawling gardens. For more information and features, click on The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. 

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Do you spot the coyote smiling at the camera?

An American Black Bear is having fun and keeping cool in the blistering heat.

A rare Mexican wolf (Lobo), is an endangered species.

A hummingbird taking a quick break long enough for me to make this shot. They are so fast!

The Earth Sciences Center features an underground cave that exhibits a beautiful mineral collection and many more delights.

A Hemimorphite mineral sample.

Along the covered walkways are excellent demonstrations and exhibits explained by the many docents of the museum.

Cholla cacti, Cylindropuntia sp., look furry in the Arizona sun, but they are very prickly.

The red spines of the Mexican Lime Cactus, Ferocactus pringlei.

This covered raised walkway provides spectacular views of the garden and beyond into the desert.

A planted desert garden showcases the many plants that thrive in this harsh climate.

A crested saguaro cactus, Carnegia gigantea forma cristata.

An ocotillo cactus on the left and a baby saguaro cactus on the right, frame the desert beyond.

This Ironwood tree, Olneya tesota, is over 200 years old - just a baby compared to other ironwood trees.

A velvet mesquite tree, Prosopis velutina.