We learn about the creatures, vegetationToday we visited the famous Arizona Sonora Desert Museum 14 miles west of Tucson. We spent a most worthwhile day and would recommend the experience. Twelve bucks each, we took a guided tour, then went off on our own. There is much to know about the desert, it is so different from our accustomed environment in Minnesota where water is plentiful and the sun is not. Now just ask us about agaves, saguaros, ocotellos, ocelots, spurge, hummingbirds, rattlers, black bears, screeching parrots, hawks, cougars, fish, beavers and why they call it the Colorado River. (because the red silt in it colored it red, sorry, couldn't help showing off.)
To enlarge any photo below, just click on it.
The desert is not desertedExamples of exotic desert creatures, are pictured, clockwise from upper left. This is a volunteer docent from New York. Warbling in a loud voice, Marion the librarian was knowledgeable, unflappable. Next, a Mexican wolf, notice the broad face, smaller than our Minnesota Timberwolf, bigger than a coyote. A bobcat has a yawn in the Arizona sun. They are smaller than a mountain lion (puma, cougar) and habitate Saddlebrooke. A prairie dog. Responsible for creating the complex below ground infrastructure where everything from snakes to owls find homes away from the heat and cold.
Coyotes, inevitable, invincable, we have these creatures everywhere, not just the desert. The javelina, Kathleen's favorite desert animal, is not a pig, it is a relative of a rat and knows when it is trash day on Rock Crest. We found a small herd and Kathleen was thrilled. We particularly liked this handmade rock wall with its purple rocks, which supported a butterfly garden with lantana plantings. Can't remember the name of the brilliant yellow bush below, but it reminded both of us of the Rolfsrud canola fields in North Dakota, (bottom photo.)
For more information on the Desert Museum, go to www.desertmuseum.org
