this is a breathtaking pass that climbs a mountain, gives you a nice view, and is FULL of the Saguaro cactus plants.
The saguaro just march up the mountain's side, to the snow capped peaks, resulting from the very rare snow, sleet and rain that we experienced..
Here is Luke standing beside one of the tall cacti. These grow about 30 to 40 feet tall, and take about 70 to 80 years to get that tall.
We spotted this Phainopepla sitting on an Ocotillo. He has beautiful red eyes and a great crest.
This Teddy Bear Cholla looks like a blooming white plant from the roadside.
But this is no ordinary roadside plant - this guy means business!
Here is a Fishhook Barrel Cactus, putting out bright yellow blooms.
The Tucson Desert Museum -
Luke visited this fantastic museum without me. I was feeling a little yucky in the morning and decided to stay home.
The setting is, of course, the desert.
The museum has a zoo, so folks can see the desert animals up close. Many of them are nocturnal.
So, the desert has sleepy Jaavelinas.
Wolves
Black bears - our backdoor neighbor said he saw one wandering through the RV park this morning!
Panthers - apparently these guys are plentiful.
Cuddling bobcats
Big Horn Sheep
and Otters, among others. No, otters definitely don't live in this part of the desert, but the desert actually runs from the Gulf of Mexico into Canada. So there is a diversity of life in the entire desert.
Luke saw the open air free flight raptor show -- several trained hawks making low passes over the crowd, and this big owl pausing on a saguaro.
There was also a walk-in humming bird aviary, where he caught these great pictures of humming birds.
There is a fossil exhibit in a man made cave, complete with stalagmites, stelagtites and running mater.
And of course, more cactus. I don't know for sure what this one is as my pull-out pocket guide isn't as clear as it might be.
The Saguaro National Park
We had already seen a lot of desert, but were glad we went here, too.
That plant in the foreground is a Ocotillo. It's claim to fame is that the leaves stay tightly against the barbed stems of the plant until rain or sun are available. At the right times, the leaves open up. Too much sun or rain, they clam up again. The desert plants are still loving the moisture from the snow we got.
Many of the cacti are beginning to bloom. This ocotillo has red buds at the top of the stems, getting ready to open.
We saw this beautiful bird on one of the saguaro. I don't know what it is, but I have a message in to one of Beth's friends who knows the locals birds well.
The saguaros here seem taller.
Maybe it is just the sheer number of them!
A couple of hikers among the saguaros.
This lizard scampered past us in his quest for shade.
Not sure if this cluster is Pincushion cacti or a Glory of TX cacti. It's a lovely trio and look at the purple thorns!
Probably my favorite in the park is a large rock pile that has numerous Native American petroglyphs. I love the ground squirrel lounging on the top of this pile.
This is one from the top of the "mountain"
We had a great time in Tucson, visiting Beth and sightseeing. The RV park where she winters is for active adults 40+. Boy, are they active! Bike clubs (think 30 mile daily rides), yoga and tai chi classes, potlucks, dances, photography group, writing club, and on and on. We went to one 60's music dance and Luke went to a writing meeting where the members read their short stories. Luke said they were wonderful. Unfortunately, we missed Elvis' performance because we were out to dinner with Beth and a few of her friends. We hated to leave today. We considered going there next winter but Tucson is 2100 miles from home, a lot further than FL. We shall see but I expect we'll spend next winter in FL. But for now, we are at the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument campground. Sightseeing here starts tomorrow!
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