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Picacho Peak, Arizona – March 2023 – The Poppies Are Popping

With the abundant rain and snow that has occurred throughout the desert southwest in the 2022-2023 winter it is expected that the wildflower season will be spectacular.

The first show for the Tucson area is at Picacho Peak.

Picacho Peak is about 1/2 between Tucson and Phoenix. For more than 100 years the main forms of transportation have rolled past this uniquely shaped mountain.

The first road was a wagon trail, followed later by the railroad. On this day the railroad served as a backdrop for a great patch of poppies. In the far right center are the tops of the snow covered Catalina Mountains.

As the automobile came into existence Arizona Highway 84 was paved past Picacho Peak. In the 1960s it was replaced by the now 6 lane Interstate 10, yet the poppies continue to thrive.

Because it is directly along the major freeway between the two cities, and is the first in the area to bloom, the crowds were quite large. We opted not to sit in the huge line to get into the park, rather found a space outside the park and walked in.

It was well worth the short walk.

In addition to the poppies the ground cover has a verdant green look.

But it is the poppies that everyone comes for.

The beautiful colors, along with the impressive geological features of Picacho Peak, make the visit a must. Just plan ahead, be patient and enjoy.

Tucson – March 2023 – The People of the Tucson Book Festival

Art, Festival

The Tucson Book Festival occurred the weekend of March 4th and 5th. This festival brings hundreds of authors and over 100,000 attendees to the University of Arizona campus.

While there were a number of ‘big name’ people presenting (Bernie Sanders and Linda Ronstadt were the headliners), many are less well known authors and publishers trying to get their work noticed.

In addition it takes lots of volunteers who help out and participants who entertain the crowd.

Many of the authors had their own tents, but the good folks from New Mexico had a tent to promote a number of their authors.

The French Language publisher representative had a flair about her.

There were numerous stages that presented entertainment, as well as author talks. This segment was featuring Swedish traditional dancers.

A number of tents were set up for recording interviews.

One of the many volunteers who keep the festival running.

Every author had times set aside for meet and greet, complete with personalized autographs of their books.

This character had an old VW bus as the Comic Bookmobile.

Boston based Lovern Gordon is a prominent author focusing on domestic abuse, and how it impacts the lives of the victims.

A few more of the people of the festival.

The Tucson Audubon Society was one of many public service organizations who had representation at the Festival.

Most of the stages featured authors giving talks. The Tucson Book Festival is a great event, well worth an annual visit.

Tucson – February 2023 – Lego Sculptures in the Botanical Gardens

Art, Festival, Nature

The Tucson Botanical Gardens has an exhibit with nearly full size sculptures of animals made out of Legos.

Sean Kenney is the artist, with the exhibit titled Nature POP!

The exhibit includes some flat pieces that resemble a painting.

Most of the full size sculptures are made up of over 50,000 Lego’s.

One section had an entire collection of rabbits.

There were a couple non animal sculptures.

The sculptures were well done, and added much color to the gardens.

Tucson – March 2023 – It Snowed….Again

Nature

It was amusing for the first couple of snowfalls this winter, with an inch or two of snow, enough to add a topping of white to the cacti of Tucson. This time the weather got serious and dropped up to 7 inches in the foothills where we live! The good news is by late afternoon it had all melted.

Amusingly the official measurements at the Tucson Airport for this winter shows more snowfall there than in Washington DC or Philadelphia, each of which has had essentially no snow so far.

The local weather people called it ‘generational’, something not seen in a couple of decades.

It was however beautiful while it lasted, and didn’t stick to the roads. All those snowbirds in town are probably asking for a refund.

I headed out at first light. While you could get into part of Saguaro National Park, the 8 mile loop road remained closed greatly restricting the initial views with the heaviest snow.

It had snowed heavily overnight, and by daylight the clouds were beginning to break up and the morning sun was illuminating a mountain visible from ~25 miles away.

At nearby Agua Caliente Park the palm trees also had snow toppings, as well as some fog rising off of the pond.

The drive back past Saguaro National Park showed more of the heavy snow on the vegetation, as well as the snow free roads.

A quick visit back to Colossal Cave Park, where we had played in the snow last Sunday.

The cave has enough elevation where you had great views across the valleys to the nearby mountains, with the valleys even having snow.

A brief stop in the neighborhood.

It was late enough in the morning that Saguaro National Park had finally opened the loop road. While some of the snow had already melted by mid day, there was still plenty for some amazing scenes.

While it is beautiful, enough is enough – time to get back to Arizona March – sunny days in the 70s.

Patagonia, Arizona – February 2023 – Birding on a Saturday Morning

Nature

A quiet Saturday morning south into the Santa Rita Mountains was a good time to stop by the Paton Center for Hummingbirds in the small town of Patagonia.

A female Cardinal (according to Google Image search).

A Goldfinch.

A Warbler.

A White Breasted Nuthatch. I don’t name them, just take the photos and search the internet for their names.

A couple of views of woodpeckers.

A Dove.

White Crowned Sparrow.

Two views of Inca Doves.

A collection of Goldfinches.

And one frustrated squirrel waiting for someone, anyone to land where he can get to them – fail.

Tucson – February 2023 – Pima Pet Parade

Festival, Nature

Historic 4th Avenue in Tucson was once again a site for a parade, this time to celebrate the pets of Pima County.

The parade is popular enough to be streamed live by some local TV personalities. It attracted plenty of participants and a wide collection of dog breeds.

Some people had the appearance of coming further away than others.

We were fortunate enough of getting a seat on a temporarily closed streetcar platform in the middle of the street, as the dogs made their way down the street and tracks.

Some have overcome great obstacles just to be able to participate.

Some caught rides.

Tucson really went to the dogs this day! A big shout out to the Pima Animal Care Center and the other shelters in town who watch out for these wonderful animals.

Tucson – February 2023 – Sabino Canyon’s Rattlesnake Canyon

Nature

A 75 degree Sunday in early February was perfect for going for a hike in Tucson’s best natural area, Sabino Canyon.

Southern Arizona is one of those places where you can have a saguaro cactus and snow topped mountains in the same shot.

While at first glance they may all look like, many seem to take on personalities with the variation in the arms.

The hike on this day took us through Rattlesnake Canyon. Good news – it was a canyon. Better news – no rattlesnakes were seen on this day.

Eventually we made our way into a wash that had water running through it from the snow melt thousands of feet above us up in the Catalina Mountains.

While the Saguaro National Park is located just a few miles away from here, Sabino Canyon has a much denser cacti collection due mainly to the fact that back in the 1930s they allowed cows to graze in the National Park area, and many of the saguaros were destroyed.

Most cholla’s are brownish/green but sometimes you find purple ones.

The canyon got deeper as we made our way towards the end.

Sabino Canyon is one of Tucson’s most popular spot, and it is well deserved.

Vail, Arizona – February 2023 – Colossal Cave Snow Fun

Nature

Colossal Cave has been a tourist destination for 100 years, but most people come to go into the earth for touring the caves. Today everyone came to enjoy the highly unusual snowy landscape.

Not too often do you see Agave plants with snow on them.

The historic building had a ski lodge feel with the snow.

There is a short nature trail that normally cautions people to make sure they take plenty of water to deal with the heat. Today’s biggest challenge was the slick footing, but well worth the brief hike.

Bits of ice on a saguaro cactus.

The snow really stuck to the cholla’s, but then again, most anything will easily stick to a cholla if you are not careful.

The brittle bush has blooms from the recent rains, and now snow.

Another beautiful snowy cholla.

Yesterday it was 75 degrees and sunny. Today snow, Tomorrow will be 65 and sunny! Gotta love Southern Arizona.

Bisbee, Arizona – January 2023 – A Revisit to Lowell

Architecture, Art, History, Transportation

The city of Bisbee is actually made up of the original town, plus a few of the outlying former small towns. One of those just south of the original part of Bisbee is Lowell.

The town was once like most places, with a main street shops and a few neighborhoods. Unfortunately for Lowell the massive copper mine next door wiped out all of the housing leaving only the main street, Erie Avenue.

Rather than completely die, Erie Avenue lives on thanks to a group of people who make up Lowell Americana Project.

At first glance it seems it is a ghost town where someone has parked a number of old vehicles. Closer examination shows there are a number of business that cater to the steady (but small) stream of tourists, including the very good Bisbee Breakfast Club restaurant – get the Shrimp Omelet, it is very good.

We arrived mid afternoon on a Sunday so there weren’t any tourist cars parked in the way of the photo ops with the vintage ones parked all along Erie Street.

One of many low angle views, this one of an Edsel.

Almost all of the cars and trucks parked around town are ‘rusty gold’ including this Studebaker pickup.

An old Chevy underneath the dealership sign.

This old bus has been renamed Strayhound.

There are a few open businesses to entertain you.

A couple of fully restored vehicles stand out amongst the rust.

Lowell, Arizona is one quirky stop, and literally about 1/4 mile from the Shady Dell!

Tucson – February 2023 – Characters of the Gem, Mineral and Art Shows

Art, Festival

The 3 week long Tucson Gem, Mineral and Art Shows is done for 2023, but not without looking back at some of the colorful and interesting people from all over the world we met at the shows.