Tucson, AZ: Tohono Chul Botanical Garden: Crested Saguaro, Pack Rats, and Eggs

Tohono Chul, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.

I went for a guided morning walk at Tohono Chul Botanical Garden.

Jojoba. Tohono Chul, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.

There was a slight breeze, welcome cloud cover, relatively cool temperatures ... at first. Later in the walk, hot and heavy air descended, making me sweat.

Crested saguaro. Tohono Chul, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.

The crested saguaro stole the show on this tour.

Crested saguaro with prickly pear stowaway. Tohono Chul, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.

The guide pointed out the prickly pear growing out of the saguaro's crown. What a cheery surprise! You can find other examples in a fellow blogger's article, What's in That Hole, including two in Tohono Chul.


I'd have never figured that the haphazard pile of sticks and other desert clutter below was, in fact, a carefully-designed pack rat abode.

Pack rat nest. Tohono Chul, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.

A few weeks ago, I learned that in areas where pack rats abound, car owners keep their vehicle hoods raised during the day, while they're at work, to deter pack rats from climbing under the hood and chewing on wires, hoses, and tubes and the like.


The ubiquitous lizards ran their rounds throughout the park, of course.

Lizard. Tohono Chul, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.

Eggs feature on several art installations at the botanical gardens.

Art eggs. Tohono Chul, Tucson, Arizona. August 2019.

A cumulative slide show of Tohono Chul Botanical Garden photos below:

Tucson, AZ: Saguaro National Park (East)

Saguaro National Park (East). Tucson, Arizona. March 2019.

Saguaro National Park has two sections: East and West.

Saguaro National Park (East). Tucson, Arizona. March 2019.

On a spring day, I made my first visit, choosing the East section.

Saguaro National Park (East). Tucson, Arizona. March 2019.

Blooms - yellows, oranges, whites, and soft purples - called boisterously to the day's visitors. Look at us! Look at us! How beauteous we are, don't you agree?!

Yes.

My good friend Beau Jocque and his band accompanied me while I drove us along the scenic drive:

They remained in the car while I walked the short, paved Desert Ecology Trail.

Saguaro National Park (East). Tucson, Arizona. March 2019.

 The warm air riffling through low, bright flowers invited me to pause beside their cheery selves, diverting my attention from the tall saguaros:

The saguaros have such presence.

Saguaro National Park (East). Tucson, Arizona. March 2019.

A cumulative slide show below of Saguaro National Park; it will grow as I add photos from future visits to both sections: