Leaving Tucson ~ and the saguaro cactus

The saguaro cactus is an amazing life form. The one here is probably almost 100 years of age, perhaps more. It stands 10 metres and is actually displaying a different type of arm growth: that of a crested fan shape.



The fantail saguaro is an example of fasciation, which can be caused by hormonal imbalances, random genetic mutation, or some kind of bacterial phytopathogen. The fantail saguaro isn't all that common, so it was interesting to see this one on one of our walks near our cottage on the outskirts of Tucson.



Tucson was an interesting city, rather sprawling, and the downtown is beginning to see the early stages of a much needed revitalisation. The city is devoted to the automobile. We were fortunate to be outside the city itself and near the eastern half of the Saguaro National Park.








At night we heard the coyotes howling as though they were right outside our door, and they probably were at that. I wasn't going outside to find out.

This is not a coyote. A guard dog perhaps but not a coyote. Nor is it any other wild creature from the desert. It's a wonderful Corgi pup watching me from the main house at Serenity Guest House.


Photos by Jim Murray.
Copyright 2014.

Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum ~ a drive not to be missed

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum west of Tucson is considered a world class museum... about deserts.





Established in 1952, it covers about 9 ha and has 3.5 km of walking trails (for the most part easily accessible to everyone). It is three things rolled into one: a zoo featuring over 230 different kinds of animals, a natural history museum aimed at newcomers to the desert, and a botanical garden with over 1200 different types of plants. Almost 500,000 people visited the Sonoran Desert Museum last year.




I'm not a fan of zoos. Though I understand the educational component of zoos, I don't believe animals should be kept in captivity, especially for the enjoyment of humans (the Vancouver Aquarium comes to mind). There is something troubling indeed about seeing a wolf pace back and forth, or a mountain goat, or any other creature for that matter.














The truly wonderful thing about the Desert Museum, apart from an impressive aviary, is the 25 km of travel from Tucson to the site, through an amazing landscape of saguaros that seemed unearthly.

Travelling back to Tucson, was an entirely different experience 

because of the changing light, creating new shadows and patterns on the rugged hills. 

The drive was breathtaking, as is much in the Outback of Arizona.

Photos by Jim Murray.    Copyright 2014.

Tubac, Arizona ~ not necessarily a recommended stop

There are tourist towns everywhere, and Tubac, Arizona is just another. Sometimes they can be fun for kids, or offer something unique and local. Perhaps there is a restaurant of note. And maybe Tubac doesn't offer any of these things. Maybe it's just a tourist town, and there's nothing wrong with that.

Tubac does figure prominently in tourist brochures, and the landscape is attractive. A one hour drive south of Tucson, the town is nicely appointed and it is great to park the car and walk around the village. Tubac is promoted as a town of artists, and that could be true, though there is great duplication in many of the wares offered for sale. IKEA comes to mind.

Restaurants were few and mainly of the dine and dash variety. We ended up eating a light lunch at one place, where the wait staff were clearly unhappy and it showed. At the table next to us a couple were complaining about why gays and lesbians had to make such a fuss about things. "Can't they just keep quiet about their lifestyle?" ... "and why do they get to use the rainbow for their flag?" Hmmmm... what year is this?


In one establishment, the signs promoted "native-inspired" artworks and drums. I can't help but wonder why the store doesn't offer the real thing? Or is there more profit to be made in, as the price tags displayed: "A non-native, American made product." To the store's credit they were honest in their product descriptions, though ultimately in rather small print.

In another business, the merchant, identifying himself as being "Indian," displayed several  posters by the store's entrance. One showed a stern Uncle Sam pointing his finger, and the caption: This finger wasn't made to press "one" for English.  Touchy subject that, but can any retailer risk alienating even one customer in this economy? Not to mention about thirty percent of the Arizona population who speak a language other than English in their homes. Another poster suggested the best way to deal with terrorism was simply to kill them first. Well yes, but wouldn't that be terrorism?

So Tubac, or some of the people in Tubac that day, and some of the stores and merchants, might have made us feel a wee bit uneasy. Maybe even downright grumpy.











As it turned out, the cigar store wasn't open, and the cat wasn't all that happy either.

Photos by Jim Murray. Copyright 2014.

Chemtrails in Arizona?

For years I listened to a late night radio talk-show hosted by Art Bell. At its zenith, the Art Bell program, Coast to Coast AM, had more than ten million listeners across the Excited States and into Canada too. Impressive numbers for a program that aired after midnight throughout most of the continent. Art mined the paranormal, conspiracy theories, UFOs, time travel, and... chemtrails.

The chemtrail theory suggests that some of the trails left by jet aircraft are actually chemical or biological agents sprayed at high altitudes for purposes undisclosed to the public, and directed by the usual suspects, including the US government and its various agencies.




The theory further suggests the reasons for the chemtrails might be solar radiation management to help cool a warming planet, or psychological manipulation, human population control among other things. Judging by the callers to Art Bell's show, an increase in chemtrails in a region of the country, almost always brings an increase in respiratory illnesses and other problems, which could be almost anything when we're talking about mass mind control. It was always great entertainment.


Art Bell disappeared from the airwaves on a couple of occasions, which always provoked a theory or two, and I left its audience long ago, but driving up Interstate 17 the other day, I couldn't help but look at what began as a cloud-free blue sky and wonder... chemtrails or contrails? And have I suddenly developed a wheezing cough and sore throat?

Photos by Jim Murray.  Copyright 2014.

The Saguaro

The saguaro cactus has been called the monarch of the Sonoran Desert. In its old age, it is has majesty and personality, with odd, somewhat human shapes ~ shapes that inspire all kinds of imaginings, especially in such a harsh climate.











The Sonoran Desert is a surprisingly lush region, full of life: cacti, animals, birds, trees and shrubs. Still, it is one of the hottest and driest places in North America. During most years, less than 30 cm of rain falls here annually. Summer temperatures often exceed 40 degrees. It is not unusual for several months to go by without a drop of precipitation. Temperatures during winter nights often reach freezing.


Life for a saguaro is difficult. It begins with a seed no bigger than a pinhead. One saguaro cactus can produce tens of thousands of seeds every year; as many as 40 million in its lifetime, which could be 200 years.



Out of the millions of seeds produced, only a few survive to adulthood. In most cases, young saguaros have the best chance for survival if they grow under or near other trees, shaded from intense sunlight, blanketed from the winter cold, and hidden from rodents, birds and humans.

Saguaros grow slowly, and mostly in spurts during the summer rainy season. After one year, a seedling may measure only 5 mm. After 15 years it may be 25 or 30 cm. At about 30 years saguaros begin to flower and produce fruit. At 50 years the saguaro can be 2 metres tall, and after 75 years it might begin to produce its first branches, or arms. These branches begin as balls, then extend out and upward.




At 100 years of age the saguaro could be 8 to 10 metres tall. The grandest sizes are reached after 150 years when they tower over most other things in the desert, at a stately 15 metres. Give or take.













Woodpeckers and flickers drill nest holes in the trunks or branches. Sometimes they make and reject several cavities in one season before settling in one to raise their family. This  provides holes for other birds and honeybees, unable to drill holes in the cactus. Insulated, the holes are up to 10 degrees Celsius cooler in summer than the outside.


























Saguaros die naturally of old age. They also die of other causes. Animals eat the seeds and seedlings. Lightning and wind kill large saguaros, and droughts weaken and kill all ages. Humans have been a problem for the saguaro too. Livestock grazing, widespread for one hundred years beginning in the 1880s, devastated some cactus forests. Poaching has been an issue with the theft of saguaros for use in landscaping the yards and driveways of the wealthy.

All photos by Jim Murray. 
Copyright 2013.