Exploring Tucson area - mid April

    I (Ev) brought a cold with me and it hit with a vengeance a few days after we arrived, curtailing our sightseeing with friends, going out to eat on our anniversary, etc.  We were able to attend a potluck at our new subdivision before that, where we met about 25 people who we enjoyed.  They know of a very few musicians that have moved in so Tom will have to meet them eventually.
    Apr 10
    We visited a mission named San Xavier.  It was founded by Jesuits in the 1600's, one building was built in the early 1700's and this one was built in the 1770's.  It is still an active house of worship and one of the biggest tourist attractions in the area.  The walls inside are very pretty, and the pictures don't do them or the ceilings justice.

    Apr 13
    We drove through the eastern portion of the Saguaro National Monument.  Tucson averages 11.5' of rain per year.  It always amazes us to see the signs that say "Do not enter if flooded".  We are aware of this danger from hearing our relatives in Phoenix talk about it.  The ground gets so packed that when there is a flash rain it doesn't seep through it, but becomes a "wash", a small river or creek type area.  Cars can get washed away and people have drowned in those areas.
    In their 150-200 year life, the saguaro produces 40 million seeds and it is believed only one may sometimes survive to replenish existing plants.  During its first 35-65 years it grows to about 6' in height.  At 70-100 years it grows its first arm (I've named them nubbins-Ev)  Teeny ball shaped things that stick out from the trunk.  The cactus sometimes grow 50' tall.  Many have one or two arms and many have several.  The tissue is 85% water, causing the tall ones to weigh as much as 16,000 pounds!  Jelly and candy are made from the fruit when it blooms.  Pictures of the fruit remind me of an opened pomegranite.  Many of the saguaro have one or several bird holes.
    Apr 17
    Today we drove through the Tucson Mountain Park and the western portion of the Saguaro National Monument.  First, we watched a video at the visitor's center that explained the Sonoran Desert is very young - only 10,000 years old.  Tom read this week that oceans came in and out of this area over the milleniums.  This desert runs from Arizona to eastern California and Baja California and Northwestern Mexico.  Inhabitants include deer, coyotes, all kinds of rodents and ground squirrels, many types of birds, bobcats, Gila monsters (lizards), scorpions - all part of nature's food plan.  When the video was finished the screen pulled up, the curtains parted and huge windows showed the desert scenery outside.
    Saguaros are protected by law.  This week Tom read a book about gun laws in AZ. and it told a story of how one shooter received his justice for illegally shooting up a saguaro.  It finally fell over on him and crushed him (remember they weigh thousands of pounds).
   The video was narrated by Tohono O'Odham Indians whose lands comprise 27% of AZ.  They view the desert and saguaros as sacred spaces and things.
    Today we saw many saguaros with unopened blossoms - they are so different - some blossoms are on the tops of some, some only at the end of an arm, or on all arms, etc.  Most hadn't opened yet.  It has been a very dry Spring, though we had 15 hours of rain one day a week ago.  This portion of the park had thousands with no arms yet and the cacti grew clear to the ridges on top of the mountain peaks. 

shows size.  If arms are bent down they've experienced damage from snow or something

2 pictures showing dead saguaros

we haven't learned the name of this cactus

    It is typically in the 80's in April, but when we left this area at 11:15 it was 94.  We came down into a valley with homes as far as you could see.  Many are built in the pueblo (Santa Fe) style - low, square, stucco type.  They are usually painted a light brown which blends well into the landscape. 
    As I type this in late evening we are listening to a songbird we can't identify and watching the moonrise over the campground.  Arizona is the only state that doesn't go to daylight time so it has been dark for an hour.