• Melissa Kirkegaard2024 Cacti and CanyonsTraveler
    A few ocatillo are blooming
    The woodpeckers make holes to store nuts and seeds and then the cactus wren makes a nest.Desert poppies are starting to bloomThe barrel catus fruit looks like pineapplesEnded the day at Harvest Host brewery and tried a Elote navhos and Sonoran DogSeven Falls in Sabino CanyonSuch interesting clouds

    Saguaro NP and Sabino Canyon in Tucson

    Feb 18–19, 2024 in the United States ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We hiked up the Hughes Norris peak trail to get a view over the Saguaro National Park. We have learned a lot about the saguaro, they have shallow roots and during monsoon rains they can capture and absorb about 1,300 gallons of water! We need to learn how we can store water like the saguaro in Southern California for the dry periods. The saguaro live up to 200 years and don’t branch arms until they are in their 70s. We had dinner and stayed the night at Catalina Brewery in Tucson.
    We got the last spot at the trailhead for Bear Canyon and 7 falls trail in Sabino Canyon. We had about 9 stream crossing each way and eventually just walked through and got our shoes wet. There is lots of water from the recent rains in Tucson. Hike was 7.5 miles and we were tired at the end but a great hike!    Read more