0 The Sonora Desert

Late last Autumn, I was camping at Catalina State Park, AZ, when I decided to go back to New York for the holidays. Friends of mine in Tucson graciously offered to keep my camper on their property until I returned.

Seeing friends and family at home was wonderful but by February I had enough of winter! Maya and I headed back to Tucson through all types of interesting weather and arrived here on February 26th. Just when spring is coming to the desert.

We decided to try boondocking on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land just south of Tucson. Camping is allowed on these parcels of land in the west and usually there is no fee or a very small fee. There are also no services – no picnic tables, electricity, garbage disposal, bathrooms or water. Not a problem though, you just have to arrive prepared! As I come to the end of my first boondocking experience I have to say I really enjoyed it, I had a beautiful campsite, lots of company and the price was certainly right!

My camper at the site.

Spring is beautiful here! Daytime temperatures are in the low 70’s and the nights are between 40 and 50 degrees. It rained one day when we were here and after that rain the desert just exploded with flowers. Birds have been very active too. I listen to owls calling to each other every night and watch hummingbirds at my feeder. I also have a pair of Gila Woodpeckers who like the feeder. A flock of Gambel’s quail frequents the campsite and I’ve spotted a road runner several times but like the poor Wiley coyote I have been unsuccessful at capturing him (on film).

Gila Woodpecker

Cactus Wren

Saguaro National Park is in the Tucson area and it has two sections, one on the east side of Tucson and one on the west. The parks help remind us that the desert is far from being a dry wasteland but an area teeming with life that has evolved to withstand the heat and lack of water. It’s also a beautiful land with light like no other place. The mountain by my campsite changes in character depending on what time of day it is. On the mountains around the park you see Saguaro Cactus marching up the hills instead of trees!

Many birds make their homes in the cavities of the cactus.

Behind the sign you see a wonderful example of Saguaro Cactus. They can live to be over one hundred years old.

Another valuable resource for understanding the desert is the Arizona-Sonoran Desert Museum, desertmuseum.org , located in Tucson. I had an opportunity to visit it in the fall and loved the hummingbird house, cactus gardens and raptor show. I recommend this museum to anyone visiting this area, young or old! Many of the animals that live in the desert are hard to experience since they are active at night. This museum gives you a chance to experience them in their own beautiful habitat.

Two Harris Hawks I saw during the raptor show at the desert museum. They are sitting on the shell of a dead Saguaro cactus.

I’m not sure what kind of flower this is but it was beautiful!

Poppies

This is the mountain by the campsite during the day, watch how it changes in the evening light.

Same mountain in the evening.

My campsite had a Palo Verde tree for shade. They have very small leaves and grow near washes.

This is the bark of the tree, it’s green so it can help produce food through photosynthesis.

I’m leaving Tucson in another day or two for Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument. This area is west of Tucson in a remote area on the border of Arizona and Mexico. I am a little amazed that this ocean girl loves the desert so much, where water is so very scarce and very precious.