Tohono Chul Park, Tucson Feb 13

Our early Valentine's Day celebration, Feb 13, 2015
We ventured into Tucson today to 2 of our favorite places- Tohono Chul  Park and Bread and Beyond sandwich shop.  Steward's Salmon Foccacia Sandwich is our all time favorite and a perfect lunch before hiking the varied landscaped environments around Tohono.   You'll remember my frequent pictures at Tohono. I love to watch the desert flowers come into bloom.  After coming here at different times during February and March I know just what flowers will bloom at which sites.  You might not care for the same pictures year after year, but that long Midwest winter makes me yearn for flowers.  So I get great delight in tracking the progress.  It will be a very long time till flowers will bloom in Wisconsin.

There is a new entrance path with new plantings

This stone wall is new.  Tucking plants in the wall is also new

There are many meeting areas throughout the park.  Educational lectures are scheduled for all ages in these little set back areas

This is the new Saguaro Path.

This saguaro's bent over top looks a little like an elephant.  The holes are bird nests

Baby saguaros nestled under a tree.

Mountain views are never far away

There is an endless variety in saguaros.  Four "arms" from 1 truck.

This regal saguaro needs a serious nickname.  I'm thinking Senor "Fan"tastic Tohono

This is the only plant like this in the whole park.  There was no label.  I will have to research.

This area of the park demonstrates how water run off is directed for irrigation.

The metal handle in the lower right can open or close a value to divert water.  The large metal pieces in the center can act as a dam.

Sculptures are placed throughout the park.  This is a close up of the hands positioned to catch rain drops.

This saguaro wins the award for having the most "arms."  It must be quite old as arms don't begin to grow until a saguaro is between 75-100 years old

Monarch butterflys are everywhere, but they seem smaller than the ones we see in Wisconsin.

This cactus is trying to run away.  A caution cone is necessary.   Those prickly spines would hurt!  .  

The Oasis Environment has a lovely spring.

We always hang out here for awhile.  It's shady and cool.

It won't be long until the entire bush will be covered in little yellow flowers

Another small waterfall.

No blooms on the columbines yet.

The red"fairy duster bush.

Another area that can be reserved for a lecture.

Silver Torch cactus

This plant is called Mother of Thousands or Maternity Plant

A close up of the blooms explains the name.

Sigh.... it won;t live very long in Wisconsin

Be patient.  It will be full of flowers soon

A new sculpture

The noble tin horse still stands in the circle.

These prickly cactus will have lovely blooms in March.  They are much to look at now

    A sleeping coyote sculpture watches over this lovely flower patch.  Home to Green Valley before the Tucson traffic rush hour.

Madera Canyon Feb 11, 2015

We visited our favorite Madera Canyon today.  We've posted lots of pictures last year of this evergreen forested mountain site.   It was 68 degrees there versus 78 in Green Valley.  Because there was so much rain over the Jan 30 and 31 ( the start of Winter Storm Linus), Madera Creek was fast flowing.  We got some great pictures.  Any time we see water in Arizona, we're really impressed.

 Pictures just don't do justice to the lovely sparkling water tumbling over the rocks

 Ancient rocks broken by freezing and thawing and tossed down hill by rushing creek waters

 Hike a bit up the path.

 

 

 Ancient rocks and ancient trees.

 
We started st the top of the Canyon and now we're at the more gentle slopes

 Red headed woodpecker hard at work.

 We Mid westerners don't know about mud slides.  This is a small area was scrubbed by cascading water

 Whitehouse hiking trail.

Not all the trails are black topped.  Wonderful scenery.
Time to head home.  More trails for next time.

"Neighbors"

Meet Millicent and Mortimer Morning Doves.

 They have patiently built a nest next to the car port at the very top of a support post.  Unfortunately, every time we open the garage door, they get frightened and fly away.  I am sure they are not impressed with snowbirds such as us.  

The other "neighbors" are Dilbert the defender  and his side kick Dudley. I don't have a picture yet because my ears can't take getting that close.  They live next door.  Dilbert is a medium sized dog with a baritone bark.  Dudley is a small long haired dog with a tenor pitched bark.  Dilbert diligently guards his front patio from all passers by.  He is convinced anyone on the sidewalk is an immediate threat to his territory.  He 'bark attacks' with what I'm sure he considers ferocious warnings to COME NO CLOSER.     Dudley chimes in with a few sharp barks mainly because Dilbert says it all and there is not much left to add.  Dilbert allows us to walk up our own driveway and enter our own patio with an alert, silent stare. He generously recognizes boundary lines.  We consider ourselves very lucky because anyone who happens by while walking their own dog, is subjected to a barking outrage which I'm sure contains some dog profanity.  Dilbert puts his whole body into the tirade, levitating his front legs with every inhalation.  He saves his most vocal and energetic speech for the garbage truck.  The truck may be ever so much bigger than he and Dudley, but he can definitely hold his own till the truck is out of sight.  Dudley obediently adds the strongest warning his small self can come up with.  Dilbert is all sound and fury behind a full sized wrought iron screened gate.  I am sure he is not vicious.   No one takes him or Dudley for a walk.  So, I think Dilbert and Dudley do a fine job.  They don't get front patio duty except in the morning.  I hear small huffs and whiffs from them on the other side of the back patio tall wall.  They are the dedicated, noble, loyal protectors of an elderly lady who does not get out much.  And for that,I'm sure they are very much loved.

My grand daughter is a little worried that I am apt to start naming the furniture.  I'm not ruling it out, but for now, I'm reserving "naming" for living subjects.
   

Wednesday Feb 11. 2015 Farmer's Market and Model Railroad Club

Farmer's Market Day
After we stocked up on tomatoes, sugar snap peas, onions, green peppers, and cucumbers, I took some pictures of the different vendors and the crowds.  The Model Railroad Club is in the same store front mall.

 Who has more fun than these grown up railroaders?  The modular layout is spectacular.  I took some close up pictures of only some of the vignettes.  ( possibly model railroaders would be offended by that term)

 This is "N" scale which means all the buildings, landscape, people and vehicles are to scale ( tiny people!!!)

 I love the water scenes.  There is a seaplane by the pier.  Notice the name of the dock company - "Watzup Dock Company

 Tunnels, evergreen forest, RV camper and "canoers"

 Even a simulated forest fire with an air plane dropping fire retardant.  I met another tourist who flew those water drop planes for 4 years.  This was his favorite scene.

 Here's where widgets were made!!!

 This was made by a metal worker to illustrate a how ore ships are loaded.

 When I was there, this was the only train that was running

 They tell me this is a pretty accurate representation of Cleveland.

 The back drop picture adds a realistic background

 Autumn view - hard to imagine in Arizona.  Fortunately, model railroaders portray all parts of the country and all seasons.

 Could be Wisconsin cows??

It just needs a sailboat!!

 Another water scene

 "We all live in a yellow submarine......"

Lumber yard complete with logs and boards