June 6

Last Saturday, Remi stayed back in Alma while me and my wife, Caroline along with friends, Jeff & Maria Reynolds hiked on the Desert Ecology Trail in the 90,000 acre, Saguaro National Park near Tucson, Arizona. The early morning weather was sunny with a temperature of 84 degrees and a gentle breeze out of the south. We left the car and headed north on a paved path through a flat, arid landscape dominated by cacti and mesquite trees. Continuing north, I began to notice colorful blossoms including those from an Acacia tree, a Prickly Pear cactus and a Saguaro cactus. Scanning my surroundings, it was hard not to notice the iconic Saguaro cacti. While these plants became symbols of the American West, they are only found here in the Sonoran desert of southern Arizona. Because of their slow growth rate, the taller ones are at least 100 years old. Also, under their waxy, thorny skin, is sponge-like tissue that stores water during periods of drought. Further ahead, I paused to watch a Cactus Wren fly from its nest to a nearby Saguaro cactus to gather flower nectar. Continuing my hike, I stopped to observe a 4-inch Western Zebra-tailed lizard pausing on the paved path. While standing there, I listened to the natural sounds, dominated by the flicking wings of Desert Cicadas. Fortunately, I was able to find one nearby resting on a twig. As the trail began to loop back to the south, I noticed a resting Desert Cottontail rabbit and a lovely Gulf fritillary butterfly. Nearing the end of the loop, I saw a Teddy bear Cholla cactus and a Creosote bush, seeding out. Finally, we made it back to the car, turned on the “ac” and headed back to the lodge.

El Sol bakes

Parched ground

Shielding clouds

Hardly found

Living water

Sight so rare

Source of life

All must share

Cacti bloom

Cicadas sing

Nature reveals

Desert of spring

D. DeGraaf