Desert Beauty

Wednesday, July 23, 2013
Globe, Arboretum, Tucson

We're up a little earlier than anticipated.  Marilyn's phone sings a country song and although we lie abed for a while, the morning has begun at the Day's Inn.

Yet another Indian owner!  I think this makes the third one this trip!

Breakfast with a waffle and HBE and we're packed and off for the Boyce Thompson Arboretum State Park.  We don't know what to expect and are pleasantly surprised, once again.  It is part of the University of Arizona and is beautifully laid out, so that much of the path is in the shade.  There are tons of cacti and yucca, as you would expect, but there is also a rose garden and herbs, too!

On the road to Superior

Ohh!  A tunnel!!

Almost there!  Love the petroglyphs!

Check out the prickly pear class!

Shade is coming!

This one's for Courtenay!

The path is about two miles long;  but we spend so much time trying to photograph the spicebush swallowtail butterfly, the hummingbird and the cardinal, that we spend two hours and haven't even gone half way.  There are such beautiful flowers!  Who knew?

Sneaky bird hiding in the top of the tree!

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It is getting getting hot and we have been looking at cacti for several weeks, so we decide to call it a day and head for sanctuary at Auntie Edna's!

This one looks so soft!  It's not!!

This is called a Boojum!

Silly hummingbird!  Wish you'd come out into the sun!

Heading southwest we are going down in elevation and returning to saguaro land.  I didn't realize that I had missed them!

Back to the saguaros!

and those gorgeous blue mountains!

A brief excursion to get a thank-you gift and card, and we're "home".  Along the way we see more of those cool cactus bus shelters and a couple of interestingly named pizza places, Sargent Pepperoni's and Peter Piper!

Every overpass is decorated!  And they are all different!

Look at that purple cactus!  and some are turquoise!

Here's another beautiful overpass!

What a warm welcome we receive!  And the most delicious home-made tacos with home-made salsa and guacamole are awaiting us!

We do laundry, share some of our stories and show off our purchases, and before we know it, it's past time for bed.  Blogging will have to wait for tomorrow morning!