Mount Lemmon

Carol on Mt Lemmon

Despite our friend's (Elaine's) fear of heights, we were taken to (near) the peak of the highest mountain near Tuscon - Mt Lemon. Great sunset.  

Looking towards Tucson at sunset

Looking back 

Madera canyon

Santa Rita mountains south of Tucson.

This canyon was at high enough elevation that it had actual trees.

We went hiking there with our friends and friends of theirs showed us the path.

The city

The Santa Cruz "river" is an Arroyo, i.e. has flowing water only a few days a year.

Wasn't always like that. Urban sprawl and water demand for swimming pools and golf courses is a factor.

Like a lot of university towns Tucson has more interesting arty stuff

Mural

Funky sign

Apartments near us

We could figure out if this was a converted motel or built as an apartment

Santa Catalina Mountains in the morning

This little mountain (known as "A" Mountain for the white "A" at the top) was the closest hill to the city.

So I got up early and climbed it up a little ways to take pictures.

mountain sheep

All these "rock formations" the sheep hang out in are fake. Made of concrete and rebar, not stone. Pretty good job. 

At least they have high up places to play in.

female

male

The males are famous for their big horns used to charge into each other when fighting over girl sheep.

Ocelot

Ocelot (I think) climbing to perch

in the shade

closeup

Birds

crow in flight

raven and trainer

The Desert Museum had a raptor show with birds of prey zooming around.

Owl in flight (left)

For whatever reason Hummingbirds are a big deal and fairly common in Southern Arizona.

close-up

nest I think

Desert Museum

Desert Museum is a really cool zoo/botanical garden. Our friends had guest passes and got us in for free.

Looking south to towards Mexico

We thought the desert was plenty dry but were assured it was unusually green . 

non-venomous snake

Carol had crappy shoes and all the walking gave her blisters so she spent most of the day in a wheelchair.

Agave

These phallic, giant aspargus-looking things were used by the local Indians a lot. The plant dies once the stock bears fruit. 

tip of fast-growing stock

Desert

Hiking with our friends in a park on the west edge of town.

Tucson Desert Park

 Note the cactus don't just grow in the valley, they go up the mountain. (At 4000 ft it gets too high for them.)

Tucson Desert Park

Tucson AZ

Stayed for six nights about a mile north of downtown Tucson, got out into the surrounding desert too.

Tuscon Desert Park

Pretty nice motel we stayed at

Near the University

 Our nice friends showed us around.

Elaine and Ken

Carol w/John and Jeanne

Tohono Chul Park

Saguaro cactus

This is the iconic cactus of southwest US -- saw them all the time in old TV cartoons, Westerns, etc. as a kid.
But you won't see it (wild) in New Mexico, or in Texas, or in Utah. Only in Arizona, in the Sonora state in Mexico (below Arizona) and in a teeny part of Southeast California. Climate I guess.

They are even on most Arizona license plates.

Blue Bells

Pretty flower

Note the plant with the red flower has teeny leaves. Good for conserving moisture in the desert I'm told. 

Mexican Fencepost

Used as fencepost because its prickly, but not so prickly it will injure pedestrians and lead to lawsuits.

Ocotillo

Ocotillo means "little torch" in Spanish, the red flowers at the end of the branch being the torch. Below the torch is thorns and interspersed with leaves. The plant looks dead when there is no rain but fortunately this year was wet and green.

Barrel cactus

Palo Verde and prickly pear

Many Cacti grow up in the shade and protection of regular trees (like this Palo Verde).

Sculpture

Made from 100% recycled materials.

Guide w/tourists

Lots of retired "snowbirds" in southern Arizona. At the museums and parks in Tucson, a lot of them are volunteers. This "docent" in the blue was from Michigan.