Few artists have captured the Southwest as vividly and as devotedly as Georgia O’Keeffe. The painter who got her start in the hustle and bustle of the New York art world made a decisive move to New Mexico early in her artistic career and never looked back, using the Southwestern sky and landscape as her muse for nearly seven decades. …
Sometimes the desert in Arizona gets so hot you have to wonder how other animals get by without the benefit of cooling sunshades. Yet, for centuries Sonoran wildlife has developed and adapted to the extremes of desert temperatures. Part of their strategy is similar to ours – get in the shade for a simple, natural cool. Other fauna is crepuscular …
Have you ever wondered how the native cacti of the Sonoran Desert can survive the hot, arid challenges of Arizona summer? It turns out that many cacti get by with a little help from their friends. In an evolved connection, cacti thrive in conjunction with colonies of ants, both specially adapted to benefit the other. The Generous Cactus Looking close …
If you live in the desert, you’ve probably noticed the sudden burst of color across the hills and roadsides. Not only has the Spring brought an invigorating greenness to the plants of the Sonoran Desert, but thanks to our Winter rainfall, a full rainbow of blooms is now happening across the region. From late February until May expect to encounter …
Beautiful surroundings are something Arizonans almost take for granted. From our astounding geology to its tenacious ecology, our Sonoran Desert shows us breathtaking beauty and natural wonder. Have you ever wondered what shaped this land? Behind the rock formations, climate patterns, flora and fauna there lies an ancient history that the region is still connected to. Based in part on …
Flat, sandy, arid grasslands characterize the countryside east of Flagstaff, between the wooded hills of the Mogollon Rim and the delicate hues of the Painted Desert. Perhaps the most significant major attraction is the Meteor Crater, which lies 6 miles south of I-40, halfway between Winslow and Winona. This huge depression, 0.74 miles in diameter and 550 feet deep, was …
Out with the old, in with the new! As 2018 winds down, it’s time to prepare for the new year ahead. What does the future hold? Many cultures have traditions that mark the start of the New Year where it’s time to begin on the right foot. While here in the US we pop champagne and make a list of …
It seems like summer was just yesterday, but the shorter days and longer nights remind us of winter’s progress. Coming up this December is the Winter Solstice which marks the point in the year where the night is the longest, truly our darkest day. Observing the Solstice has been an aspect of many cultures from ancient times onward, and celebrated …
Feels great to be back on Standard Time, doesn’t it? Oh wait – here in Arizona, we never left! While the rest of the nation time travelled last weekend to an hour in the past, Arizonans stayed the course, avoiding the kerfuffle of “falling back” only to “spring forward” six months later. This past Daylight Savings Time weekend marks the …
Happy Halloween! October is the time for haunted houses and dressing up like ghouls and monsters. In Southern Arizona, it’s also the perfect time to visit some of our colorful history – ghost towns! Ghost towns exist across the country, but many are clustered in the Southwest where mining booms gave rise to short-lived frontier towns, many tucked along forgotten …