A Sensory Journey
Let’s shake things up. This month I have a question for you: Have you ever “heard” the Sonoran Desert? Or maybe “smelled” or “tasted” it? If you’re like the rest of us, you probably rely most on your sense of sight when you’re hiking – enjoying the scenic vistas, watching for desert animals and admiring the colorful cactus blooms. But to really experience the desert, you need to involve all your senses. So, this month, I invite you along on a sensory journey through the magnificent Sonoran Desert.
Hearing: The Sonoran Desert is home to thousands of species of mammals, birds, amphibians and insects, each of which has its own sonic niche in nature’s symphony. Pull up a patch of desert, put your patience in gear and sit for a spell. Once you’re quiet, the music will begin. Listen for the energetic chuk! chuk! chuk! of cactus wrens, the rhythmicrat-a-tat-tat of Gila Woodpeckers and the soft rustle of rabbits and lizards as they scurry through the underbrush. If you’re out on the trail at dusk, you might even hear the most celebrated song of the West – the howling of coyotes as they embark on their evening excursions.
Touch: This one is a little trickier because there are a lot of things in the desert that you shouldn’t touch, starting with any type of cactus (watch those needles!) and including animals and insects. But there’s still plenty to explore. Compare the jagged edges of rocks along a desert trail to the smoothness of those you’ll find on the banks of the Salt and Verde rivers. Notice how the earth changes from dry and hard-packed on the trail to loose and sandy in desert washes. Gently explore the textures of leaves and branches and see how they vary from plant to plant. Just remember these simple safety guidelines – don’t pick up anything you can’t identify and never put your hands anywhere that you can’t see (snakes and other desert critters often take refuge under rocks, in holes, etc.).
Smell: One of nature’s most intoxicating perfumes can be found in the Sonoran Desert after a rain. This delightfully fresh fragrance is emitted by creosote bushes when their leaves get wet. If the timing isn’t right to catch rain in the desert, you can still enjoy this signature scent. Just locate a creosote bush (see the photo above) and pour a little fresh water over the leaves. Then, lean in and take a nice deep sniff!
Taste: The desert is a veritable supermarket of foods. For example, cactus fruits, such as those from saguaros and prickly pears, are edible and also can be used to make jelly and candy. The pads of the prickly pear (also called nopales) can often be found in Southwestern salads and other dishes.
Now, before you get all excited and start chewing on the nearest cactus, I need to tell you that it is illegal to harvest desert plants in designated preserves (not to mention dangerous, as many desert plants are toxic and most are well fortified with protective spines and stickers). If you’d like to try some of our desert delicacies, visit the award-winning Lon’s restaurant at the Hermosa Inn and try the Pecan Roasted Pork Chop with Prickly Pear Braised Red Cabbage or the Grilled Vegetable and Mushroom Tamales, which incorporate tepary beans. At Ahnala restaurant at the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino, you’ll find Squash Blossom Beignets, as well as a variety of mesquite-grilled dishes.
So, next time you’re out in the desert, take a good long look around and admire the view. Then, close your eyes for a few minutes and let your other senses join in the fun!
