Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Cactus

Vote for our Cactus Couture

Josh Kenzer — Sat, 10 Oct 2009 21:59:16 +0000

As part of the grand opening of Barney’s in Scottsdale Fashion Square, the mall created a unique and interesting competition. The competition revolved around decorating a mannequin. They got many local businesses and organizations involved. The resulting mannequins are awesome. I’m particularly fond of our own. If you agree, please click on her to vote for it.

Cactus on the Course

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 20:42:40 +0000

A selection of flickr photos showcasing the beauty that desert cactus provide on Scottsdale golf courses. Just look out, they are a literal golf hazard.

Desert Botanical Garden works to preserve the Sonoran Desert

Kelly Tope — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:56:22 +0000

Since 1939, the Desert Botanical Garden has been home to one of the finest and most diverse collections of succulent plants, including rare, threatened and endangered species from around the Southwest. It is the only botanical garden in the world whose mission, from its early inception, was to focus solely on desert plants and one of only a few whose collections comprise a library, herbarium, living specimens and rare and endangered plants.

Mrs. Gertrude Divine Webster, an environmentalist ahead of her time, founded the Desert Botanical Garden in 1939. Mrs. Webster, in conjunction with a small group of Valley citizens, gathered in Papago Park to create a botanical garden whose precepts would encourage an understanding, appreciation and promotion of the uniqueness of the world’s deserts, particularly the Sonoran Desert. They foresaw the Valley’s potential and unique identity, envisioning the need to conserve their beautiful desert environment. The Desert Botanical Garden, since its inception in 1939, continues to be a testament to their vision.

The Desert Botanical Garden sits on 145 acres and has more than 50,000 plants on display including a Living Collection (including more than 21,000 accessioned plants) and a Rare and Endangered Collection (including more than 328 seeds and 213 plants). Through the research department’s partnership with educational institutions and government agencies, research staff is working to ensure the plants of the Sonoran Desert are conserved and preserved for generations to come.

The Garden acts with the environment as its priority and is continually implementing best practices to achieve this – a task that is never truly complete. As new information and technologies become available, the Garden will evaluate and if feasible, implement these practices. Current initiatives include energy efficiency, water conservation, recycling and composting.

Energy Use

Using renewable energy to meet 100% of the Garden’s electricity needs. Solar panels on Dorrance Hall supply up to 8% of these needs
Started to changing incandescent light bulbs to Compact Fluorescent Lights and other lower-energy bulbs.
Staff turns off monitors each night and computer updates have been moved to a mid-week time frame.

Water Use
The Garden’s utilization of native landscaping assists in minimizing water usage.

Recycling

The Garden recycles #1 & #2 plastics, paper, cardboard, aluminum, steel and glass. Receptacles have bee installed throughout the Garden that separate waste and recyclable materials.
Four out of six of print vendors use Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) standards.
All copy machine default settings are for double-sided printing.
Encouraging catering companies to be environmentally conscious encouraging reusable, recyclable, or decomposable materials whenever possible.

Composting
The Garden delivers all green waste for composting to Singh Farms. In addition, the Garden purchases this compost for use in the Garden.

If you are interested in learning more about sustainability, the Garden teaches the community sustainable environmental practices through educational programs and outreach and the Desert Landscaper School, which focuses on xeriscape and native plants. Come check out the beauty of Desert Botanical Garden – you’ll see not only the unique flora of the Sonoran Desert, but how the Garden is working to preserve that environment!

Name the Boulders Cactus Competition

Josh Kenzer — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 15:52:22 +0000

If you can come up with a winning name for one of six cactus on The Boulders property, you can win one of six vacations to Scottsdale. The trip includes:

Two-night deluxe casita accommodations (for two) at the AAA award winning Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa (June – September 2009)
$500 Airfare gift card per winner
Daily breakfast for two at the Palo Verde Restaurant
Two twosomes at the Boulders golf course

Enter your names now

Hummer Tours in the Desert

Josh Kenzer — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:31:00 +0000

One of the most popular outdoor activities in Scottsdale is the Jeep/Hummer tour. These tours provide travelers with an up close and personal look at the flora – and sometimes fauna – of the Sonoran desert.

I had the opportunity to ride along with Gene from Roadrunner Desert Adventures as he took a few people out on Wednesday morning. Our tour departed from the Hotel Valley Ho at 7:00 AM. We headed North out to the Table Mesa Road off the 17, just past Anthem.

In past lives, I’ve been an avid off road enthusiast. I’ve done some serious trails in northern California in some very serious rigs. So, I wasn’t sure how much of this trip would be rock crawling and how much would be maintained dirt roads.

Almost immediately, we got a little taste of what the Hummer we were in was capable of. This video doesn’t do the steepness of the downhill justice, but believe me when I tell you it was well over 50 degrees.

That was the only part of the trip that felt like true 4 wheeling. The rest of the ride was much more tame, but I still wouldn’t take a stock SUV out there.

Anyone that has ever been on a guided tour knows that it’s the driver/guide that really makes it special. This was no different. Gene stopped many times to explain the nuances of Teddy Bear Cholla Cactus, Saguaro Cactus and other Sonoran plants. He also sprinkled in tips on survival, like eating 10 to 20 arms of Teddy Bear Cholla will allow you to last three to four weeks in the desert.

During our trip, we stopped at three different locations. An old abandoned Turquoise mine, a 1,000 year old Indian Fort and the ghost town of Gillette, Arizona. At each stop, Gene provided great stories and commentary on the historical significance of what we were looking at.

The trip lasted until about 11:30 AM, four and a half hours. Make sure you wear good hiking clothes. You will dusty and sweating so make sure you leave plenty of time in your itinerary to clean up before lunch.

I highly recommend the Jeep/Hummer tours. It’s a great way to see the desert up close. Make sure your camera is complete charged and has lots of free disk space. The picture opportunity is amazing. You can see my photos of the Sonoran desert here.

Celebrate Summer at the Garden

JoAnne Zeterberg — Thu, 01 May 2008 18:43:23 +0000

When it comes to exploring the magnificent flora of the Sonoran Desert, one of the “coolest” places to be this summer is the Desert Botanical Garden. New exhibits, nighttime tours and live music are just a few of the highlights you won’t want to miss!

New Succulent Galleries Open to the Public – The Garden debuted its Sybil B. Harrington Cactus and Succulent Galleries in April. These new galleries feature dazzling displays of cacti and succulents that showcase the great diversity of form, texture, and color found in each of these collections. Designed by landscape architect, Steve Martino, FASLA, the galleries utilize steel mesh as the arching canopy to provide shade for the plants and support columns painted in a desert-hued red to accentuate the color and textures of the plants. Free with Garden admission.

Flashlight Tours Provide After-Dark Fun for All Ages – The Desert Botanical Garden’s popular Flashlight Tours are held every Thursday and Saturday evening from May through August. All tours begin at 7:00 p.m. and provide a sensory adventure during which you will see, hear and feel the desert at night, including nighthawks, tortoises, insects and night-blooming flowers. Please bring a flashlight and wear comfortable walking shoes. Free with Garden admission.

Concerts at the Garden – Jazz up your Friday nights with the Garden’s Spring Concert Series! Some of the Valley’s most popular jazz and blues artists take the stage at the Garden’s beautiful Ullman Terrace. Enjoy dinner and music under the stars with delectable fare purchased at the Garden’s Patio Café or a gourmet meal (advance purchase required) catered by Fabulous Food Fine Catering & Events. Tickets are $20 ($14 for Garden members) and guests must be at lest 21 years of age. Upcoming concerts include:

May 30 @ 7:00 p.m. Khani Cole, Smooth Jazz
June 6 @ 7:30 p.m. Pete Pancrazi, Traditional Jazz
June 13 @ 7:30 pm. Cinco de Moio, Latin Jazz
June 20 @ 7:30 p.m. Groove Defenders, Blues
June 27 @ 7:30 p.m. Sherry Petta, Smooth & Contemporary Jazz

For more information about the Desert Botanical Garden, including tour schedules, classes and special events, click here or call 480-421-1225.

The Rare Crested Saguaro

JoAnne Zeterberg — Fri, 01 Dec 2006 22:13:53 +0000

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving! With the holiday season upon us, I’m sure everyone has a lot to do, so let’s dive right in to this month’s question from Linda K. of Kayenta, Ariz.:

On a recent trip to Scottsdale I visited the Desert Botanical Garden and saw what looked like a saguaro cactus with a deformed top. What happened to it?

The cactus you spotted was probably a crested saguaro. Relatively rare, crested saguaros are easily identified by their gnarled, fan-shaped tops, as shown in the picture above. Researchers disagree on exactly what causes the plant’s growing tip (the apex) to go awry. Theories include everything from lighting strikes to genetic abnormalities. The most widely accepted explanation is that cresting is caused by damage to the apex, either mechanically (man made or nature-caused) or by freezing. The crest doesn’t harm the saguaro, which can continue to produce flowers and fruit. It is estimated that this condition affects approximately one out of every 200,000 saguaros.

Speaking of the Desert Botanical Garden, if you’re planning a trip to Scottsdale between now and December 23 and can fit an evening visit to the Garden into your itinerary, you’re in for a treat. Each year during Las Noches de las Luminarias, the Garden’s pathways are illuminated after dark by thousands of glowing candles. As you stroll the candle-lit trails, musicians and performing artists, ranging from jazz duos and Native American flutists to handbell choirs and cowboy storytellers, will keep you entertained. It’s a beautiful and unique way to explore the flora of the Sonoran Desert!

Tickets for Las Noches de las Luminarias and the optional dinner buffet are available atwww.dbg.org, at the Garden’s box office or by calling 480-481-8188. Some nights are already sold out, so if you’d like to experience this unique event, be sure to get your tickets soon!

Happy holidays!

A Sticky Subject

JoAnne Zeterberg — Sat, 01 Jul 2006 22:33:27 +0000

This month, a couple of readers are curious about cactus spines, those tiny devices of torture that seem to cover most desert plant life. Believe it or not, cactus spines do not exist to punish clumsy hikers – their primary purpose is to protect cacti from hungry animals. Over time, animals and humans have even devised ways to use cactus spines to their own advantage. Packrats pile cholla joints, which are loaded with spines, around their dens to discourage predators. And humans have used the spines for sewing needles, fish hooks and toothpicks. But, for most of us, the typical encounter with cactus spines sends us searching for tweezers and a Bandaid.

Our first question is from Bart D. of Lake Okoboji, Iowa:

Are cactus spines poisonous?

Did you know that wild cacti live in all the contiguous states except Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont? Neither did I. But, that being the case, thank goodness the answer to Bart’s question is no, cactus spines are not poisonous. Imagine what would happen if they were – we’d have people keeling over left and right all across the country. That would be very bad. Mother Nature sure gave us a break on that one.

Now, this is not to say that getting stuck by a cactus spine is a walk in the park – it’s not. It hurts. Take it from someone who’s been unlucky enough (read “clumsy enough”) to have gotten stuck several times during desert excursions. To minimize the pain, inflammation and the possibility of infection, try to remove the offending cactus spine right away. Which leads us right into our next question from Darcy M. of Clearwater, Fla.:

What’s the best way to remove cactus spines?

Very carefully. Large spines that are embedded close to the surface of the skin can usually be pulled out with your fingers. If a large spine is deeply embedded in your skin, try using a pair of pliers. Now, the thing to keep in mind is that in addition to large spines, several varieties of cactus, including cholla and prickly pear, have a second layer of pain-inflicting devices – tiny hair-like spines called glochids. Not only are these little devils very sharp and fragile, they sport barbed tips and are usually delivered en masse. This, my friends, calls for a whole new bag of tricks. Because trying to remove them with your fingers may cause them to break off at the surface, muster up your patience and a magnifying glass and start with tweezers. If there are a whole gaggle of glochids attached to you and you don’t want to spend hours tweezing, try coating the affected area with white glue. When the glue is dry, gently peel it off. That should remove most of the spines. If there are some that are embedded too far for either tweezers or glue to remove, take heart – while they may be uncomfortable for a while, they will eventually dissolve or be expelled. Just keep the area clean to prevent infection.

Flower Power

JoAnne Zeterberg — Wed, 01 Mar 2006 22:52:03 +0000

It’s been said that flowers feed the soul. In fact, research suggests that flowers have the power to elevate our mood, lower our blood pressure and generally give us a better outlook on life. Lucky for us, every spring and early summer the Sonoran Desert landscape is decorated with cactus, plant and wildflowers in a rainbow of vibrant shades. Botanist Janice Bowers, who has studied wildflowers for 30 years, knows their colors well. According to Bowers, 33 percent of the desert species have yellow flowers, 29 percent white, 17 percent purple or lavender, 11 percent pink or red, 7 percent blue and 3 percent orange (Arizona Highways, March 2006).

In honor of flowers, let’s tackle a couple of floral-inspired questions, starting with this from Sandy G. of New York City:

What’s the best time of year to see wildflowers in the desert?

Late February and March are the best months for wildflower viewing in the Sonoran Desert. This year, however, we’ve experienced an unusually dry winter, recording our last measurable rainfall on October 18, 2005. This is great news for sunbathers, golfers and other outdoor enthusiasts, but not so good for wildflowers, which rely on winter moisture to trigger their growth and subsequent bloom. Will there be any wildflowers this spring? Yes, there will be some – you just need to know where to look!

If you want to get out into the desert and explore, your best local options are theMcDowell Sonoran Preserve and Pinnacle Peak Park in north Scottsdale, McDowell Mountain Regional Park just east of Scottsdale in Fountain Hills and Lost Dutchman State Park, which is about 40 minutes east of Scottsdale near the town of Apache Junction. If you’re looking for something a little less rugged, the Desert Botanical Garden just west of Scottsdale is a fabulous plant preserve that simulates and maintains the natural conditions that produce spring desert wildflowers along designated pathways. While some years may prove more remarkable than others, the Garden promises glorious flora even when Mother Nature cannot.

Speaking of flowers, Kristin V. of Philadelphia was wondering:

What’s the famous desert flower that only blooms at night?

The desert night-blooming cereus (Peniocereus greggi), also known as the queen-of-the-night, produces fragrant white flowers between late May and early July. One of the Sonoran Desert’s most well-known yet least encountered plants, these gray, stick-like stems grow to about three feet tall, surviving under the protection of host plants such as creosote and mesquite. In the spring the plant sprouts buds, and on one summer night, the buds burst open into stunning silky white flowers. Each flower opens for only one night and closes with the morning sun. While open, their fragrance fills the desert air and attracts night-flying pollinators such as sphinx and hawk moths. In fact, the flowers’ fragrance is desirable to humans too, so much so that a Scottsdale company, Once in a Bloom Fragrances, has created a line of Desert Queen perfume and body products that replicates the scent of this rare desert beauty.

The Incredible Edible Desert

JoAnne Zeterberg — Sun, 01 Jan 2006 22:57:12 +0000

Take a trip back in time with me, back to when you were a little kid. What was the first thing you did when you encountered something new? Come on, be honest – you put it in your mouth, didn’t you? It’s okay. It’s what all kids do! Apparently, based on this month’s questions, it’s what some adults do, too. Take Alan D. of Boston, for example:

Are desert plants edible?

In the days before supermarkets, people depended upon the desert for both food and pharmaceuticals. Many indigenous plants, like prickly pear, mesquite pods and tepary beans, can even be good for you. Thanks to their low glycemic indices, these foods absorb slowly into system and can actually protect people from diabetes. Cactus fruits, such as saguaro and prickly pear fruits, are edible and also can be used to make jelly and candy. In addition, botanicals like jojoba, Mormon tea, desert broom, Mexican mint marigold, desert lavender and mesquite also have healing qualities that soothe, calm and cure when brewed into teas or made into poultices (mixtures of healing herbs that are heated, spread on a cloth and applied to the body).

Now, before you get all excited and start chewing on the nearest cactus, let me explain 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 Anhala restaurant at the Radisson Fort McDowell Resort & Casino, you’ll find Squash Blossom Beignets, as well as a variety of mesquite-grilled dishes. You also can visit www.nativeseeds.org to purchase seeds and start your own desert garden.

Next, we have this from Gary J. of Detroit:

Is it true that you can rely on water from a cactus if you’re lost in the desert and get dehydrated?

How much do you want to bet that Alan and Gary are related? Sorry, Gary – cacti are not Mother Nature’s secret water coolers. If you broke into a cactus, all you’d find are plant tissues with the consistency of a damp, slimy sponge. And, while some moisture can be pounded, squeezed or chewed out of these tissues, most cacti are toxic. You probably wouldn’t die, but the likely side effects of ingesting the toxins – vomiting and diarrhea – are the worst possible things for anyone suffering from dehydration. Only the tissues of the fishhook barrel cactus yield potable moisture and only after a lot of work on your part (in fact, you’d probably sweat away more moisture trying to break into the cactus than you’d gain if you succeeded). The best place to get water in the desert is from a bottle or canteen that you bring with you.

I’ll see you next month with some more interesting facts about the Sonoran Desert. In the meantime, if you’re out in the desert and see Alan or Gary wandering aimlessly about and trying to eat cacti, help them out, will you?