Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Sonoran Desert

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!

Vacations Help Visitors Contribute to the Local Community

Josh Kenzer — Sat, 20 Dec 2008 17:00:00 +0000

Scottsdale’s world-class amenities let travelers relax in unmatched luxury. So why not return the favor to the city that has given so many great memories and experiences?

The Fairmont Scottsdale’s Sonoran Eco-Education package offers visitors a one-night stay with breakfast and a guided private half-day hike that teaches participants how to enjoy nature without leaving a mark. Guests who arrive in a hybrid vehicle also will be rewarded with complimentary overnight valet parking. For more information, visit www.fairmont.com/scottsdale.

Visitors inspired by the beauty of the Sonoran Desert can help keep it safe in one of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve’s trail projects. Currently, 16,460 acres of Scottsdale’s land is designated as a natural preserve and, upon completion, the plan will protect nearly one-third of the city’s land from development. As a volunteer, guests become active participants in the conservation of the Preserve and learn how to protect the Earth’s natural resources. Trail projects include everything from planting new cacti to repairing eroded trails. For more information, visit www.mcdowellsonoran.org.

Enjoy nourishing, good-for-you food while giving back to the environment and local communities in Arizona. Restaurateur Sam Fox and healthy living expert Dr. Andrew Weil have collaborated to create True Food Kitchen. The restaurant’s eco-friendly agenda is carried out through every detail from utilizing low voltage lighting to using locally grown produce. Guests can enjoy one of True Food’s sustainable wines or in-house purified water knowing they’re doing their part to preserve the environment and reduce waste. And, since 65 percent of the produce found on the menu comes from local farms, visitors are helping to support Arizona’s local farmers and communities. For more information, visit www.foxrc.net.

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.

Fall in the Sonoran Desert

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 15:15:45 +0000

Fall is a great time to be in Scottsdale and the Sonoran Desert. Here are the vitals:

Dates: September 16 – November 30
Average High: 87° F
Average Low: 61° F
Normal Rainfall: 1.74″

What to Expect:

Warm days followed by refreshing, cool nights
The end of monsoon driven thunderstorms

What to Look For:

Wintering hawks beginning to arrive
Lizards and snakes eating as much as they can
Anna’s and Costa’s hummingbirds at feeders
Desert mammals remaining active in the daytime and sleeping during cooler nights
Birds forming flocks and getting ready to migrate for the winter
Quail forming groups called “coveys”

Celebrate McDowell Sonoran Month

JoAnne Zeterberg — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 14:44:02 +0000

October is McDowell Sonoran Month and you can join the celebration at a host of scheduled events, including guided hikes, educational lectures and discovery walks – all in honor of Scottsdale’s McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

Well on its way to becoming one of the largest urban preserves in the nation, the McDowell Sonoran Preserve encompasses mountains, Sonoran Desert and wildlife corridors that link open space in the Preserve with open spaces in adjacent communities, the Tonto National Forest and Maricopa County Regional Park. In addition to a year-round schedule of guided hikes and education programs, the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy offers special programming every October to encourage residents and visitors to get out and explore all of the wonders of the Sonoran Desert. This year’s highlights include:

Preserve Inhabitants Lecture Series

If you’ve ever wondered if birds can change colors or how plants and animals have adapted to the Sonoran Desert’s unique climate, this series is for you. A different topic is explored every Wednesday evening in October.

Discovery Walks

Every Saturday morning in October, experts in desert ecology and ethnology will lead groups on short walks into the preserve to discover nature’s hidden treasures.

Hydrogen House Open House

On Oct. 11 and 22, you can tour the country’s first green hydrogen house. This unique home has numerous passive and active sustainable design features, including convection air for natural cooling.

Click here for a complete schedule of McDowell Sonoran Month events.

Golf Initiatives Preserve Natural Sonoran Desert

Josh Kenzer — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 16:33:28 +0000

Golf operators in Scottsdale are making strides to preserve the city’s Sonoran Desert surroundings through modern technology, innovative practices and a commitment to environmental stewardship. The golf industry’s efforts not only ensure a protected environment for generations of future visitors, but also help put Scottsdale on the forefront of eco-friendly golf destinations.

Water Use – Because Scottsdale is in a desert environment, conservation and efficient use of water is always top-of-mind for the city’s golf industry. Nearly 75 percent of Scottsdale’s golf courses use sophisticated computerized irrigation systems and weather monitoring stations to maximize the efficiency of their water use. These systems apply the minimum amount of water required to maintain the health of individual plants in addition to minimizing evaporation and maximizing transpiration.
Maintenance – Scottsdale golf courses also have modified their regular maintenance practices to increase the sustainability of their properties. Efforts include using organic fertilizer rather than petroleum-based fertilizer, switching gas-powered equipment from two-stroke engines to four-stroke in order to reduce emissions, and frequent testing of soil conditions to ensure proper application using the minimum amount of product to ensure the plants’ health.
Environmental Stewards – Scottsdale golf properties like Sanctuary Golf Course at West World, TPC Scottsdale and Camelback Golf Club continue to look for new eco-friendly opportunities to ensure that golf maintains its overall positive impact on the city and state. The courses have all achieved, or are achieving, certification in the Audubon International Cooperative Sanctuary Program, a program that requires golf facilities to protect the Earth by enhancing precious natural areas and wildlife habitats. In addition, Scottsdale-based Troon Golf Management has made the commitment to have its entire portfolio of 190 golf properties worldwide certified through the Audubon initiative.

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.

‘Tis the Season to Take a Hike

JoAnne Zeterberg — Sun, 02 Dec 2007 01:50:50 +0000

Winter in the Sonoran Desert brings its own set of natural wonders. Sunny, warm days and clear, crisp nights mean animals are more active and visible. Occasional winter rains bring new sprouts to creosote bushes and other plant life. And, late in the season, desert wildflowers such as lupines and owl-clover begin to show their colors. All in all, it’s the perfect time for a hike! Here are a few tips to help you explore Scottsdale’s beautiful Sonoran Desert on foot this winter:

Stay hydrated. Even on mild winter days, be sure to bring and drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. For longer hikes, also pack some healthy snacks to keep you fortified.

Hike only on marked trails. Not only will this protect the desert’s delicate ecosystem, but it also will help minimize the chances of painful human-and-cactus encounters. Click here to a list of Scottsdale’s most popular hiking trails.

Share the trail. Many of Scottsdale’s public trails are designated as shared-use paths for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. The universal rule of trail courtesy is for all trail users to yield right-of-way to horses and for cyclists to yield to all other types of users.

Admire desert wildlife from a distance. Desert creatures are wary of humans, so if you are lucky enough to spot a javelina, coyote or covey of quail, resist the temptation to get too close as you may frighten them away. It’s also good to keep in mind that although most desert animals don’t pose a threat the humans, some, like rattlesnakes, are poisonous and others can cause serious injury if they feel cornered or threatened.

Leave it as you found it. Removing anything from the desert disrupts the habitats of plants and animals, since most rocks and wood provide shade and shelter for tiny plants and creatures. It also is against the law to take away any natural or cultural objects from public or private land without the permission of the owner.

Don’t hike alone. It’s safer and more fun to hike with a friend! It’s also wise to tell someone where you will be hiking and when you expect to return.

Practice “Leave No Trace” exploration. Be sure to carry out everything that you carry in – take only pictures, leave only footprints!

And, the most important tip of all – have fun! The Sonoran Desert is yours to enjoy, so get out and explore!

Summer Sights, Sounds & Smells

JoAnne Zeterberg — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 01:56:06 +0000

If you’ve just arrived in the Sonoran Desert, you came at a very exciting time! Summer here brings with it a host of fascinating sights, sounds and smells that delight long-time residents and intrigue newcomers. Here are just a few of nature’s wonders that are yours to enjoy this season:

Monsoon Madness: Keep your eyes to the sky in the afternoon and you’re likely to see one of the most impressive desert sights – massive cumulus clouds boiling up over the nearby mountains. Summer in the Sonoran Desert means the onset of Arizona’s monsoon season, a seasonal shift in the weather pattern that pulls up moist air from the Gulf of Mexico and generates short-lived, intense thunderstorms. A hearty monsoon-driven thunderstorm can lower the air temperature by up to 20 degrees and can drop more than an inch of rain in a very short time.

Towering Haboobs: Dust storms, also called haboobs, often precede desert thunderstorms. Heavy winds blowing over fields and the open desert can generate enormous clouds of dust. The average wind speed of a haboob is more than 30 miles per hour and the wall of dust can reach 3,000 feet in height. Though they only last a few minutes, dust storms can quickly reduce visibility, which is particularly hazardous if you are driving (click here for dust storm safety tips).

The Buzz: Head outside anytime from about mid-June through August and you’re likely to hear one of the desert’s signature sounds – a loud, insistent buzzing – coming from nearby trees or shrubs. This distinctive melody is the mating call of the male cicada. Although they’re easy to hear, cicadas are tough to spot since they stop singing when you approach their perch.

Fragrant Creosote: If you’re lucky enough to be in Scottsdale and near the desert on one of our rare rainy days, step outside when the rain stops and take a deep sniff. The delightful fresh fragrance in the air is emitted by creosote bushes when their leaves get wet.

So, don’t wait . . . get out and explore the Sonoran Desert this summer and see what other sensory delights await! Click here for information on guided desert tours by Jeep, Hummer, hot air balloon, horseback and, of course, on foot.

Bad Luck . . . Who gives a Hoot?

JoAnne Zeterberg — Sun, 01 Jul 2007 21:12:10 +0000

This month’s question comes to us from a land far, far away. Well, not that far away. Alright, it’s from one of my coworkers down the hall. But, it launches us into uncharted territory here at the Sonoran Explorin’ desk – the land of superstition.

One of our fine CVB staffers, who shall remain nameless, would like to know:

Is it bad luck to see an owl in the daytime?

Courtney, Courtney, Courtney . . . having a slow week in the convention sales department, are we? Oooops, there goes that whole “remaining nameless” thing. Oh, well. Sorry, Courtney. Darn! I did it again.

As far as I can deduce, it depends on who you talk to and how superstitious you are. In some cultures, owls represent wisdom and knowledge. To see one is considered good luck and an indication that you will be blessed with deep insight. Other positive attributes possessed by owls include their keen eyesight, stealth-like flight and well-honed hunting skills, which means hunters often considered seeing an owl a positive sign. In other cultures, however, the appearance of an owl is said to predict death and disasters.

Owls are actually rather fascinating creatures and the Sonoran Desert is home to several owl species, including the barn owl, great horned owl, elf owl and burrowing owl. Here are a few interesting owl facts to ponder:

Owls are excellent night hunters. Barn owls can locate their prey by sound alone, in total darkness, with pinpoint accuracy.
Owls can approach prey in silence because the sound of their wingbeats is muffled by the softened edges of their larger wing feathers.
The largest Sonoran Desert species is the great horned owl, measuring a stately two feet in height. At the other end of the scale, the average elf owl is about the size of a sparrow and only grows to a height of about five inches.
Like most birds of prey, owls ingest fur and bone when they eat their prey. However, these materials are not digestible and are formed into pellets in the owl’s stomach and then regurgitated.

But, I digress – back to our question about bad luck. I guess it comes down to this: if you’re a “glass-half-full” kind of person, consider seeing an owl in the daytime a good sign and look forward dazzling your friends with your newfound wisdom, insight and hunting skills. If you’re a “glass-half-empty” sort . . . well, I’d stay safely indoors for a while.

By the way, has anyone seen Courtney recently? Anyone? I’m sure she’s fine. Really . . . I’m sure she is.