Scottsdale Blog - Things to do in Scottsdale, Arizona » Sonoran Explorin’

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!

Foraging for Fossils

JoAnne Zeterberg — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 01:53:20 +0000

This month’s topic is a fun one – let’s dig right in!

My kids are really into fossils. Are there any fossil digs or attractions that would let them look for fossils?

What a great question! Although I couldn’t find any local fossil digs that were open to the public, there are some area adventure companies and museums that might be of interest to all you fossil hunters out there.

Scottsdale is home to a number of off-road tour companies, many of which specialize in Arizona archaeology and geology. I couldn’t pinpoint one that focuses specifically on paleontology, but most of the local guides are great resources of information pertaining to Arizona’s natural history. Two eco-tour companies that you might try are Windwalker Expeditions and My Arizona Guide.
In terms of museums, the Arizona Science Center has an exhibit called “Dinosaurs” that will open in spring 2008. And in nearby Mesa, the Mesa Southwest Museum (becoming the Arizona Museum of Natural History in October 2007) bills itself as “your place for dinosaurs that roar!”
If you like your fossils served up with a side of campfire s’mores, check out the Carefree Resort & Villas. Here you’ll find Lance Polingyouma, the resort’s cultural interpreter. Lance is a member of the Hopi tribe and knows a thing or two about local paleontology (and area archaeology, cultural history, flora and fauna, Hopi astronomy – well, you get the picture). Lance hosts the resort’s campfire talks most nights of the week and loves to talk with guests about anything pertaining to Arizona, including fossils!
From now through December 31, 2007, visitors to the Pueblo Grande Museum and Archeological Park can take part in their “Dig It! Explore Archaeology” exhibit. This hands-on exhibit features a life-size replica of an excavated trench wall where hands-on elements demonstrate the science of archaeology. Kids of all ages can learn how clues found during digs are used to identify artifacts, and can even build their own miniature Hohokam village. Granted, this isn’t fossil-related, but it will definitely give kids a chance to stretch their excavating muscles!
Finally, if you want to plan a day trip from Scottsdale, the Petrified Forest in northern Arizona has one of the best geologic and fossil records of the Late Triassic in the world, along with some pretty amazing examples of petrified wood. Visit www.nps.gov/pefo for more information.

Happy fossil hunting!

Exhibits Highlighting History, American Photography, Landscapes Debut

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.

The Original Hummers

JoAnne Zeterberg — Fri, 01 Jun 2007 21:16:30 +0000

Say the word “hummer” to most people these days and the first thing that springs to mind is a tricked-out, über-trendy SUV. On the trails of the Sonoran Desert, however, “hummer” refers to one of the most amazing families of birds you’ll find anywhere. How amazing, you ask? Just check out these hummingbird facts:

The hummingbird family includes the world’s smallest birds. The species that live in the Sonoran Desert range in length from 2 ½ to 5 inches and range in weight from 2 to 10 grams.

The males of the species sport iridescent feathers in vibrant colors like crimson, rose, green, purple, bronze and cinnamon.

Hummingbirds’ hearts are larger in proportion to their body size than those of any other warm-blooded animal. They also have the most rapid heart rate for a bird: up to 500 beats per minute while resting and 1,260 beats per minute during flight.

Powerful flight muscles allow hummers to fly in any direction, including backwards, and to hover in one place for long periods of time. During a dive, a hummingbird can reach speeds of more than 60 miles per hour.

Hummingbirds have the most rapid wing beats of any bird species – up to 80 beats per second.

About the only thing nature’s hummers have in common with their automotive counterparts is their frequent need to refuel. Hummingbirds consume up to 70 percent of their body weight in food (nectar and small, soft-bodied insects) per day and 4 to 8 times their body weight in water.

Hummingbird nests, which are not much larger than a jigger glass, are typically made of fibrous plant down or seeds and mosses, bound together and to a branch with spider webbing. Depending on the species, nests may be lined with hair or feathers and decorated with leaves, bark strips or lichens for camouflage.

There are over 300 species of hummingbirds. They live exclusively in the Western Hemisphere, from Alaska to the tip of South America.

So, next time you’re out hiking in the desert (or even just relaxing in your own back yard) keep an eye out for nature’s original hummers – they may not be über-trendy but they’re amazing to watch.

Of Mice and Women

JoAnne Zeterberg — Tue, 01 May 2007 21:19:15 +0000

I was sitting on my patio the other night, enjoying a colorful sunset and some warm spring temperatures, when I heard a yelp of distress from across the courtyard. Since my neighbor isn’t usually given to yelping, I hurried over and found her standing on a chair, looking warily at the far corner of her patio.

“Is it a snake?” I asked.

“Worse,” she replied nervously.

Worse than a snake? Hmmmm . . . this had to be bad. So bad, in fact, that she couldn’t even tell me what it was; she just pointed. I crept a little closer and looked where she indicated. It took me a minute, but finally I spotted the ferocious beast. There, planning its next move from the cover of a potted plant was a mouse. An Arizona pocket mouse to be precise – all three-quarters of an ounce of it.

“I hate mice,” my neighbor said with a cringe.

Which lead me to wonder how these miniscule members of the rodent family earned such fear and disdain. After all, to get a grown woman to flee to such heights, they have to be pretty awful right?

Actually, the Sonoran Desert is home to some very interesting and resourceful rodents. Now, granted, mice and rats can carry and spread disease under certain circumstances. But here are some facts about our desert dwellers that just might make them seem a bit less frightening:

Pocket mice seldom drink and conserve water by spending their days underground where it is cooler. When summer temperatures peak, some pocket mice become dormant. Also, their kidneys concentrate the urine to a viscous consistency, thereby reducing water loss.

Kangaroo rats can jump up to nine feet in one bound – an effective skill for evading predators. They also can detect an owl’s silent approach and the movement of snakes.

Arizona pocket mice have tan- to orange-colored fur that is softer than that of many other species of pocket mice.

The teeth of Botta’s pocket gophers are continuously growing (at a rate of nine to 14 inches per year!) and must be kept trimmed by constant gnawing.

Kangaroo rats and pocket mice feed primarily on seeds. Some species also eat insects and vegetation.

I don’t think these facts made my neighbor any happier with her little visitor, but at least she came down off the chair.

So, next time you see one of these little fellows on your patio (or out in the desert), just give him a little space and before you know it he’ll scurry off in search of more seeds for dinner.

A Sensory Journey

JoAnne Zeterberg — Sun, 01 Apr 2007 22:00:36 +0000

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!

Sky Lights

JoAnne Zeterberg — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 22:05:19 +0000

Step back in time with me, if you will. Back to high school and into the one class that struck the most fear into your heart. Algebra or calculus, perhaps? Maybe it was English composition (dangling participles and comma splices, anyone?). In my case it was science class with all its associated trappings – the maze of abbreviations on the periodic table, the smell of formaldehyde, Bunsen burners gurgling with unknown liquids – which is why I chose writing as my career. It’s much less intimidating. At least it was until David W. of New York City wrote in with this month’s question – one that requires a scientific answer. My palms are sweating already! Let’s get to it before my brain seizes up altogether:

What makes desert sunsets so spectacular?

The Sonoran Desert is renowned for popsicle-hued red and orange sunsets that have captivated both amateur and professional photographers for generations. In order to understand exactly what causes these brilliant natural displays, we have to back up a step and start with another question: Why is the sky blue?

Ordinary white sunlight is made up of colors from the full spectrum, from red all the way through violet. On its travels to Earth, most sunlight passes through the atmosphere relatively undisturbed, but on occasion a light particle (a photon) collides with an air molecule (emissions, dust and moisture particles called aerosols) and bounces off it in a process called scattering. How strongly light is scattered by air molecules depends on its color (or wavelength), with light from the blue-violet end of the spectrum being more likely to bounce off air molecules than light from the red-orange end. As a result, enough bluish light is scattered into our eyes to make the sky appear blue.

Now, fast forward to sunset when sunlight light travels a much longer path through the atmosphere to reach us than it does at noon. During this process, so much violet, blue and green light is “scattered out” that it is mostly red, orange and yellow light that gets through. Because the desert air is very dry and relatively free of particulates (compared to many other cities), there aren’t enough large aerosols here to obscure and dim the light of the setting sun, which contributes to the sunset’s brilliance. And, desert air frequently contains smaller aerosols like airborne dust that can actually intensify the sunset’s colors. The result is a breathtaking show of Mother Nature’s artistic ability!

Picture Perfect

JoAnne Zeterberg — Thu, 01 Feb 2007 22:07:55 +0000

Have you ever experienced camera envy? You know the feeling – you’re on vacation, happily recording your memories on a simple point-and-shoot when suddenly “Mr. My-Camera-is-Bigger-than-Yours” steps up beside you and starts pulling out all sorts of fancy lenses, tripods and the like. Well, not to worry! Whether you have a disposable camera, a fixed-lens point-and-shoot or all the latest in digital photographic equipment, great vacation pictures are within your reach.

The key is in carefully composing your images and making the most of whatever camera equipment you have. As Austrian photographer Ernst Haas once said, “Leica, schmeica. The camera doesn’t make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to see.” So, with a nod to Ernst Haas, here are some tips that will help you “see” better the next time you’re out taking pictures:

Go for the Gold: Professional photographers call the periods one hour after sunrise and one hour before sunset the “golden hours.” When the sun is low in the sky it magnifies the desert colors and casts dramatic shadows and a warm glow on the landscape.

Turn Around: As the light changes, it affects everything it touches. If you have your back to the sunrise in order to capture the morning light on the mountains, turn around and look at the scene behind you – you might just catch a stand of teddy bear cholla glowing as their spines are backlit by the rising sun.

Think Big: Use the wide-angle setting on your camera to capture breathtaking panoramic images of the desert’s mountain ranges, arroyos and valleys.

Get Down: On your subject’s level, that is. If you’re photographing children, animals, low-growing cactus or other small subjects, getting down on their level captures a more personal and powerful image.

Move in Close: Use your camera’s macro or “flower” setting to create impactful close-ups of cactus blooms, insects, small animal tracks – whatever minute detail catches your eye.

Check the Background: Before shooting, examine the background carefully in the viewfinder. A cluttered background will detract from your subject. If you are shooting people, be sure to check for trees, poles and other objects “sprouting” from your subject’s head.

Fire Up the Flash: When shooting people outdoors, even in full sunlight, using the flash will fill in small shadows and brighten faces. Using the flash also allows your subjects to avoid facing directly into the sun to light their faces (no more squinting!).

Have Fun: With the advent of digital cameras, it’s easier than ever to experiment with different angles, lighting conditions and subjects, so don’t be afraid to have fun with your photography. If a shot doesn’t come out the way you hoped it would, just delete it and make room for the next one!