Springtime Changes at Tohono Chul

This post is for the many friends I've known at Tohono Chul, especially those who have not seen the changes that began in the last two or three years, including a new designation as Tohono Chul Bistro, Galleries, and Gardens. This post is also for anyone who loves the Sonoran Desert in the springtime. (For some typical flowers, click here.) Spring has started three or four weeks early this year, but is still gorgeous, exciting, and thrilling. If you are in the Tucson area or planning to visit, please stop by. You will be glad you did.

Remarkable Penstemons, near the entrance

                                                                             

Early-blooming hedgehog, across from Overlook

                                                                                                                                                                               

Spring Garden (So far--lots of flowers still to come)

                                                                               

Bluebells

                                                             

New Orchard east of the former cholla forest

                                                                               

"Living Fence" (ocotillos) north of Ethno Garden

                                       

Closeup of living fence leafing out, with early blooms

                                                                           

Old Penstemon Garden

                                                 

New Penstemon Garden, currently hidden behind cloth fence

                                                                                   

Desert Hibiscus on the way to parking lot, saying "Come back soon!"

Late Spring Nature Quiz

This is our first nature quiz in quite a while. Here are five photos of plants and animals that are found in the Arizona Upland portion of the Sonoran Desert. Can you identify them? (Note that all photos were taken at Tohono Chul Park.)

1. This extremely fragrant plant is attractive to bees, butterflies, and human noses. What is its common name?

a) Kidneywood
b) Bladderwort
c) Spleen sticks
d) Herbert

2. This photo graphically presents three icons of the Arizona Upland. What are they?

3. What are the brilliant neon blue fish in this photo?

a) Blue Tetras
b) Cactus Crappies
c) Desert Pupfish

4. What in the world made these odd sandy excavations?

5. What kind of lizard is this? Is it male or female?

Answers:
1. This is kidneywood (Lignum nephriticum), a fairly common shrub of the arid southwest. Its bark was used traditionally as a diuretic, hence its name. The flowers have a beautiful, bright sweet scent that becomes stronger when they are heated by the sun.

2. This photo shows a white-winged dove and Gila woodpecker enjoying the blossoms of a saguaro cactus. The saguaro is indeed an icon of the Sonoran Desert, as this is the only place in the world where it grows (and mostly in the Arizona Upland). The white-winged dove is an important pollinator of the saguaro, and the Gila woodpecker is well-known for making holes in saguaros that are used as nests.

3. These small, beautiful fish are endangered Desert Pupfish, which are kept as breeding populations by both Tohono Chul Park and the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. In spring, when the weather begins to get warm, the males show their sexual readiness by turning this brilliant shade of neon blue. 

4. These small depressions, or "pits," are made by antlions, tiny insect larvae that trap and eat ants. Each pit is created in loose sand by a larva, which then waits at the bottom for an unwary ant to fall into the trap. If the ant should regain its footing on the slide down, the larva throws sand up at it, usually sending it tumbling to the bottom where it becomes a meal.

5. This beautiful reptile is a female Desert Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus magester). When she is sexually mature, her head turns rosy pink to orange. Her better half has beautiful bright colors on his back and his belly. These are the large lizards often seen doing "pushups," which is the male's way of displaying his colors to females and rival males.

BONUS QUESTION:
What do you suppose these guys have been up to? Please post your guess--or, even better--what you imagine they are thinking, in the comments.

SCORING:
5 points: You must be a nature docent!
4 points: You are at home in the desert.
3 points: You think the desert is beautiful, but would never spend the summer here.
2 points: You guessed randomly, right?
1 or 0 points: You'd really rather stay indoors.