AZ Nature In Focus

 Saguaro Cactus Towering Desert Giant Did you know that the saguaro cactus grows only in certain parts of Arizona, Mexico, and California?  I became instantly enthused with the saguaro cactus when I moved to Arizona 16 years ago.  In fact, my enthusiasm has become something of a household joke as my family is so accustomed to seeing saguaro cacti in our daily lives.  Neighbors have the towering saguaro standing like sentinels in the front yards though in reality, the cactus was likely there long before the home was built. Protected Desert Plant Saguaro cacti can live a very long time.  Over 150 years old is not at all uncommon and the arms you see growing out from the cactus usually don't start to appear until the cactus is 75-100 years old.  Like all cactus plants, they grow very slowly and are not easily replaced when one is lost.  They are actually a protected plant species in Arizona.  When a new road is being put in or a housing development starts wandering into what once was

Uses For Jujubes - Red Dates  Last week, I talked about the hungry sparrows feasting among my jujube trees.  Apparently many have not heard of a jujube or red date before and are curious what to do with them besides just eating them from the tree.  Just to recap in case you have not read my previous post, when mostly yellowish in color they taste a little like a dry apple.  They get sweeter as they turn a reddish color and as they turn completely red and start to wrinkle slightly, they are closer to a raisin or a date.   No matter how you eat them, don't forget that there is a pit in the center.  I find that cutting them close to the pit around each side is the easiest way to rid the fruit of the pit. The Varied Uses of Jujubes The light green to yellow jujubes are easily shredded and used any time apples are called for.  I have used them in breads, muffins, and mixed with pear or apples for a fruit crisp when shredded right from the tree.   I have mixed them in pancake batter in

Kayak Adventures in Prescott Arizona A few weeks ago my family and I ventured to Prescott, Arizona for a few days filled with kayak adventures.  I am sure many of you can commiserate with our travel experience this summer.  A trip to New Mexico was rescheduled from May to July but then needed to be canceled due to travel restrictions. We were left still wanting to do something but chose to stay in-state and settled on a few days on a lake.  What could be better than hours in a kayak exploring and relaxing?   Watson Lake We had been to Watson Lake on a kayak trip many years ago and decided to return.  For anyone who finds themselves with the opportunity to stop, Watson Lake is a beautiful and rather distinctive lake situated on the outskirts of Prescott, Arizona.  The granite dells are very unique and provide many little coves which allowed us to just float on calm water, enjoy the scenery, and the wildlife. My family and I rented kayaks through Prescott Outdoors .  For anyone curious a

Sparrows Foodies of the Bird World      Like many of you, I am spending more time around the house and in my backyard.  During the summer doves, pigeons, and sparrows make up the majority of birds that I see in my yard.  The small house sparrows however are the foodies in my yard.  They will peck away at the grass when there is nothing else.  They will happily help themselves to seeds from the feeder when it is full and when the fruit of my jujube trees ripen, they feast.      For anyone who has not heard of jujubes or red dates, they are a small fruit with a pit similar to a cherry or peach pit.  When they are a light green color, they taste a little like a dry apple.  They develop a reddish hue as they continue to ripen and taste like a sweeter apple.  As they turn the deeper red color they are more similar to a raisin in taste.  My most preferred is the green to slightly red jujube as raisins are not really my thing but don't expect a juicy bite of fruit no matter their level o

When I Grow Up     What do you want to be when you grow up?  This question is asked repeatedly to children and teens and they are expected to have an answer.  Perhaps not the complete and well thought out answer but a general type of answer.  The truth is that I never really liked this question because it seems so final.  It feels like we can only be one thing.  What do you want to be when you grow up?  A doctor?  A lawyer?  A business owner or artist?  Why just one when most of us have many interests and many talents?  Just to clarify, I do adulting well.  I am certainly a responsible adult but I don't think that you need to grow up to be an adult.  That childlike curiosity and enthusiasm for new discoveries are typically lost along the way as we grow up.  Being willing to try new things and put yourself out there is something that many people are hesitant to do because they don't want to look silly or be judged.    What I Learned From My Children      My children taught me t

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