Take any scenic drive through Marana, and the stunning desert landscape will strike you. The prickly pear with its paddles is delightful, especially in sherbet bloom. The gnarly witch’s arms of the mesquite beckon, the barrel cactus so cute with its cartoon-like features.
While these supporting actors are quite compelling, the Sonoran desert star will always be the saguaro. The towering green pillars are each unique in design and personality. Some are statuesque in their symmetry, while others are whimsical and dancing. The saguaro can live up to 200 years and can have more than 25 arms! After living in Tucson for nearly a decade, I am still in awe of these giants. No matter the hike, I’m always stopping to take photos of them (you probably are, too).
The Sonoran desert (as you may know) is the only place in the entire world where you can meet a saguaro, which is why The Desert Museum is calling on the community to participate in “Save the Saguaro” month, happening February 3 – March 9, 2024. Invasive species like Buffelgrass, fountaingrass, and Stinknet threaten saguaros because these grasses can smother young saguaros and fuel wildfires.
If you want to be a superhero to the saguaros, check out these upcoming events. For a complete list of activities and to learn more about how to protect the desert from invasive species visit this link.
Here’s a few upcoming events!
Event: Weed Pull (Invasive species removal) at various sites across Tucson
Description: There are still plenty of dates and volunteer spots available to join your neighbors for a morning of community weed pulling and education! Some of the locations include Catalina State Park, Picacho Peak, A Mountain and more!
Visit this link for all the weed pull details and to RSVP
Event: Let’s Paint a Mural!
Description: Calling all art lovers, families, and desert enthusiasts! We are thrilled to invite our community to help us paint a “Save Our Saguaros” mural on “A” Mountain (Sentinel Peak Park). This event will feature additional art activities, a social media contest and no shortage of fun!
Location: Meet at the lower parking lot of Sentinel Peak Park
Date: Sunday, March 3
Time: 9 AM – 11 AM
For all the details visit this link.
For hikes with stunning saguaro views in Northwest Tucson check out these locations below:
