|
The Tucson Gardener |
|||||||||||||||||||||
|
In the Garden Calendar
Local Garden Links
You're visiting Tucsongardener.com |
Tohono Chul
Park In the past I've sent relatives and out of town visitors to Tohono Chul as a close at hand place to visit although I'd never been there myself. So on a muggy day in late August I decided I'd better acquaint myself with the park and pulled into one of the parking lots about 8:30 a.m. The moment I stepped from the air conditioned comfort of the vehicle I started having second thoughts. There would be a better, certainly cooler time to visit. Although perspiring profusely I grabbed the few things I'd brought with me and headed out figuring if nothing else I'd have the place to myself because there weren't a whole lot of other cars in the lot. (Editor's note: The park celebrated its 20th birthday in 2005 and has quite a few changes since my first visit: new parking, buildings, greenhouse and exhibits along with plenty of added park benches for those that want to sit and admire the surroundings.)
As I entered near the Exhibit House I contributed the suggested $2 donation and was greeted by a hardy park docent who'd been standing under a ramada. (I told her I was The Tucson Gardener and she graciously gave me a tour of some of the areas and supplied some educational information before leading me back from whence we came. I thanked the docent profusely for her time and then headed off again in a leisurely stroll with camera, notebook and a self-guiding tour booklet in hand. My thirst and perspiration were soon forgotten as I wandered the well traveled trails and stopped here and there to read some of the plant identification tags. All alone except for traffic noise from the nearby thoroughfares I found myself in one of nature's little heavens. I quickly spotted some Penstemon plants with wire mesh around them. Tohono Chul Park has the same problem with rabbits, javelina, and other desert wildlife that many of Tucson's desert gardeners have. When I walked quietly, and watched for movement, the wildlife in the park was abundant even on a hot August morning. I saw desert animals like a curious horned lizard to a colorful red Cardinal.
Wherever you go on the grounds of Tohono Chul Park there are comfortable benches and even a few picnic tables. It's hard not to want to find a shady spot and sit down to watch and listen to enjoy the nature of the desert and enjoy the chance to escape the nearby noise and urban sprawl that has become much of Tucson.
There's much more to Tohono Chul Park than a few preserved acres of Tucson's native desert land. The park's greenhouse sells native and non-native plants for the gardener who wants vegetation adaptable to Tucson's desert climate. An ethnobotanical garden displays both native and non native plants cultivated by the indigenous Americans who used the plants for food, medicine and fiber. A geology exhibit made from rocks gathered from the nearby Catalina Mountains gives the park visitor a chance to understand how the magnificent mountains north of Tucson developed over millions of years.
Two hours isn't enough time to carefully explore the non-profit desert preserve of Tohono Chul Park. But that's good because it'll keep me and others going back time and time again to visit the demonstration gardens, watch the birds, enjoy the spring wildflower display, learn about xeriscaping and the value of drip irrigation or to take a leisurely stroll through the unique Desert Corner.
To learn about changing exhibits, educational classes, special events, plant sales, and preview the Tea Room's menu visit the Tohono Chul Park Web site. (1999) |
||||||||||||||||||||
|
Current Cultivations |
Garden Clubs |
Garden Books |
In the Garden Calendar
| Tucson's Wildlife
| Local Links
| Links
for Special Needs |
The Archive |
The Tool Shed
| FAQ | |
|
The Tucson Gardener
- Tucson's Gardening Information Site |