Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Tohono Chul Park March 2015

                     Penstemon along one of the paths

Directions: Tohono Chul is located near the intersection of Ina and Oracle. If you are coming on Oracle Road turn onto Ina Road. Take the second right onto Paseo Del Norte. Admission: Adults $10 and children $3. Yearly passes are available for various prices.

At 49 acres these gardens are considerably bigger than the Tucson Botanical Gardens off of Grant. They have a variety of gardens including the Hummingbird Garden, Desert Palm Oasis, Riparian Habitat, Sin Agua Garden among many others. Nature trails including the Desert View Trail, South Loop Trail and Saguaro Discovery Trail give visitors a chance to see the Sonoran Desert landscape up close. Besides having gardens and nature trails, Tohono Chul has a gallery with paintings and sculpture which link the people of the Southwest with its landscape. I have visited these gardens twice with my son and the park is fast becoming my favorite place in Tucson because the gardens are well constructed and they have activities for children as well. This spring Tohono Chul is particularly beautiful because the wildflowers are blooming however, this summer and next fall will bring different surprises and beauty. (Some information from tohonochulpark.org).

                        The Spring Garden is especially colorful this year

                    Quintin in front of flowers

                            Bluebells and Poppies

                                Tohono Chul

                       Quintin in the Riparian Haabitat

                             Beautiful scene in the gardens

                          Red spring flower

                           Bluebells

                Bluebells and Poppies
              South Loop Trail with Pusch Peak in the background

                    Infusion of Penstemon