Ramsey Canyon Preserve 2

Ramsey Canyon Preserve 1

Ramsey Canyon Preserve

Late this morning we drove south toward growing, increasingly dynamic Sierra Vista to The Nature Conservancy's amazing Ramsey Canyon Preserve.

Some notes from the site:

Ramsey Canyon, located within the Upper San Pedro River Basin in southeastern Arizona, is renowned for its outstanding scenic beauty and the diversity of its plant and animal life. This diversity―including such highlights as 15 species of hummingbirds―is the result of a unique interplay of geology, biogeography, topography, and climate.

Southeastern Arizona is an ecological crossroads, where the Sierra Madre of Mexico, the Rocky Mountains, and the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts all come together. The abrupt rise of mountains like the Huachucas from the surrounding arid grasslands creates "sky islands" harboring rare species and communities of plants and animals. This combination of factors gives Ramsey Canyon Preserve its tremendous variety of plant and animal life, including such southwestern specialties as the lemon lily, ridge-nosed rattlesnake, lesser long-nosed bat, elegant trogon, and berylline and white-eared hummingbirds.

A spring-fed stream, northeast orientation, and high canyon walls provide Ramsey Canyon with a moist, cool environment unusual in the desert Southwest. Water-loving plants such as sycamores, maples, and columbines line the banks of Ramsey Creek, often growing within a few feet of cacti, yucca, and agaves. Communities ranging from semi-desert grassland to pine-fir forest are found within the vicinity of Ramsey Canyon Preserve.

Ramsey Canyon and the Upper San Pedro River Basin are situated within the Apache Highlands ecoregion, which encompasses central and southeastern Arizona, southwest New Mexico, and the northern Sierra Madre of Mexico. These programs are part of a science-based ecoregional approach to conservation in which the Conservancy works across broad landscapes with many private and public partners, sharing resources and knowledge to expedite the protection of species and habitats throughout the state.

Together, The Nature Conservancy works with partners to achieve much greater success than any one entity working independently. Multiple partners also ensure a broader perspective and more enduring conservation solutions.

As contrasted with (here's my Southern Arizona Travelogue) two years ago, this time we got some updated trail guides―adult's and kid's versions. I'd like to quote some from both, but that'll have to wait until I have a little time to sift through and select some of the most interesting stuff.


At Boundless Gallery I bought this glorious bird card by Lisa K. Walraven; the self-titled site listed on the back of the card wasn't live when I tried.

Returning to Tucson through Sierra Vista, we stopped for late lunch at a McDonald's characteristically decorated with southwestern desert textiles and metalwork.

Tigar

We have a new Husky Cousin in Tucson! His name is Tigar (correct spelling), and here's his story Carla emailed us:

This poor dog was found on the street when he was 2 months old. The man who found him was in the Air Force, he took him to the vet and they decided his birthday was 1/1/01, he had him fixed and had him about a year. He got shipped off to war and gave Tigar to someone else at Edwards Air Force Base. He had him about 6 months when he was shipped out to the war zone, so he passed him on to another person on the base where he lived for about one & a half years and he went off to war, so Tigar was passed on again where he stayed for another year until that young man went off to war. He was than given to EJ & his family and they had him for the last year. EJ is now going to war for the second time and under the new rules the family has to move off the base when the person who is in the service gets shipped out, our wonderful government at work. EJ's family has to move in with his wife's family in a senior citizen area which only allows dogs up to 25lbs so he had to find a home for Tigar. Nobody would take a 6 year old dog so he is now with us. We are his 5th and final home unless something happens to me and he would than go to Patti. What a story!

Christmas Blog 2006

Quite a few days late, but here it is again:

Christmas in the Sonoran Desert, one more time!

Originally I'd hoped to attend 11:00 p.m. liturgy at St. Francis in the Hills UMC, but Karen called late Christmas Eve and said she was too tired. After spending way too much time after Karen phoned trying to find a protestant mainline offering Christmas Day services, Christmas morning I had an inspiration to go to Sacred Heart RC on nearby 601 East Fort Lowell Road, where I'd attended a couple other Christmas day mornings with Carla's now-former neighbor.

Dinner at Home

We had a wonderful, traditional, home-cooked dinner at Carla's house. The menu consisted of Roast Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, lots of Gravy, creamed Pearl Onions, Green Bean Casserole (you know!), Sweet Potato Casserole (you know about that one, too), Rolls, Butter, Cranberry Sauce, Olives, Mince Pie baked by Richard with brandy (store-bought). Beverages included white wine, red wine, cherry coke, cranberry juice, beer, sparkling cider, coffee and milk.

Street People Again!

For an explanation of this terminology, check out this blog from Christmas 2005. Both times Carla had met these "street people" while walking her dogs [on the street], but her friend Arlene refers to them as "street people," so in some sense they have been, since they were out on the street (at times doesn't everyone go outside and spend time on the street? I hope so!). Eight of us gathered around the table for dinner: James, our newest friend; Richard; Patti; Floyd; Miriam, Patti's mother; Marilyn; Carla and myself.

Huskies at Home

In alphabetical order they are: (girls) Ava April, Easter Angel, Blues, Copper Queen; (boys) Nikki, Nanook, Spirit of 2004.

A Very Blessed Nativity to All Creation!!!!!