Tohono Chul Park - 12/26/14

This botanical park is a 49-acre desert preserve here in Tucson. It has nature trails, demonstration gardens, art galleries, museum and garden shops, and a Tea Room.  Concerts and educational classes are also provided. It is rated by "Leisure & Travel" as one of the top 10 botanical parks in the country.

Desert Trail.

Saguaros protected by their "nurse" tree, a palo verde. Eventually the cacti will suck up all of the moisture in that area and nurse tree will die. What a crazy symbiotic relationship.

A saguaro family.

Saguaro quadruplets (this is the only one we ever saw with four growing from one trunk).

This one looks like an elephant!

See the face on this one?

Crested saguaro (see that crazy formation at the top...)

Pin cushion ramada. Tucson was expecting freezing weather and covered the tops of these cacti to protect them from the cold weather (that will kill them).

Metal sculpture, "Horse" by Kioko Mwitiki

Deer sculpture

This is a giant yucca tree (never had heard of such a thing!)

Petrified wood (always amazing to me for some unknown reason).

The Geology Wall exhibit is a 55' semi-circle of several hundred rock specimens collected from over two dozen geologic formations in the Santa Catalina Mountains. Very cool exhibit.

Wall sculpture entitled "the leaves of life keep falling one by one."

Some close-ups.

Loved these plaques found along the Desert Trail.

Bird house in a saguaro.

Several structures like this are available for shade and rest along the trail. Very serene setting...

Horizontal heliochronometer (sundial).

This is the entrance to the Museum Shop and Museum where galleries have interesting changing exhibits (no photos allowed in the gallery). Be sure not to miss the art work here!

Dried peppers.

Interior of Museum Shop.

The colors on this large rock were amazing (azurite and malachite).

The Garden Shop is on the right in the photo below and the gift shop on the left.

The Garden Shop sells a wide array of plants found in their greenhouse or outside.

Interior of Gift Shop.

Here I am taking a rest after exploring the Park!

Admission to Tohono Chul is $10/adults and $8/seniors. We used our Tucson Attractions Passport Savings book for buy-one-get-one free admission. This was a very enjoyable visit.

There were holiday lights on many of the trees and cacti which I am sure are quite beautiful at night. They also offer programs such as special night visits when some of the cactus are blooming. Check out their web site for additional information on the exhibits at the galleries and other education programs offered.

Website: www.tohonochulpark.org