A Renegade Cowgirl

I recently returned from my winter trip to Tucson, Arizona. I love the desert with its many varieties of cactus and shrubs, poised against the dramatic backdrop of mountains and canyons in nearly every direction.

I visit Tucson each year to visit my daughter and grandkids. Each year I discover new plants and areas to explore, with even more focus on medicinal plants since starting my botanical studies in Herbalism.

The picture to the left was taken while we were out collecting fire wood  during my stay. I was amazed at how many Saguaros we saw.

The Sonoran Desert straddles the Mexico and Arizona border, reaching north and west towards the Gulf of California and Mojave Desert. The Sonoran Desert of Mexico and Arizona is the only place in the world where Saguaros grow wild. These ‘cactus trees’ are quite old and they don’t even grow their ‘arms’ until they are over 100.  I’ve heard some are even a couple hundred years old.

Among the Saguaros grow Prickly Pears, Chollas, Chaparral, Palo Verde trees, Mesquite, Agave, Aloe Vera, Palms, and hundreds of other varieties. Many plants not only survive the harsh conditions of the Sonoran Desert, but they actually thrive there. Many species have evolved with specialized adaptations to the desert climate.

Chaparral, commonly called ‘Creosote Bush’, is one of the Earth's oldest plants. Chaparral is a word borrowed from the Spanish language -- "chaparro."The common chaparral plant can live up to 12,000 years! The fact this waxy-leaved bush can thrive in the harsh Arizona desert without being eaten or infected is testimony to the potency of its chemical arsenal. The plants must be able to tolerate long periods without rain, in dry soil, with baking sun. The Native Americans of the Southwest long ago discovered this medicinal plant and used chaparral to treat everything from respiratory infections to arthritis.

Even with all of its magic and beauty, the desert is not a friendly or forgiving place to hike. The desert is protective and defensive, full of thorns and sharp spikes. That’s probably why it has endured for so many years. The thorns deter many predators; animals as well as humans! The thorny seed pods are also easily distributed throughout the desert by hooking onto animals’ fur, or your clothes in passing.

When hiking in the desert, be careful where you walk and what you touch. Wear hiking boots, long pants, and if you’re collecting, wear gloves.

Don’t get me wrong…it’s well worth it and it’s just a little added protection.

Bring your camera too! You won’t want to miss the beauty of the Sonoran Desert in pictures.

To the left is my grandson Sidney. He loves collecting rocks and crystals. He's also interested in gardening and learning about plants.