“Cactus Face” — Image by kenne
— kenne
Carillo Trail — Image by kenne
— kenne
Saguaro National Park-East — Image by kenne
— kenne
Considered one of the top cattle and guest ranches in the southwest, Tanque Verde Ranch is located on 60,000 acres of
Tucson’s most breathtaking desert landscapes in the Rincon Mountains foothills adjacent to Saguaro National Park and
Coronado National Forest.
Established in 1868, Tanque Verde Ranch is recognized as the last luxurious outpost of the old west providing guests with comfortable
accommodations, unparalleled amenities, and a vast array of exciting activities, including horseback riding, mountain biking,
fishing, hiking, and more!
Originally purchased and settled as a cattle ranch by Rafael and Emilio Carillo, the land was sold to Jim Converse
in the early 1900s. It was sold in 1957 to the Bob Cote family, which has owned it ever since.
Tanque Verde became a guest ranch under Converse, who saw the move as an opportunity to attract those
interested in cowboy life. The number of guest ranches in southern Arizona has dropped
since the 1950s from around 55 to seven or eight today,
A wall in the Tanque Verde Ranch sales office.
Kiva Dinning Room
A statue near the original ranch house.
Mesquite trees shadow the path to some of the cottages.
The Desert Garden cottage area.
These days, the ranch has added hiking, tennis, mountain biking and nature programs, as well as a health spa, for its guests.
It has also brought in televisions and wireless Internet.
Photo Essay by kenne
Purple Owl’s-Clover — Image by kenne
Sunrise In Saguaro National Park–East (National Park Week, April 22 to April 30) — Images by kenne
Living in the Tucson basin is like living in a national park since the Saguaro National Park is on both the east and west sides of Tucson —
two parks in one. In the 13 years we have lived in Tucson, I have spent much time hiking in this park.
— kenne
Saguaro National Park-West
Douglas Spring Trail — Image by kenne
— kenne
Straggling Saguaro — Photo-Artistry by kenne
The spring weather in the Sonoran Desert is alluring, with beautiful blue skies and temperatures in the upper 70s.
However, many drought-resistant plants are dying, very few if any wildflowers are blooming due to a troubling
draught in the Sonoran Desert. What makes the Sonoran Desert so diverse and beautiful are two rainy seasons,
summer monsoon storms and steady winter rains. The two seasons still exist, but half the normal amount of rain.
— kenne
Loma Alta and Coyote Wash Trails (March 19, 2021) — Photo Essay by kenne
Pistol Hill Panorama — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Nature’s Art Wall — Photo-Artistry by kenne
This art is from a photograph of a canyon wall and like all things, it is living and has intelligence.
But, we like to think that it’s just a bunch of rocks and minerals, therefore not alive.
When I took the photograph I saw a wall alive, no different than a saguaro cactus,
and in the moment its being. By doing so, I brought my experience to the picture,
adding color, light, and contrast enhancing the natural beauty of the world around us.
It is alive and has intelligence.
— kenne
Eastern Collared Lizard — Image by kenne
— kenne
Smoke and Haze — Photo-Artistry by kenne
— kenne
Jim and John Walking to the Broadway Trailhead In Saguaro National Park. — Images by kenne
Yesterday morning and this morning, it’s been cool enough to consider hiking in the desert.
So, when Tom called yesterday and asked me to go hiking, I felt a rush of energy pinned up since the spring.
Normally the hot desert days drive us up to Mt. Lemmon to hit the mountain trails.
However, this summer, the trails have been closed because of the Big Horn Fire.
So, this morning Jim, John, Tom, and I met at the usual meeting place outside the Bear Canyon branch
of the Pima County Library to mask-up and carpool to one of the many park trailheads.
Here in Tucson, we are not currently experiencing the orange sky the forest fires have created in California.
But, we have a haze covered sky coming from the many fires in the western states, making it easy to look directly at the sun.
Signs of our prolonged drought are everywhere. Even normally, drought-resistant plants are struggling.
We spent about 2 1/2 hours hiking various trails and washes in the Park. My friends have been hiking
these trails much longer than I, and if you are wondering, I’m the youngest of us.
HAPPY FEET!
Morning Sunlight in the Saguaro National Park – East — Photo-Artistry by kenne
Santa Catalina Mountains from Saguaro National Park — Image by kenne
GENEROSITY
— Charles Rafferty
