See the monument Sep 30, 2009
"Everything a human actually needs is provided in the Sonoran Desert," Colyott said. "It is astounding - 270 plants offer medicines, cosmetics, foods, tools, weapons, building materials. And it does take people by surprise when they realize just how rich and lush this environment actually is.". (AZCentral -- Travel)
Census: Immigrant population dipped last year Sep 22, 2009
Facing the perils of crossing the scorching Sonoran Desert to enter illegally may no longer be worth it. "It's just too expensive," Bueno says. (USA Today)
Combining old, modern medicine can be effective Sep 21, 2009
Hernandez Guzman, a native of Mexico, is a graduate of the Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine in Tempe, and arrived in Yuma last year to begin her practice at Sonoran Desert Oncology. Reader Comments From the editor: Many of you have expressed concerns about some of the harsh anonymous comments from readers. (Yuma Daily Sun, AZ)
City council hears General Plan Amendments update; questions infill ‘incentive' language, land use issues Sep 19, 2009
There's high-density in two places: downtown and the sports complex; protect our beautiful Sonoran Desert. I think it makes Peoria a very attractive place to settle. (Peoria Times, AZ)
Kick off to the arts: A listing of local arts organizations and events for 2009-2010 Sep 18, 2009
On Sunday, Anna Domitrovic, geologist and former curator of minerals for the Sonoran Desert Museum, will be on hand to answer any questions about minerals in found locally. The Huachuca Mineral & Gem Club is a nonprofit organization. (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
Piper Trust awards $4.3 million in grants Sep 17, 2009
Sonoran Desert Chorale Inc. for a marketing plan with logo redesign, Web site development and promotional materials, $8,830/12 months. Crossroads Inc. for a capital project to provide meeting space for women in recovery and their children, $50,000/12 months. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
This Fall, It's a 'Season of Personal Discovery' at the Fairmont Scottsdale Sep 16, 2009
This fall, the new "" offers vacations with an inspiring purpose, giving up-close and personal time with 32 best-selling authors and lecturers over six themed weekends at the , a AAA Five Diamond resort located in the Sonoran Desert. (Photo: ). (PR Newswire)
Drought has eyes turning to Mexico Sep 15, 2009
Beginning nearly 40 years ago, the briny runoff from the "salad bowl" of southern Arizona, some of the most productive farmland in the nation, has been channeled into an arid plain of the Sonoran desert in Mexico ... Beginning nearly 40 years ago, the briny runoff from the "salad bowl" of southern Arizona, some of the most productive farmland in the nation, has been channeled into an arid plain of the Sonoran desert in Mexico. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Great Tucson Beer Festival Sep 15, 2009
The museum works to educate the public, perform research and protect the Sonoran Desert. 2021 N. Kinney Road. (AZCentral -- Travel)
Ornate box turtle numbers seem to decline Sep 15, 2009
Audrey Owens, a wildlife specialist with Arizona Game and Fish, wants to make the public aware that these turtles are not to be collected and are protected like their cousins the Sonoran Desert Tortoise ... They generally hang out near waterways, but can also be found in semi-desert grasslands, Sonoran desert scrub and Madrean evergreen woodland in altitudes up to 7,100 feet. (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
AllanMuirInside The NHL A bold trade for Phil Kessel is just what the Predators need. Sep 12, 2009
His will he-won't he-where will he sign saga has become the league's longest running soap opera -- at least, east of the Sonoran Desert. But the impasse declared this week by his agent Wade Arnott suggests an opportunity is at hand to address the massive hole created when rocketed back to Russia. (SportsIllustrated.CNN)
Green Thumb: Dig, water, or cut something Sep 10, 2009
September in our Sonoran Desert brings with it the promise of cooler weather in the not-so-distant future. With this promise there comes a longing in us gardeners to get outside and dig something, water something, fertilize something, or cut something. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
GREAT OUTDOORS: Free spirit finds cycling again Aug 30, 2009
They keep the sport alive and inspire others to get off the couch and enjoy the Sonoran desert, while getting their health back and making a contribution toward reducing our carbon footprint ... On the board of the Sonoran Desert Mountain Bike Club in Tucson, he met with congressional staff in Washington, D.C. last winter especially concerned about the Tumacacori wilderness proposal that he says may threaten bike routes here. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
Tortoise is a hair closer to federal protection Aug 30, 2009
FLAGSTAFF The federal government has agreed to consider whether the Sonoran desert tortoise, a Southwest icon whose population has declined by half in the past 20 years, warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act ... simplyme wrote on Aug 29, 2009 12:32 PM:" great story, thank you. I am almost sure it was a desert tortoise I found a couple of years ago that washed down during the monsoons. I always contact the Sonoran Desert Museum when I site animals, bats etc and send pictures. I ask... (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
US agency considers protected status for desert tortoise Aug 29, 2009
- The federal government has agreed to consider whether the Sonoran desert tortoise, a Southwest icon whose population has declined by half in the past 20 years, warrants protection under the Endangered Species Act. Two environmental groups petitioned the US Fish and Wildlife Service to list the tortoise, found in southwest Arizona and northern Mexico, as a distinct population. (Boston Globe)
Feds to consider protections for desert tortoise Aug 29, 2009
Two environmental groups petitioned the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service last year to list the Sonoran desert tortoise found in southwest Arizona and northern Mexico as a distinct population. The agency said Friday that it would review the status of the tortoise and any threats to its habitat. (AZCentral -- News)
Some illegals to be flown back to Mexico Aug 25, 2009
In addition, the flights will be conducted during the summer to help decrease the number of deaths of immigrants trekking into the U.S. via the scorching and dangerous Sonoran Desert. The flights will start Aug. 22 and run through Sept. 28. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
Gate installed over Peoria mine shaft to protect bats Aug 21, 2009
California leaf-nosed bats are native to the Sonoran Desert. They don't hibernate or migrate, which is why Game and Fish is taking extra precautions to preserve their habitat. (AZCentral -- News)
Animal Hike, Seek Walk Aug 19, 2009
Things to do at Usery Mountain Regional Park. What(ex: pizza or concert). (AZCentral -- Entertainment)
How Charlie Fowler became a vaquero Aug 12, 2009
Charlie admired the vaqueros; their skills with cattle and knowledge of the Sonoran Desert had developed after centuries of survival in this hard desert environment. The ranchers decision to reclaim this wild bull was serious business and involved months of planning and preparation. (Nogales International, AZ)
Rope a deal on a ranch vacation Aug 11, 2009
Ride in the high Sonoran Desert across more than 135,000 acres of trails. This delightfully chic ranch offers the themed camp Nov. 6-10. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Travel)
Supervisors hold off decision on spraying Aug 6, 2009
Both sides agree nonnative buffelgrass is taking over parts of the Sonoran desert ... Coalition for Sonoran Desert Protection head Carolyn Campbell says there needs to be extensive education to residents before even a small test is conducted. (FOX 11, AZ)
Scorpion's sting leads Yuman to open health center Aug 4, 2009
In October the Yuma woman stepped on a bark scorpion, one of the most venomous scorpions in North America and found in the Sonoran Desert. Sorrell recalled that within 10 minutes it was difficult to breath - and she was scared. (Yuma Daily Sun, AZ)
Pima County cancels plans for buffelgrass spraying Jul 31, 2009
Buffelgrass is known for choking off nonnative plants in the Sonoran Desert. The county had planned to use a helicopter to spray 12 roughly one acre sized parcels in a rugged area west of Kennedy Park near Ajo Way. (FOX 11, AZ)
A breathtaking hike to San Jacinto Peak Jul 30, 2009
During your spectacular 10-minute, two and a half mile aerial trip from the Valley Station at an elevation of 2,643 feet to an 8,516 foot high mountain station, you ll pass through five unique life zones, from the Mexican Sonoran Desert to an Alpine Wilderness. If you do not wish to make the entire trip to the peak there are 54 miles of hiking trails on the top of this scenic wonderland. (Desert Entertainer, CA)
Tortoise could slow projects Jul 27, 2009
BISBEE Last week members of the county Board of Supervisors were told a movement was afoot to add the Sonoran Desert Tortoise to the threatened or endangered species list ... Jiffy-Speedie is the name of this 30-year-old Sonoran Desert Tortoise that lives with herpetologist Tom Miscione ... Sierra Vistan Tom Miscione, a herpetologist, has had a Sonoran desert tortoise for 30 years. (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
Jackrabbit species could get federal help Jul 23, 2009
Besides the white-sided jackrabbit, WildEarth Guardians is seeking protections for other species, including the Sonoran desert tortoise. The Fish and Wildlife Service has yet to issue a finding on that species, but WildEarth Guardians says the tortoises' numbers have also been cut in half in recent decades. (MSNBC -- Environment)
Adam Lambert plays to the crowd Saturday night in San Diego. Photo by Julie McCoy Jul 22, 2009
One of these is Nancy Adams, zoologist with Tucson s Sonoran Desert Museum. On a daily basis she works with these tiny specimens, feeding and caring for them at the museum s hummingbird enclosure. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
Government meetings Jul 20, 2009
There will be a quad-state local government authority presentation on the Sonoran Desert Tortoise Endangered Species Act Designation. Cochise County Board of Supervisors work session: 1 p.m., supervisors executive conference room. (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
Hot desert deals from $89 a night Jul 16, 2009
From rugged mountain ranges to plains filled with tall Saguaro cacti, the Sonoran Desert region around Tucson provides a solid glimpse of the diverse desert habitat in southern Arizona. At the secluded, sand-colored JW Marriott Starr Pass Tucson Resort & Spa, guests can go hiking and mountain biking on several onsite trails through surrounding cacti forest or golf on the challenging 27-hole desert golf course. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Youth Conservation Corps working on desert projects Jul 12, 2009
Four local high school students are spending their summer pulling weeds for Uncle Sam in the Sonoran Desert. Cody Hein, Jacob Cundiff, Josephine Hernandez and Valerie Molina were chosen from over 40 applicants to help restore and revive local wildlife refuges for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as part of the Youth Conservation Corps (YCC). (Yuma Daily Sun, AZ)
US-Mexico border wall could threaten wildlife species Jul 8, 2009
"Bighorns in places like the Sonoran desert will form small populations sometimes with only 10, 15 or 20 animals," Epps said. "Yet they will occasionally move back and forth and mix with other groups. That connectivity is critical to their survival. Without it, they can still sometimes re-colonize, but often that small group will go extinct. "Isolating populations not only reduces genetic diversity," he added, "it makes the animals more susceptible to disease, drought and other weather... (EurekAlert!)
El Pinacate biosphere mysteries explored Jul 3, 2009
Once visitors hike one of the cones, they can see beautiful views of the Sonoran Desert, the volcanic floor, gigantic craters, ash tubes, lava, sand dunes and the Gulf of California. Before entering the biosphere, visitors must register at the Biology Station, where they receive information and recommendations from the station's staff, as well as park rangers who patrol the area. (Yuma Daily Sun, AZ)
Moonlight Jeep tours shine bright Jul 1, 2009
When the sun sets on the Sonoran Desert, the land comes to life. Saguaro flowers bloom in the moonlight, reptiles scurry through the underbrush and animals emerge from their hiding places to look for food. (AZCentral -- Travel)
Xeriscape a lush garden Jun 26, 2009
And native plants or those adapted to the Sonoran Desert require less water and environmentally costly alterations, he says. Xeriscape has evolved from the early moonscapes found in Sun City and other parts of the Valley where colored rocks and a lone saguaro or two created a landscape, he says. (AZCentral -- Home)
Three Southwestern weekend getaways Jun 26, 2009
All hail the saguaroa plant that can weigh up to eight tons and live more than 150 years, and thrives in the harsh light of the Sonoran Desert. Its the de facto icon of southern Arizona, a parched and pri 00003484 ckly region of acacia, mesquite, and cacti, complete with the odd rattlesnake. (MSNBC -- Travel)
Inaugural St. David Farmers Market set this Saturday (2) Jun 25, 2009
This week look for lots of fresh produce, herbs, seedlings and plants from local farmers and backyard growers, farm eggs, honey, pistachios and pecans, emu oil products, baked goods galore, wool and handspun yarn for fiber artists, weavings, gourds, seeds, goat's milk soap, mesquite, regular and corn tortillas, mesquite baked goods, fresh salsa, tamales, desert health foods (prickly pear nectar leather , preserves (BBQ sauce, cactus jellies s), frozen home-style spaghetti sauce, local pinto... (Benson San Pedro Valley News Sun, AZ)
Cool prelude to summer ends Season's start to bring normal temperatures - near 110s this week Jun 23, 2009
After the ninth-hottest May on record in Phoenix, early June was unusually cool by Sonoran Desert standards. Casa Grande didn't have a double-digit string of sub-100 high temperatures like Phoenix, but we did go a long time without reaching a normal high temperature. (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ)
Amphibians, snakes, other reptiles aren't to be feared says herpetologist Jun 22, 2009
The Sonoran Desert Toad is particularly large and should not be handled. The toad secretes a paralyzing toxin that can cause extreme distress and even death in small pets, he added. (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
UA biologist discovers new moth, names for wife Jun 16, 2009
One of the key reasons the region has so many unidentified insects is because of the large number of plants here, said Mark Dimmitt, director of natural history for the Center for Sonoran Desert Studies at the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum. Every plant supports a number of insects, and considering that there are roughly 3,500 plant species in the mountains of Southern Arizona, the number of insect species should continue to grow, Dimmitt said. (AZCentral -- News)
Recovery 'right on track' at Cave Creek Complex Fire site May 29, 2009
Forest Service biologists and a desert-plant expert, in a kind of Sonoran Desert "Saguaro CSI," have varying forensic theories about what killed the Grand One. Was it fire, wind, disease, old age, lightning or a combination of factors. (AZCentral -- News)
Ocean Watch: Flexibility and cool make cruise to Baja a breeze May 26, 2009
So I rented a car and spent two days driving through the Sonoran desert ... So I rented a car and spent two days driving through the Sonoran desert. (Honolulu Star-Bulletin)
Mi amor, mi coraz“n May 16, 2009
"Travis influenced countless top musicians, and at the same time was a cultural icon, totally immersed in the Mexican, Native American, and cowboy folklore of the Sonoran Desert," said Bill McCune who was producing a documentary on Edmonson in 2006. His father Everett worked for the county and his mother, Lillian. (Nogales International, AZ)
Resort kids programs adding value for families May 15, 2009
Even National Geographic is getting into the act, with a new National Geographic Explorers Camp at the Fairmont Scottsdale, complete with photo safaris, GPS treasure hunts into the Sonoran Desert and meet-and-greets with bona fide National Geographic adventurers. "It was about kids having fun together and parents getting some space," said Lane, the mother of two daughters. (CNN -- Travel)
Condos on hold until home market improves May 14, 2009
Condos, expected to go for up to $2 million, would have 10-foot ceilings, spacious balconies and views of the Sonoran Desert. What's next: Lewis said he thinks the housing market has hit bottom. (AZCentral -- Business)
• Spring? We don't need no stinking spring May 13, 2009
You can grow them in the Sonoran Desert and they thrive in Chihuahua, but not in Idaho. Which leads me to believe that God is having second thoughts about the whole notion of agriculture in southern Idaho. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Travel: 9 Remote Getaways May 12, 2009
In Arizona's Sonoran desert, at the foot of the Santa Catalina mountains, is the 80-acre. It was a working dude ranch in the 1940s and 50s, and is now an adobe-style hotel offering biking, hiking, horseback riding, tennis and a full-service spa. (Time.com)
Banks formation hangs on decision from state agency May 10, 2009
Despite federal policy changes meant to spur bank startups, the environment for raising capital is as dry as the Sonoran Desert, causing at least two de novo banks to withdraw their state charters here in the past five months. Other banks could face a similar fate. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
Celebrating birds and nature on the San Pedro River at Saturday event May 9, 2009
The Sonoran Desert from the west reaches out to meet the Chihuahuan desert from the east. The junction of these four systems makes for an area with unprecedented biodiversity. (Sierra Vista Herald, AZ)
Top 10 Hotels for Nature Lovers May 8, 2009
After a brief stretch through a private easement, you enter the pristine Sonoran Desert habitat of the Pusch Ridge Wilderness. Saguaros crowd the slopes and huge boulders fill the canyon bottom, where a seasonal stream runs. (KFOXTV.com, TX)
Experience Luxury for Less This Summer in Scottsdale May 6, 2009
--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Temperatures in the Sonoran Desert may be rising, but Scottsdales prices are falling fast ... Early risers looking for outdoor adventure with amazing views go to the where 36,400 acres of pristine Sonoran Desert hosts activities like hiking, biking, rock climbing and horseback riding ... An astronomer on-board the Stellar Adventures Hummer will point out constellations and celestial wonders while those enjoying the ride with Desert Storm don night-vision goggles,... (Yahoo! Wire -- Entertainment News)
• Study: Grazing threatens wildlife habitat in West May 1, 2009
Sonoran desert tortoise, 53 percent permitted, 47 percent active. The bulk of the federal land studied is managed by the Bureau of Land Management, which issued grazing permits and leases to 15,799 ranchers and other operators covering 128 million acres of U.S. land in 2006. (Burley South Idaho Press, ID)
Surfing the Net With Kids: desert animals May 1, 2009
Desert Museum: Sonoran Desert Fact Sheets. From Anna's Hummer (a green and red hummingbird) to the White-Winged Dove, the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum provides 28 animal fact sheets, and another 10 about desert plants. (Boston Globe)
Native American culture around Arizona Apr 28, 2009
Near downtown Phoenix, the museum showcases life as it was 2,000 years ago in the Sonoran Desert. Hohokam people lived in central and southern Arizona from about 1 to 1450, when drought and floods caused them to move on. (AZCentral -- Travel)
Top trails for beginners Apr 28, 2009
This loop consists of two partly overlapping trails, each of which provides a fine introduction to the plants of the Sonoran Desert, views of the rugged hills on the Valley's western edge and a close look at ancient Hohokam petroglyphs. On a clear day, you can see the Phoenix skyline in the distance. (AZCentral -- Travel)
Hunt: Old Main could serve arts community Apr 18, 2009
Part of Hunt's presentation last week named a not-for-profit agency that would handle the revitalization of Old Main: the International Sonoran Desert Alliance. Hunt said the agency has completed a similar project in Ajo. (Peoria Times, AZ)
Bill would allow limits on animal trade Apr 14, 2009
Advocates worry about unregulated importation of wild animals, birds and reptiles into the U.S., including safety issues and impacts on native ecosystems ranging from the Florida Everglades to Arizona s Sonoran Desert. Reader Comments. (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)
Cloud-filled skies of Tubac artistCarry a Special Gift Apr 11, 2009
Michael Arthur Jayme is a fifth-generation Sonoran Desert dweller who has spent most of his life looking at the cloudless skies of the arid Southwest. But step inside his spacious studio/gallery at the Amado Territory Ranch in Tubac and you'll meet a man with a passion and see emotion-packed landscape paintings with cloud-filled skies. (Nogales International, AZ)
OneBookAZ spotlights Nogales authors Apr 10, 2009
"Hip, Hip Hooray, It's Monsoon Day!" tells how many people celebrate the coming of the monsoon season each year in the Sonoran Desert. The plot is told through the stories of a young boy and his family who introduce the reader to their cultural traditions, plus the "meteorological wonders" of the world. (Yuma Daily Sun, AZ)
Birding Oro Valley, Arizona's Honey... Apr 10, 2009
Nestled in the heart of this beautiful desert residential area, Honeybee Canyon follows a near-level wash a mile through the Sonoran Desert ... In spring, Brittlebush is blooming and numerous butterflies are present along with thirty to fifty species of Sonoran desert birds. (Suite101.com)
Deported man, wife work for his return Apr 5, 2009
They then merged with a group of 12 people and set out across the mountainous Sonoran Desert, with Miguel leading the way. He rarely spoke, Mr. Vielma said. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)
More Arizona lands protected Sonoran Desert Monument among sites preserved by federal legislation Apr 3, 2009
More Arizona lands protected Sonoran Desert Monument among sites preserved by federal legislation ... Included was the Sonoran Desert National Monument west of Casa Grande ... Areas of Arizona covered by the Omnibus Public Land Management Act include the Vermillion Cliffs, Grand Canyon-Parashant, Agua Fria, Sonoran Desert and Ironwood Forest national monuments that President Bill Clinton created by executive orders. (Casa Grande Valley Newspapers, AZ)
Naturopathic doctor embraces 'whole person' Apr 1, 2009
" Hernandez Guzman, who works for Sonoran Desert Oncology, will present a public talk about naturopathic medicine on Tuesday, April 7. Her talk is being sponsored by Sunstone Cancer Support Centers. The event will run from 5:30 to 7 p.m. and take place at the Heritage Branch Library on Third Street. Refreshments and literature will be provided. Admission will be $7 per person and reservations are required. For more information call Yuma Sunstone Resource Center at 783-5595. Providing information... (Yuma Daily Sun, AZ)
The winds of Organ Pipe Mar 30, 2009
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument was established in 1937 to preserve about 330,000 acres of Sonoran Desert habitat along the Mexican border. Saguaros mix with organ pipes, stretching into the greasewood and up scree-covered, volcanic slopes. (AZCentral -- News)
Kidnocker: Where are the wildflowers? Mar 28, 2009
A really good bloom occurs about once in 10 years in the Sonoran Desert. Besides rain, other factors can prevent a really special wildflower display. (Green Valley News & Sun, AZ)
