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Tohono Chul Park – Tucson, Arizona
Tohono Chul Park is a privately funded, not-for-profit desert preserve in the Sonoran Desert on the northern edge of Tucson. The Santa Catalina Mountains form a backdrop for the Park’s natural desert habitat. Richard and Jean Wilson created the Park in 1985. This 49 acre Park has 300 species of cacti and succulents, 150 species of shrubs and trees, and 50 species of wildflowers. Thirty-eight species of birds make their permanent home at the Park while another 57 species visit the Park seasonally. In addition to the numerous trails and gardens the Park has museum shops, a tea room, greenhouse, performance gardens, an art exhibit house and education facilities on site. In 2005 it was designated as an Arizona Treasure by the governor.
©2008 John Wanserski for Creative Juice LLCWeather forecast for Tucson, Arizona vicinity
Blog entries for Tohona Chul Park
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Painted Desert, Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
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Video of the Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Petrified Forest National Park has the largest collection of fossilized trees in the world. 225 million years ago the trees, Araucarioxylon, Woodworthia, Schilderia, and others, fell into streams and washed into floodplains and mixed with silt, mud, and volcanic ash. Silica-laden groundwater seeped through the logs and replaced the wood tissue with silica. The silica crystallized into quartz, preserving the wood. Remnants of early human occupation of the area dating back to 1250 A.D. are found at Puerco Pueblo. The 100 room pueblo sheltered over 1,000 people. More recently, the Painted Desert Inn, built by Herbert David Lore around 1920, was used as the first overnight lodge in the area. The décor and architecture of the Painted Desert Inn reflects the awesome vistas of the surrounding beauty of the Painted Desert. The nearby trail head will lead you to a unique wilderness camping environment. Musice copyright 2008 by Maury Smith. Slide show and photographs copyright 2008, Creative Juice LLC.
Petrified Forest National Park
Map of the Petrified Forest National Park
Brochures in PDF about the lifeforms and history of the Petrified National Foreswt
