Thursday, April 4, 2013

Driving area in of January 2013

We drive the desert roads in the area to become more familiar so we can tell our visitors what to expect.  One of the things that surprised us was the motion detectors as well as notification  requesting assistance.

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The saguaro are damaged by wild animals, termites and birds. 

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As we notice the different saguaro . . . . size, number of arms, etc. we have trouble trying to determine age.  Some of the larger stands have no arms while a shorter saguaro will have many arms.  We are told that if there is a long drought the arms will droop but will turn up again after a rain.  The root system is very shallow so after a rain they drink all the water they can so the plant gets very fat.  If fact they will split vertically resulting in a long black scar.

                        IMG_4331-Saguaro growth explained 

IMG_4303 On this saguaro we counted 32 arms.

In Ajo  there was on open pit copper mine until the late 1980s.

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Near the mine is an old mission church that is now a museum.

IMG_4339-Mission church built in 1942 now Museum

IMG_4326-Ajo Museum Black Smith Shop Black smith shop

IMG_4328--FEJ examining stove Francis checking out the kerosene stove

IMG_4329-Kerosene stove like my Granny had

IMG_4333 Buttons used as pictures.

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