This is just as we are starting out our walk looking towards Picket Post mountain
As usual, the scenery is spectacular. Don't ever let anyone tell you Arizona is an ugly coulourless desert! They must never have visited if this is what they think!
A little ball cactus in flower
As usual, I can't remember the names of a lot of the wild flowers without my book handy!
The Palo Verde trees are beautiful bright green right now as they are getting their leaves back
Some of the wild flowers and cacti we saw as we walked the rails. We were sure glad we went early as it was so hot!!
This is a Bonker Pink flowered hedgehog cactus in bloom
Mariposa poppy flowering right in the rocks on the side of a mountain
In the distance you can see The Boyce Thompson mansion. It was left to the Arboretum by the family but is not in use at present
Bill, Beth, Sharon & Doug on the viewing platform over looking Ayer Lake. This was a man made lake created to store water to water all the plants at the Arboretum
Sharon at the cliff edge as we are now hiking down into the canyon where the river runs through
If you look carefully, you can see the river down below that we are hiking down into
We decided this was a good time to obey the signs!
At one point they had to extend the trail over the canyon wall so you could get around and continue down to the river bottom
We are nearly at the river now
Doug coming across the suspension bridge
I had caught up to him here
Looking down the river from the bridge. The scenery was spectacular
The apricot desert mallow was blooming everywhere
Can't remembee the name of this bush - some kind of rose but again a beautiful scent that required me to pull out the kleenex!
Doug coming out the doorway of an old stone house built into the mountainside where a family of 5 lived in a very small 3 roomed building. They were farmers
The inside of the house. I guess they spent a lot of time outside because there sure wasn't much room for 5 people!
The different agave plants flowering along the trial
Here I go again! This was a type of climbing rose (forgot the name) that had grown up the trees and the side of the mountain next to the rock house. it was spectacular to see it in full bloom and to smell the scent
Bill and I in the rock maze. Doug and Beth were taking a rest on the bench watching us
It was fun walking it though I tended to get dizzy if I looked down at my feet as I went in circles!
I think at this point I was saying "which way do I go now?"
I thought this was a great picture with both Bill and I with a foot in the air!
This was further down the canyon/river. An old farm site with the buildings still intact
This was one of the bedrooms
This was looking into the kitchen
Bil and Doug walking past the windmill
The coral and farm truck still standing
We then went into the demonstration garden where drought resistant plants were on display
All the diffeernt agave were in bloom and their flowers were so pretty
Agave blooms
More wild flowers
Not sure what this tree was as their wasn't a stake naming it but just coming out in purple blooms
Honeysuckle growing up a trellis
A close up of the honey suckle flower
A Cardinal sitting on a branch looking at us
Another type of barrel cactus in bloom
I am not sure what Beth tok this picture of us looking at?? Maybe the cardinal as he flew away??
a type of wild spreading geranium
A black throated hummingbird - don't you just love the long red beak?
Don't know what this wild flower is but the plant itself looks like a dandelion - so as the old saying goes "don't judge a book by its cover' as this flower is gorgeous!
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The last picture - more flowering cacti and flowers! We ended our day by having a picnic in the shade. A great day with good friends!
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