Start of the New Year

Happy Trails

Surprise, Arizona

You don't have to go far to get some beautiful skies in Happy Trails.  

Taken with the iPhone near the recycling depot in the park,  there is a lot of graininess but it gives a cool effect.

Ode to the Prickly Pear Cactus

Prickly Pear Flowering (March in Palm Springs)

The fruits of most prickly pears are edible and sold in stores under the name of "tuna."  The rounded "pads" of prickly pear branches  are also eaten as a vegetable.   They are rich in fiber and may help blood sugar levels.   


Prickly Pear Nectar is made with the juice and pulp of the fruits.

Prickly Pear Fruit 
(photo courtesy of the web)

I have seen the fruit for sale but have not experimented with it or the prickly pear pads.

The white stuff that shows up on the cactus (as seen in this light painted night photo)  is covered by chochineal.   It feeds almost solely on the pads of selected pear cactus.    Cochineal is an insect; females are colored by red pigment and measure only 1/16 to 1/4" in length.   The male is about half the family's length.   Like the aphid (a related insect) the female driver her tubular proboscis (that's a nose) through the cactus skin, where she will remain affixed for the rest of her life, sucking out the juice of the cactus.   She simultaneously produces a white, fungus-looking coating that helps protect her from predators like insects and birds.  Carnivorous caterpillars and ladybird beetles will feed on the cochineal.   If infected enough, the plant dies.

This is what makes this region so unique and different from our surroundings in British Columbia.    

The saguaros have a relatively long lifespan.   They may grow their first side arm any time from 75-100 year of age, and some never grow one at all.   

A saguaro without arms is called a spear.

They rely heavily on precipitation.   In drier western Arizona they grow only half as fast as those in and around Tucson.   They grow slowly from seed, and never from cuttings.

They can live over 150 years old! ! ! 

They can grow to over 70 ft tall.   Amazing, considering the desert conditions they strive in.   When they die, they have wooden spines - the spines are left and eventually the short rooted plant falls over and provides shelter for desert dwellers hiding from predators.  


Harming a saguaro in any manner is illegal by state law in Arizona and special permits must be obtained to move or destroy an saguaro affected when houses or highways are built.

Flowers appear in April through June.   


I so wish this was MY photo below,  but it is off the web as I have not yet had a chance to see the flowering Saguaro in all our winters in the Arizona Desert.  We have been heading north when this occurs.  

I was curious as to what the flower looks like ---- gorgeous.  The flower opens well after sunset and closes in mid-afternoon.

Large quantities of pollen are required for complete pollination; honey bees, bats, white-winged doves and other birds, like several types of hummingbirds, bats, orioles, Gilas woodpeckers and gilded flickers help with pollination.

This photo was taken of a couple of "saguaro boots" we found while mt biking.    When the saguaro dies and its soft flesh rots, the callus remains as a so-called "saguaro boot."  

CACTUS WREN

The "boot" originates from the birds excavating holes on the living stem.   The callus tissue is created by the cactus to protect the wound created by a bird's nesting hole.   The bird pecks through the cactus skin, then excavates downward to hollow out a space for its nest.  









Here is a condo effect . . . . .

is this why they call things a "pecking order?"



Gila woodpeckers creates holes about midlevel (its like high level apartments) and the Gilded Flicker drills higher up, where ribs are close together, because its beak is strong enough to break through rib tissue.


The saguaro secreted a sap that, over time, hardens into a bark-like shell that prevents the cactus from losing fluid and also protects the nest hole by making it waterproof.   Interestingly, the nesting hole required not only the bird's making a hole but also the cactus's lining the hole - it is not ready for use as a nest until a year after its creation!

There are other ways to build a condo - a roof top dwelling!


While I am on the topic of birds .   .    .     .      .

A grackle!   They have a very distinctive sound, but then, what bird doesn't?  

The grackle is known to practice "anting", rubbing insects on its feathers possibly to apply liquids such as formic acid secreted by the insects.   This can act as an insecticide but also a unique way of making the insects edible by removing the distasteful acid.

The grackle can also mimic the sounds of other birds or even humans.  Not as efficient as the Mockingbird however!

 Coming in for a landing.

A 'trained' Harris Hawk and a total "ham!"

A local hummer enjoying the Bottle Brush.

The Bottlebrush is sometimes referred to as Red Bottlebrush or Little John.   They are a perennial, hardy and low care.   They take full sun, somewhat drought-tolerant and evergreen.   They are definitely Hummingbird attracting shrubs.

News about Tombstone

This staged street fight became reality lately. . . . .   October 2015, during the Helidorado Days ended with ambulances and police swarming the streets of Tombstone.   During a skit and during a face off, one of the actors fired his firearm and his opponent fell to the ground after being struck in the lower abdomen by a live round.   He has survived and the show continues.

The town Vigilantes formed in 1946 and are dedicated to preserving and passing along Tombstone's rich history to tourists (about 3 hour from Phoenix).


Life around Happy Trails .    .     .      .        .        .

Marc's Plantar Fasciitis is slowly disappearing as he stretches in the hot tub.

The Kelpies are thoroughly enjoying the grassy washes around the area.   This neighborhood is very friendly and Tazz has met a 14 year old friend, Rusty.





And, another area we frequent - the difference this year is that watering and maintenance is not happening at this wash.   It is still green but no watering and maintenance - lots of leaves and patches of unhealthy grass and the plants are not trimmed this year.   

The oranges are FANTASTICALLY sweet and juicy and free from our friendly neighbors behind us!

The Chuckwagon Restaurant has efficient, delicious breakfasts and lunches ---- 

all run by volunteers.  

 Fabulously good and so reasonable.   Marc embellishes his with fruit brought from home and his last breakfast here was over a month ago; only because of the waistline!

Pickleball prevails (at times and that means too much of the time!).

The Happy Trails Classic:   Five days of tournament, tells you how big pickleball is becoming as this tournament was for 50+ ages only!




During the tournament  .... an unfortunate mishap.   A major fire in the resort.

Unfortunate for the couple but fortunately NO lives were lost.   

Steve, whom we know from playing pickleball was in the tournament during this (his wife volunteering) and his motorhome went up in flames.   They full-time so they lost everything, including their jeep.  

Fortunately (two weeks laters) they have regained some possessions from their safe - like their major documents from the safe (passports, birth certificates).   They now have a new jeep which insurance will eventually repay them for.  Motorhome - not sure at this point but they will get some kind of replacement funding.


So, when, and at some point, we spend winter in Canada and the indoor pickleball courts are too busy, we will play alternative pickleball: to view the video click on the link below.

(thanks you Harold for sharing this youtube video).

I often take the dogs along the dog walk in the park which is a gravel pathway - it loops around the golf course between Happy Trails and Traditions (a housing community next to Happy Trails).   I play with the dogs at the end of the pathway and end of the golf course after 6 pm.  

A coyote which stopped and was curious.   Thought not too much --- but, I picked up the two frisbees and called both dogs over to me which they did right away and I held their collars - put their leashes on.   The coyote circled and eventually I got a distance away.

Looking back - it sniffed where we were on the hill.   I realized after I got back to the truck --- I was totally dense!   I had two pieces of cooked chicken thighs from the store in my bag.

  

This photo does nothing but we found a rental for next season ---- 

gorgeously private on the golf course.

The current site we are in was sold and we were not sure if we would have to move on when possession took place which was January 22. 

We eventually got confirmation that we can stay until the date in March we intended on staying and all is great.   We have a lot to do here with friends and we still want to get together with Marc's relatives in Mesa before we head north.   Also thanks to Roz for getting us tickets to an upcoming Canucks game.

NOW - here is an alternative pickleball court should we spend a winter in Canada and all the indoor courts are busy .   .    .   click on the video below (thanks Harold for sharing this link its hilarious!)