Author: cecilyuf

The dyes come from plants, minerals and even insects. Mosses provide the green, pecan shells yield brown and pink comes from pomegranate peel. The mineral indigo (from the anil plant) results in a beautiful rich blue after reacting with oxygen. The yellow hues come from zacatlaxcalli, a natural plant in Oaxaca similar to the Manzanita flower, and the oranges and golds are from marigolds collected after the Day of the Dead celebrations. The vivid red is a carmine dye derived from the cochineal, an insect that is found on the Opuntia, or prickly pear cactus.

Variations in the intensity of colors is achieved by using different shades of wool or different reacting agents (mordants) such as alum, baking soda, vinegar, salt, lime juice, and cream of tartar.

The rugs are a labor of love. Once the wool has been cleaned and dyed, hand weaving can take 2-3 weeks for a small rug and up to 4-5 months for a larger, more intricate piece. Factors such as size, materials used and complexity of design all contribute to the price of the finished product.

Alex is passionate about weaving and keeping his culture alive. His love for the craft and desire to maintain the ancient traditions of his ancestors are evident in the heirloom quality of his products.

Article and photos by guest writer Karen Wright

Dear Tohono Chul Family,

We are excited to announce that Jamie Maslyn Larson will take the lead as our new executive director starting February 1! Selected after a 5-month national search, she is the fourth person to lead Tohono Chul since its founding in 1985 and follows current Executive Director Dr. Christine Conte who retires after leading the organization for more than a decade.

“Jamie brings more than 25 years of experience as an award-winning landscape architect and firm leader,” says Sasha Case, Tohono Chul Board of Trustees President. “Her career has focused on creating transformative public spaces that connect people to nature and includes leadership positions working with public gardens and cultural institutions, such as the first-ever masterplan of the Longwood Gardens, one of the great gardens of the world, and Longwood’s Main Fountain Garden Revitalization project—a garden that combines landscape design with art, innovation, technology and extraordinary fountains. Jamie also led the inaugural masterplan for the Houston Botanic Garden, whose first phase opened in 2020.”

A Tucson resident, Jamie was raised in Phoenix and received her Master of Landscape Architecture from Utah State University and Bachelor of Fine Arts from Northern Arizona University. She is a Fellow of the American Association of Landscape Architects and a licensed landscape architect in Arizona, New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida.

“Over the last few years, many people have turned to nature for inspiration, solace, stress release, and to gather together in open space. As a premier public garden that merges nature and culture, Tohono Chul has a meaningful role in supporting the health and vitality of our community and our region. As I join Tohono Chul, I hope to build from the generous vision of benefactors Richard and Jean Wilson, who sought to preserve this ‘desert corner’ for generations of visitors,” says Maslyn Larson.

Ms. Case continued: “We are excited about Jamie’s skills leading initiatives that are at the forefront of innovation and her deep experience in creating inclusive engagement processes, ensuring that Tohono Chul will continue to benefit the community and attract visitors from around the world. Dr. Conte’s legacy of vision and commitment has placed Tohono Chul in a sweet spot. As the fourth executive director ready to take the helm, we are confident that Jamie will flourish in her leadership role, continuing Conte’s efforts to make this delightful garden a model for sustainability in the community and beyond.”

WELCOME JAMIE!

Dear Tohono Chul Family,

As we celebrate this holiday season and look forward to welcoming in the New Year, it is a special joy to write to you about so many good things to come at Tohono Chul.

You have probably heard that I will be retiring my post as Executive Director within a few months and that I will continue on as a volunteer member of the Board. A thoughtful search process for my successor is underway. I am tremendously grateful for the enthusiastic support you have shown me over the past 11 years and it’s comforting to know that I can count on you to welcome Tohono Chul’s new leader in the same spirit.

But right now, here are a few things bright and beautiful that I hope will make you proud:

• Beginning in October we’ve been able to bring back more in-person experiences in nature and the arts—the Fall Plant Sale, Sundays in the Garden concert series, Guatemalan Sale, gallery exhibits, receptions, curator talks and educational workshops and classes. None of this would have been possible without your kind understanding and willingness to don your mask, not only inside but even for outdoor events where social distancing is not possible.

• Staff and volunteers are very busy tending the winter gardens, filling the shops with holiday goodies and the galleries with spirit-lifting artworks. I can’t wait to see you at Holiday Nights once again with the garden lights sparkling, music, and good cheer all around.

• Thanks to a generous donor, the Children’s Garden will get a new shade structure over the “tarantula table” and repairs to the javelina-bashed wooden gates.

• We’re planning to see you in person at the Members’ Reception on Saturday, January 15th from 10am to noon for the first time since February 2020 when nearly 400 of you gathered in the newly completed Garden Pavilion. While the pandemic is still with us we will require masks and we won’t be packing in seating, but we WILL have light refreshments and a lot of fun connecting with the Tohono Chul family—staff, board members, volunteers and all of YOU. The program will include local bee expert Monica King sharing her valuable insights about to how we can preserve our native bee pollinators and prevent displacement of honeybees by Africanized bees. Staff will be on hand to show you what’s going on in the gardens, galleries, and greenhouses and coming up in the New Year.

• Welcome to Jordan Collins, Tohono Chul’s new Plant Propagation Supervisor! Jordan comes to this position with a wealth of both educational training in plant science (including graduate studies in sustainable bioeconomy which involves using plant materials to create products) and hands-on experience in greenhouses and gardens. Stay tuned for news of improvements at the propagation greenhouse and look for evidence that his vision is unfolding in the gardens and retail greenhouse offerings.

• It’s been a banner year for butterflies and errant Pipevine Swallowtail caterpillars (Battus philenor) can still be spotted meandering on the walls of the Desert Discovery Education Center and on its host plant Southwestern Pipevine (Aristolochia watsonii) in the Sundial Plaza.

There is so much to be thankful for. Not only have you helped sustain Tohono Chul despite the pandemic’s seemingly relentless uncertainty, but you have done so in extraordinary ways. There is always more we would like to do and with your generous support we will!

Tohono Chul is emerging from mere survival to envisioning and creating a bright future. With your help, we can bring solar energy and water conservation projects stalled during the pandemic back to life, keep our charming historic buildings safe and beautiful and retain the talented and dedicated staff who make it all happen.

I hope you are proud of what you have accomplished and that you will consider a year-end gift to Tohono Chul to keep the magic coming.

And again today, as in every letter I have written to you over these many months, my heart is filled with gratitude for the gifts you have provided.

Tohono Chul is here for all to enjoy because you never lost hope. Despite unprecedented challenges, we never stopped working together towards a brighter future. With your support, Tohono Chul will continue to thrive in the coming year and beyond.

Wishing you a joyous holiday season and sending thanks from the bottom of my heart.

What a phenomenal monsoon season it has been! As of September 1, 2021 Tucson has received 12.08 inches of rain – that’s more than six inches above our average monsoon rainfall! After last year’s “non-soon” and devastating Bighorn fire in the Santa Catalina Mountains, this wetter than average summer has felt like a breath of fresh air. But with life giving rain comes destruction. For Tohono Chul that destruction came in the form of microbursts. The first microburst hit the gardens at approximately 4:30 pm on Saturday, August 28^th. Large hail combined with winds reportedly in excess of 60 mph wreaked havoc on the grounds. Fortunately, all of Tohono Chul’s structures remained intact. Head Groundskeeper, Chris Kibler arrived the following morning with a heavy heart as he surveyed the vast damage throughout the grounds. The storm took out several mature trees including a 70 foot Date palm in the Ethnobotanical Garden, a large Ironwood tree by the Children’s Ramada, a large Arizona Rosewood tree near the Grounds Office, and numerous full grown Palo Verde trees throughout the property. Our amazing Grounds crew quickly got to work clearing debris from the pathways and around buildings so that business as usual could resume.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature was not yet done with Tohono Chul – another heavy storm rolled through the property at 6:00 pm on Sunday, August 29^th and roughly doubled the amount of damage from the previous day. Between the two storms, over 60 trees and large plants were completely uprooted or severely damaged and six saguaros toppled (three of which were beyond salvaging). Not to mention the countless broken limbs and debris strewn throughout the grounds.

Post storm cleanup proved to be no small feat! Again, our incredible Grounds crew got to it – removing fallen trees that impeded pathways and parking along with the help of Rob Stevens and his team at Canopy Tree Services. One of the biggest challenges involved removing the top of the Date palm from the Texas Olive tree in the Spanish Colonial Courtyard. Not a sight you see every day! Over seven roll off dumpsters were filled with storm debris and the work is not done yet – four more dumpsters will likely be filled when the cleanup is complete. We want to extend a HUGE thank you to the Grounds crew for their efforts! Anyone who visited after the storms can attest to the large scale destruction seen throughout the gardens. Volunteers and Docents were also quick to lend a hand with the cleanup. Thank you to everyone who pitched in! You worked tirelessly to return Tohono Chul to the beautiful state that we all know and love. A tree nursery based in Phoenix has generously offered to donate several tress to replace some of those lost during the storms. Look for these new additions to the gardens sometime in the spring of 2022. While we are deeply saddened by the destruction and loss of so many trees, cacti, and vegetation, the rains in turn rewarded us with the gift of an influx of butterflies throughout the gardens. Look for the delicate insects fluttering by on your next visit!      

Dear Tohono Chul Family,

Hasn’t this monsoon season been WONDERFUL?!

I cannot think of a more welcome gift, after a refreshing family vacation, than to return to billowing thunderclouds and cooling rains that quench the dusky landscape and transform it into the lush and verdant greens of a tropical forest.

Even this morning, with the monsoon season winding down, it was a joy to rise to a brilliantly hued sunrise and to walk Tohono Chul’s garden paths amidst clouds of fluttering lemon yellow and gold winged butterflies.

And again today, as in every letter I have written to you over these many months, my heart is filled with gratitude for the gifts you have provided.

Tohono Chul is here for all to enjoy because you never lost hope. Despite unprecedented challenges, we never stopped working together towards a brighter future. Your gifts have taken us through the long hot summer and with your support, Tohono Chul will continue to survive and thrive in the coming year and beyond.

But right now, here are a few highlights from behind-the-scenes:

• Garden Bistro Chef Michael Montesano and Groundskeeper Hannah Hendryk are teaming up to deliver some delicious seasonal treats from the Ethnobotanical Garden. I recommend Michael’s unique suite of gelatos including Sugarcane Basil and Spiced Sweet Lime.

• Barrel cactus (Ferocactus wizliseni and Fercocatus covillei) are in full bloom with bursts of bright yellow, orange, and red dotting the garden paths and desert loop trails. Head Groundskeeper Chris Kibler said even he hadn’t realized how many we had until this record-breaking monsoon season prompted these blooms.

• The La Fuente Gift Shop entrance has a newly refurbished shade ramada. While the old one was still charming, it was showing its age and beginning the slide from charming to shabby.

• A Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (Polioptila melanura), one of the smallest songbirds in our area, was spotted by staff and volunteers in the trees off the north gate of the Children’s Garden. Another staff member saw one along the South Loop Trail. Soon to be featured in our Birds in Our Backyard series, the Black-tailed Gnatcatcher can be seen and heard in this sneak preview: tohonochul.org/birds-in-our-backyard/#series-three

• Sundays in the Garden concerts will return for the fall season beginning Sunday, October 10th, and for the first time since Tohono Chul had to close in March 2020 due to the pandemic. Because social distancing may not be possible in the Performance Garden and the pandemic is still with us, and because vaccination status is uneven among our guests, be prepared to don your mask in the seating area.

The generous $200K match challenge you met at the end of June is sustaining these attractions and much more as we move forward into early fall. I hope you will consider a gift, at whatever level, to ensure this community treasure can continue to provide solace and even—enchantment—this fall and throughout the year to come.

I look forward to seeing you in the gardens, on the paths, in the shops, and in the galleries. Thank you so very much for all you are doing to make Tohono Chul shine.

Warm Regards,

It’s almost that time of year when the prickly pear fruit ripens and it’s time to harvest!

Learn how to process the fruit in the video below featuring our Interpretive Programs Manager Stephen Spikes.

Dear Tohono Chul Family,

So much about this past year has been unsettling.

Last year at this time I was writing to you during the height of the pandemic. Tohono Chul was closed and its future uncertain. The sky was filled with lung-searing smoke from the Bighorn Fire on the mountain and there were no quenching monsoon rains in sight.

And yet, we never lost hope. We never stopped working together towards a brighter future.

This morning, all of this and more has changed for the better.

This letter comes with my sincere thanks and an incredibly wonderful piece of really good news!

Last February, I shared the news that a very generous anonymous admirer offered a challenge grant for Tohono Chul to raise an additional $200,000 by June 30, 2021.

I am overjoyed to report that YOU MET THE CHALLENGE and Tohono Chul is set to make it through the long hot summer and into early fall.

There simply couldn’t be better news as we move into a new fiscal year. As I write, I am cautiously optimistic that the fall and winter will approach “normal” and keeping fingers crossed that we, once again, will be able to host Sundays in the Garden concerts, the Fall Plant Sale, and the much-loved Holiday Nights festival.

But right now, here are a couple of highlights from behind-the-scenes:

• Groundskeeper Shauna Smith and local bee expert Monica King have been working together to safely remove a hive of 10,000-12,000 Africanized honey bees from the public area around the Sundial Plaza without harming the bees. During the removal they were surprised to find the bees packed 7 honeycomb slabs in the small irrigation box, making full use of every inch. Shauna is happy to report that the few bees left in Sundial Plaza seem to have calmed down and lost interest in moving into a neighboring bees’ irrigation box. Click here to read.

• Last month we launched Birds in Our Backyard, a “virtual” window on the bird life you might be seeing in your backyard or here on the grounds at Tohono Chul. Designed to reacquaint you, or introduce you to 45 of the common birds seen in and around greater Tucson area and in Tohono Chul. I hope you’ll enjoy this sneak preview URL of the newest set of featured birds– Abert’s Towhee, House Finch and House Sparrow. Click here to read.

As we gather to celebrate our nation’s independence, I cannot thank you enough. You who supported Tohono Chul in many different ways; your generous gifts, memberships, and retail sales have made it possible for Tohono Chul to not only survive but to thrive.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

As I hope many of you will also be doing, I will be taking a few weeks’ vacation to reunite with family and friends outside of Tucson.

I will look forward to seeing each and every one of you when I return—on the paths, at the Bistro, in the shops and in the galleries. And every day, I will be thanking you for all you have done to keep our precious Tohono Chul alive and well.

Warm Regards,

Honey bees would usually be a boon for any garden. Bees provide an essential environmental service – pollination. They visit flower after flower collecting pollen grains and slurping up nectar. When a bee carries pollen from one flower to another and visits two flowers of the same species, there’s always a chance than some pollen from the first flower fertilized the second. The process of pollination causes “fruit” to form – the botanical definition of fruit used here is “the mature, ripened ovary”. Approximately 80% of food crops humans eat are pollinated by bees.

You would think our very own honey bee colony would be welcome, especially when it is near our Ethnobotanical Garden. However, 10,000 to 12,000 bees taking over an irrigation box in the Sundial Plaza is an issue for our gardeners. Tohono Chul groundskeeper Shauna could not safely use our irrigation system. She was forced to hand water all the plants in the area. Plants need water to survive and if gardeners cannot water our gardens properly our plants suffer. Using an irrigation system saves both labor and water; two precious commodities in Tucson’s summer heat. So we had no choice but to enlist the help of bee expert Monica King in relocating this colony.

Monica used a gentle vacuum to collect bees. Specially designed to safely hoover live bees, it took approximately 45 minutes just to clear the irrigation box’s cover and make it safe to open. Monica then used a prying tool to carefully open the box. The bees had sealed their hive by tightly gluing the lid with propolis. Also called “bee glue”, propolis is a sticky substance bees secrete to make their hives impermeable. Inside, Shauna and Monica found 7 slabs of honeycombs. The bees had completely taken over the irrigation box. Monica cut out the honeycombs to clear the box for its intended use. Shauna could now use the irrigation system and use our precious water more efficiently.

A vacated hive and the few bees left behind are vulnerable to “robber bees”. These are bees from another colony looking for an easy meal. Instead of collecting nectar to make their own honey, robber bees raid a weakened hive and steal its honey. They cut into honeycombs and gorge themselves before flying away. The stolen honey is then regurgitated and added to the robbing colony’s reserves. Shauna and Monica left the box open to prevent a new colony from moving in. Over the next few days, Shauna sprayed the inside with soapy water and covered the lid with a towel soaked in pinsol to make the area undesirable.

Just like any animal with a mouth can bite, any insect with a stinger can sting! So please use caution and keep your distance if you see swarms of bees.

Please note Bloom Night this year is a MEMBERS ONLY event and has new hours from 6 to 10 p.m.
The morning after Bloom Night (TBD) is also available only to members and opens at 6:30 a.m. for the chance to see the blooms before they fade. Become a member here.

This morning The Queen is moving. She is showing flower bud growth, perhaps in response to the weather changes? Leith Young our Propagation Greenhouse Manager and Pima County Nursery Manager Amy Belk are keeping a close watch on the blooms in order to let us know when the moment is nigh.

A Monsoon Poem, by Tracey Till

Rain falls and hot steam rises from a clay teacup of creosote and bursage leaves. The vapor floats to our noses. Dragonflies frolic and millipedes sip from droplets. Reptiles stretch out to catch the soft rain with their bodies. Rumbling thunder like a temple gong finally breaking its silence.

Pitter patter. Pop.

Fruits swell.

Now the desert smells like fruit pie. The scent of fallen saguaro fruits on the warm desert floor is lifted into the air as the doves enjoy a feast at their high tables.

Draped in mist, the foothills play their flutes as a banner arches through the sky.

The Queen takes a sip.

– Tracey Till
Propagation & Greenhouse Associate