Arizona Vacation Part Two

Exercise and family fitness is important to us.  So, yesterday we started out bright and early with a walk through the trail surrounding Papgago Park in Phoenix.

Within the park stands beautiful sandstone buttes and Governor George Wiley Paul Hunt is entombed in  a white pyramid that is visible from almost any point in the park. Governor Hunt set a national record by being elected to the first, second, third, sixth, seventh, eighth and 10th term as Arizona’s governor. His wife, Helen, her parents, the J. W. Ellisons, and her sister, Lena Ellison are also buried at the pyramid.

The first thing we noticed when entering the park was the many, many cacti.  Phoenix and the Arizona desert is home to 20 different varieties of low water cacti.

Buckhorn Cholla

Giant Prickly Pear

Saguaro These grow up to 20′ in height.

“I spy with my little eye, three cacti!” Kitty

The Phoenix dessert is home to lizards, hummingbirds, tortoises and rattle snakes. We were fortunate enough to see a few wildlife while on our walk around the park.

We think this bird is a Cactus Wren.  The Cactus Wren is the state bird of Arizona.

Cactus wrens make holes in the large  saguaro cactus where they build their nests.

Who do you think lives in this hole?

 We also saw many geckos skittering around in the park.  But they were too fast and shy to pose for a photo.

“Geckos shed their skin and eat it.” Parrot

Monkey took a nice nap after our walk.

After our long and exhausting walk we ate lunch and played in the pool.

Today we are going to visit downtown Phoenix  More adventure awaits for the Talbert Zoo!

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