Agua Calliente, Tucson's hidden Washingtonia Oasis

[Silas_Sancona]

Somewhere here, i'd casually mentioned eye balling a park which, while it may not be widely known, is locally known for a self- sustaining grove of Washingtonia on the far eastern side of Tucson. I'd been debating on when to visit when the opportunity to make one last plant sale at a favorite nursery convinced me a break in monsoon action ( and the heat ) would be the perfect Saturday to head south. 

Tucked between the Highway leading up into the Catalinas, and Tanque Verde Wash, which emerges from a lower saddle ( Reddington Pass ) between the Catalina ( North/ west ) and Rincon Mountains ( South ) on the far eastern edge of Tucson, Agua Calliente Park preserves a natural, intermittent hot Spring by the same name. While there are several ponds on- site, the biggest is located directly up front and is where the grove of Washingtonia is located.  Other ponds further back on the property, were recently rehabilitated / filled. No palms ringing any of those, yet. Aside from the impressive palm groves, there are trails that take you through some of the native Mesquite " Bosques " ..which are essentially Mesquite dominated woodlands, the rehab 'ed ponds beyond the Bosque, and some buildings from when the property was privately owned.

After all the pictures i'd seen, i wasn't disappointed once i got there.  Aside from the Washys, some nice, old Phoenix dactys, and a huge, 200yr old Mesquite there as well.  Being a permanent source of water, plenty of wildlife, inc. lots of Red Eared Sliders ( Pond Turtles ).

For all those who love Washingtonia, this threads for you   For anyone visiting the area, a trip out here is worth it.

Quick info on Agua Calliente Spring itself:


Starting out w/ a couple pictures of the Date Palms:







First group of Washingtonia picts: Aside from the bigger, older specimens, plenty of seedlings everywhere, esp. close to the edge of the main Pond, and where the Spring would follow from it's source, at least in the park, to the main pond. 

What you see as you enter the Park from Roger Rd.


Onward....























A Turtle here...



 

[Silas_Sancona]

Group #2 Photos:
















..A Turtle ( or two ) there... ( No, i didn't bring any frozen Gold Fish, lol )

[Silas_Sancona]

Group #3 Shots:

#11.. Get it?


Onward..

















..And more Turtles..






Parting Shot:  A blurry but good enough view headed back toward Tanque Verde Rd. from a little south of the Park entrance / Roger Rd.  Looking due south toward the Santa Rita Mountains, South of Tucson.  Gotta love the wide open views from hilly terrain of the foothills around Tucson.

 

[palmfriend]

Very interesting and really nice photography!

Thank you very much for sharing!

Lars

[ahosey01]

Something unique about the giant Washingtonia groves in the low desert.  There's two like that up here in Wickenburg, with a particularly large one at the RV park near the river.  I don't know of another palm species that is so large and imposing and creates such dense groves in such an inhospitable environment otherwise so sparsely populated with vegetation.  The quintessential oasis palm in my book (someone from North Africa may differ in opinion)!

[Silas_Sancona]

1 hour ago, palmfriend said:

Very interesting and really nice photography!

Thank you very much for sharing!

Lars

Thank you Lars..  Had been wanting to visit and share this not so well known location w/ everyone, esp. everyone who really admires this Genus of palms.

1 hour ago, ahosey01 said:

Something unique about the giant Washingtonia groves in the low desert.  There's two like that up here in Wickenburg, with a particularly large one at the RV park near the river.  I don't know of another palm species that is so large and imposing and creates such dense groves in such an inhospitable environment otherwise so sparsely populated with vegetation.  The quintessential oasis palm in my book (someone from North Africa may differ in opinion)!

Definitely presents that " Arabian Nights ' kind of feel when standing among the palms in this kind of location..  Have seen a few pictures where things are covered in snow there too.

*** Fyi  for anyone wondering*** i realized - after - i could edit that i added an extra " L " to the name of the Park / Title of the thread..  It is Agua Caliente, not  " Calliente "  My mix up, haha.

[teddytn]

Just amazing! And so close to Saguaro national park.

[Silas_Sancona]

1 minute ago, teddytn said:

Just amazing! And so close to Saguaro national park.

...And highway to the top of Mt. Lemmon ( 9159K ft ) / Sabino Canyon ( Entrance is few miles to the northwest of the Park ). Tanque Verde Falls / Canyon?.. ( have heard people refer to it as such ) is also very close by.  While blurred, the mountains in the distance in the last picture in the 3rd post ( Santa Ritas ) is where Madera Canyon / Mt. Wrightson is located.

[TheMadScientist]

From about 2000 to about 2010, when the money was more plentiful, I put 2 kids and their families into junior dragsters.  Each Easter weekend, was a Division 7 race at Pima County Fairgrounds.  This would have been a treat to visit these locations...I didn't know they existed at that time.  Thank You for sharing.

[teddytn]

1 hour ago, Silas_Sancona said:

...And highway to the top of Mt. Lemmon ( 9159K ft ) / Sabino Canyon ( Entrance is few miles to the northwest of the Park ). Tanque Verde Falls / Canyon?.. ( have heard people refer to it as such ) is also very close by.  While blurred, the mountains in the distance in the last picture in the 3rd post ( Santa Ritas ) is where Madera Canyon / Mt. Wrightson is located.

The more I see and learn about ecosystems and terrain out west I’m just blown away. I’ve been to just about every state east of the Mississippi, but very few west of it. Far less even, exploring there. Seeing this has me on the verge of seriously starting to plan a road trip for the fall. Thank you for posting this. 

[kinzyjr]

Thank you for sharing this @Silas_Sancona!  Have to love oasis palms in an actual oasis.

[Silas_Sancona]

On 7/18/2021 at 9:35 AM, kinzyjr said:

Thank you for sharing this @Silas_Sancona!  Have to love oasis palms in an actual oasis.

Neat for sure.. Unless they're yanked -to preserve the Mesquite Savannah -type habitat in this part of the park, or the ponds are re-hab'ed sometime in the future again, will be interesting to see how any seedlings start establishing themselves near these ponds over time ..which currently look like this:




There are a few scattered specimens in the Mesquite " forest " between both areas but many looked quite thirsty ..but still growing.

[bubba]

Beautiful!

[ahosey01]

5 hours ago, Silas_Sancona said:

Neat for sure.. Unless they're yanked -to preserve the Mesquite Savannah -type habitat in this part of the park, or the ponds are re-hab'ed sometime in the future again, will be interesting to see how any seedlings start establishing themselves near these ponds over time ..which currently look like this:




There are a few scattered specimens in the Mesquite " forest " between both areas but many looked quite thirsty ..but still growing.

I love mesquites but they're not Washingtonias, so this part of the park definitely represents the B-team.

[Advective]

On 7/17/2021 at 10:49 PM, Silas_Sancona said:

#11.. Get it?

Very clever 

[kylecawazafla]

beautiful photos!