With less than a foot of rain annually and summer temperatures routinely exceeding 104 degrees, you might wonder how any plant or animal gets enough moisture to survive. And yet any visitor to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve can readily find evidence of a thriving ecosystem (over 2,000 flowering plants alone). So how does the Preserve
It’s that time of the year when wildflowers cover the Sonoran Desert. Those splashes of color attract many visitors to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. And many have their cellphone camera ready to preserve the moment. Take your best shot with this advice on where to find the Preserve’s choicest wildflower spots.
It happened again. The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy received another award, further establishing itself as a global destination for research and data on the Sonoran Desert. This time it was from the USA National Phenology Network (NPN) which presented their first PhenoChampion Award to the Conservancy’s Parsons Field Institute (PFI). What does that mean for the
It’s hard to put your finger on just one of its many attractions. But if you’re looking for a quick get-away from the city, the easy choice is Tom’s Thumb trail. Whether you’re an experienced hiker or a family on a weekend adventure, it offers a must-see look at the wonders of the Arizona desert.
What’s an awesome trail hike without sharing it with friends and family on Instagram? Not only can you claim bragging rights but you help them get the most from their next visit to the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. So where are the best places to snap your epic picture? Get our list of the best hiking
Behind every great organization are great people. We call them stewards. These dedicated volunteers share our passion for natural open spaces and want to make a difference. They educate, they research, they preserve. And they have a little fun. Think you might be one of us? Learn more about joining the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy’s steward
Please click here to download the 2019 Annual Report for the McDowell Sonoran Conservancy.
By Kara Barron, 2016-17 McDowell Sonoran Conservancy biodiversity fellow The immediate aftermath of a fire produces obvious evidence. Vegetation is scorched or dead, and animals have fled to safer places. It takes time for the land to return to its pre-fire state, and the key to the area’s ability to do this lies hidden in
Collaborating with the Scottsdale Public Art program, McDowell Sonoran Conservancy staff and steward volunteers filled a public art journal from September 2011 through January 2012. our journal is now on display at the Gallery@the Library, located at the Scottsdale Civic Center Library, until the end of the summer. More than 100 journals began their travels
