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Saturday Morning Garden Blogging Vol. 21.01 Sedona and The Grand Canyon: A Travelblog! [1]
['This Content Is Not Subject To Review Daily Kos Staff Prior To Publication.']
Date: 2025-01-04
Good Morning, Everyone!
Welcome to the first edition of Saturday Morning Garden Blogging (SMGB) for 2025! So happy you could sit a spell and join in the conversation, which as all Gardeners, Friends and Lurkers know lasts well into the week!
No gardening tips or pix today, though. Not even spandex 🙁. Instead, I’m pleased to share photographs and experiences from my October expedition to Sedona and The Grand Canyon. This trip of a lifetime was a birthday celebration for two of the four travelers in our group and had been in planning for over a year.
I confess I’ve never had any desire to visit the Desert Southwest – until I was there. It certainly wasn't on my bucket list (which I don't even have). But adventure called and I answered.
I was absolutely not prepared for the vastness of the terrain, its strange and monumental shapes, the undiluted quality of the light or how all these things would affect me.
Once you're there, you know it's sacred land. You feel it deep in your bones. There’s a scent to the juniper forest around the Canyon that is just mystical. It whispers to you in your mind, “You’re Home” — and you know are.
I make a point of not taking too many pictures when I travel as I prefer to immerse myself in the spirit of a place. And besides better ones can always be found online. Even so there are plenty in my archives, so I’ll try not to overwhelm you with images. Ha!
We journeyed separately to Phoenix from 3 different states on a Sunday, rendezvoused, then picked up our SUV rental and headed straightaway to our duplex in Sedona. A long drive after our long flights. Dined at Wendy’s as it was the only place open so late at night. Yum! 🤢
On our first full day in Sedona, we visited a spa in preparation for future hiking and rock-climbing adventures, which in retrospect was a really good idea! I opted for the deep tissue massage with hot rocks. Awesome!
Later that afternoon, we explored Red Rock State Park and Oak Creek. In the evening, we went stargazing at an overview near the Park. The Milky Way was clearly visible against a sky that remained a shade of smoky blue.
Trailhead at Red Rock State Park, Sedona
Silverleaf Nightshade Berries along the trail
Friendly lizard on the path
Further along the trail at Red Rock State Park
House of Apache Fires on the grounds of Red Rock State Park
Informational exhibits at Red Rock State Park Museum
The Native American Petroglyph referenced in the above photo
Outdoor display of manos and metates for processing corn at Red Rock Museum/Information Center
View from the trail of Red Rock State Park. Cathedral Rock is center right
Another view of Cathedral Rock from the hiking trail at Red Rock State Park
With Day Two we made the challenging climb to the top of Airport Mesa. The ‘vortex’ associated with this mesa is considered to be composed of masculine, revitalizing energy. I have to say I didn’t experience any disturbance in The Force, just a strong breeze.
What did strike me was the absolute silence at the summit. The wild beauty of the place is so breathtaking that no one dared speak. Words are simply unnecessary.
View from Airport Mesa
Another view from Airport Mesa
One more view from the summit of Airport Mesa with highway and hiking trail in the background
During the descent, I realized my rock-climbing days are just about over, and I was more than happy to savor a leisurely lunch of brie, bacon, arugula and fig jam on toasted sour dough at Garland Indian Gardens Café. Yum! 😋
Brie, bacon, arugula and fig jam on sour dough sandwich. Garland Indian Gardens Café, Sedona
Later we embarked on a 4-hour meditation hike where we visited various parks, vistas and off-the-beaten path places. We discussed philosophy, honed our yoga poses, delved into various breathwork techniques and meditated on the side of a mountain with spectacular views as bluebirds played above our guide’s head. Then we watched the sun set at Huckaby Park. The red rocks of Sedona glowed as they were kissed by the sun’s last rays, while we enjoyed prickly pear tea and cookies provided by our guide, Danil. It was just magical...
View of Cathedral Rock (center) from our mountainside vantage. Perfect spot for Yoga and meditation!
Our guide, Danil
Approaching sunset, Huckaby Park
Sunset at Huckaby Park
Red Rocks glowing in the last rays of sunset
Sunset
On the third day, we toured the Native American ruins at Tuzigoot, Montezuma’s Castle and Montezuma’s Well, a cenote (sink hole) fed by a natural spring. We also stopped at the Native American Visitors Center, but it was closed so I was only able to photograph the outside Exodus Monument that commemorates the forced march of the Yavapai and Apache peoples to the San Carlos Reservation. Our wanderings were punctuated mid-day by a stroll through Old Town Cottonwood.
Sign at entrance to Native American ruins at Tuzigoot
Ruin complex at Tuzigoot
Stone for grinding corn in center of room at Tuzigoot. Rooms were accessed through their roofs using ladders
Internal structure of reconstructed building at Tuzigoot
Insect damage on weight-bearing post of reconstructed building. Reminded me of the Nasca line drawing of a spider in Peru
Montezuma’s Castle cliff dwelling
Montezuma’s Castle
Storage room and man-made caves at base of Montezuma’s Castle
Beaver Creek. source of live-sustaining resources for the people who called Montezuma’s Castle home
Montezuma’s Well surrounded by cliff dwellings
Detail of cliff dwelling above Montezuma’s Well
Exodus Monument, Native American Cultural Center
Side view of Exodus Monument
Exodus Monument plaque
Hippie culture is alive and well in Cottonwood
The next day we walked the Bell Rock Trail and visited the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is built right into the living rock. We ended with a jubilant dinner at Eden in Cottonwood for the two birthday girls.
Bell Rock from Bell Rock Trail, Sedona
View of Courthouse Rock from Bell Rock Trail
Dry creek bed on Bell Rock Trail
Fruiting Juniper on Bell Rock Trail. Berries were the size of marbles
Chapel of the Holy Cross, Sedona
St. Francis of Assisi sculpture by Bruno Groth in alcove on path to The Chapel of the Holy Cross
Day 5 was a travel day to The Grand Canyon. We did manage to stop at an Indigenous American popup market along the way. Purchased silver dream catcher earrings with turquoise and spiny oyster made by this gentleman’s daughter.
Native American vendor at popup market in Sedona. All items were crafted members of his family
Coconino National Forest from overlook on I-17
We were up and out early on Day 6 to trek The South Rim Trail of the Canyon, following the shuttle bus route, in case we tuckered out, which we did. A glorious sunset on the grounds of the Geological Museum was the evening’s crowing achievement.
View from Maricopa Point, South Rim
View from Powell Point, South Rim
View of Colorado River from Hopi Point, South Rim
View from Mohave Point, South Rim. Helicopter provides scale
View of Colorado River from Pima Point, South Rim
Sunset from the grounds of the Geological Museum
Sunset at the Geological Museum
Opposite the sunset at Geological Museum. Classic Grand Canyon colors
Opposite the sunset at Geological Museum, Grand Canyon
On Day 7 we headed back to Phoenix via the I-17. We paused at a lovely rest stop with a sweet cactus garden bustling with wildlife. Along the way we also dropped by Arcosanti, the experimental community founded in the Sonoran Desert by architect Paolo Solieri in 1970. The photos of it online don’t do it justice – mine capture the essence of the place with greater clarity. Definitely past its prime, but a remarkable space nonetheless.
Sign at rest stop Desert Garden on I-17. Luckily the critters kept their distance
Two birds in the garden. BIF reminded me of a piece of Native American art
Road to Arcosanti. Two miles of dirt and jagged rocks
Arcosanti trail with hiker (bottom left) and outdoor sculpture (circled)
View from the main tower at Acrosanti
Door at Arcosanti
Corridor of Bells at entrance to Acrosanti
Birds perched on the fence of the dump at Arcosanti
One of many mounds on Acrosanti Road. May be where the bodies of those who try to leave are buried
Sonoran Desert landscape with saguaros on I-17 heading toward Phoenix
Last meal of 3 tacos with homemade tortillas, pico de gallo, salsa, salsa verde. DoubleTree, Phoenix
We went our separate ways again on Day 8 and headed back to our respective cities by way of Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. I walked through the door of my place at 2:00 am, wondering if perhaps I had dreamed the entire whirlwind adventure…
Hope you all enjoyed my travelblog!
Happy New Year! 🎉
and
Happy Gardening! 🌱
Remember always: Teach Love. Live Love. Be Love ❤️
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