My mother has slowly won me over. I now love plants. It fascinates me to see the variety of flora in different locales but also the similarities. I was surprised to see plants that I knew from Zimbabwe in Brazil. Arizona offered a wonderful array of plant life in its many landscapes. I particularly liked this pink-tipped grass, which I've learned is called muhlenbergia.

In Sedona, we saw prickly pear cacti, a familiar sight for this Zimbabwean.  We also saw century plants, agave americana. 

Prickly Pear

Century Plants

Near the end of the century plant's lifecycle (which is about thirty years, not a century as the American Pioneers thought), the plant grows a really tall stalk, which looks like a giant stalk of asparagus. This stalk can be up to 30 feet tall! That tall stalk you see in the picture below? Yep, that's a century plant!

Of course, one can't be near the Sonoran desert without noticing the incredible Saguaro cactus (Carnegiea gigantea).  I did not expect to see hills covered with Saguaros, nor did I realize that they are so tall!!!

Apparently, the tallest recorded Saguaro was 87 feet tall before it was blown over in a storm. They don't grow arms until they are least 75 years old, and some never do! Most live about 150 years. Saguaros have expandable ribs to help them store water. A large Saguaro can store up to 6 tons of water, accommodated by expanding its ribs, but it can also lose up to 2/3 of its water and still live. I also learned from the Phoenix Botanical Gardens that Saguaros have "rain roots", which are additional roots that grow within an hour after rainfall to allow the Saguaro to absorb as much rainwater as possible. 

Val and I also learned about the relationship between the Palo Verde tree and the Saguaro cactus. Apparently (I wouldn't know), it was observed that a Saguaro often grew under a Palo Verde tree. Birds might have been feeding baby birds in the branches of the Palo Verde tree, and seeds dropped. The Palo Verde tree then acted as a "nurse plant" for the Saguaro. Eventually, the Saguaro might outlive the Palo Verde, because the Saguaro has a shallower root system and the Palo Verde will not get enough water. 

Palo Verde and Saguaro

Sometimes, noticing the plants had additional benefits...we saw a jack rabbit! 

Bay of Fundy

My father really wants to see the Bay of Fundy, which is known for its high tidal range. Although he thought pictures were taken to show him that I made it there before him, I promise that was not my intent! Dad, don't go in March.

The last year has been brought a number of changes to my life! I got a job, not in the city I'd moved to find a job, but instead in the town I had just moved from! After a quick two month stay in the Big City, my dear father borrowed my brother-in-law's truck and, with the help of a friend of mine, moved me back to small town Pennsylvania. A week later, I jumped straight into a very busy job, working with international students at a small private college.

It really wouldn't be possible to fully recap the past year, so I won't even try. Obviously, I survived, although at times, I doubted that I might! Instead, here are my highlights (in no particular order):

1) I'm living in my very own little apartment, just me and my houseplants. I didn't think the houseplants were excessive, but whenever anyone sees my apartment for the first time, they comment "Oh, you really like plants."
2) I went to the Grand Canyon! (Pictures to follow...)
3) I took an impromptu road trip to Montreal at Christmas-time with a friend from work, ensuring that I exited the USA during 2015.
4) Friends from Youth with a Mission invited me to teach for a week in their DTS, which led to a week in March in Nova Scotia, teaching about building cross cultural relationships. (The week was great but the weather was cold!)
5) I became responsible for 110 college students. (I used to joke that instead of having my own children, I would adopt 18 year olds because it would be easier. I've changed my mind. In fact, I have mixed feelings about this being a highlight, but it certainly has been a significant event.)
6) My father, mother, sister and I have lived within ten minutes of driving distance for nearly a year.
7) I bought a 1998 Chevy Tracker. (Love my Tracker!)
8) I've gotten to see my sweet niece and two nephews almost every week.
9) I managed to practice yoga almost weekly. Not only did it help me put aside work for an hour, but I learned to love seeing my flexibility and balance improve.
10) I've learned a lot about myself. This point alone could be pages of words, but instead, I'll leave it at that. It's been good.

After a whirlwind of an academic year, I remain hopeful that my summer will have some slower days, times to enjoy the nearby state parks and bright blue skies, perhaps a few hours to steal away with my sister's kayak...and maybe even some more regular blog posts. :)