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Arizona Oddities

  • Home
  • Your Guides
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    • Dose of History
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Tag: desert

Home›Posts Tagged "desert"
  • Keep centipedes away from your house
    Natural SurroundingsOnly in Arizona
    By Taylor Haynes
    November 11, 2019
    2374
    0

    How to Keep Centipedes Away from Your House

    There are enough creepy crawlies in Arizona to keep anyone awake at night: tarantulas, scorpions, you name it – scary bugs are abundant in this corner of the country. We’ve covered how to keep scorpions away from your home, so make sure to check out that post too. One critter regularly winning awards for the ...
    Read More
  • Dose of HistoryNatural Surroundings
    By Taylor Haynes
    May 13, 2019
    5568
    0

    Palm Trees Aren’t Native to Arizona, So How Did They End Up Here?

    Nothing quite says “desert oasis” like a cluster of slender palm trees. They’re found all over the southwest, lining the highway, parks and found in many of our backyards. The iconic trees are tall and majestic, not even bending with the wind. Though palms are a seeming eternal installation from Phoenix to Los Angeles, the ...
    Read More
  • Natural SurroundingsValley of the Sun
    By Andrea Aker
    November 30, 2015
    991
    0

    Singh Farms is Oasis Off the 101

    Most of the drivers rushing up and down the 101 are unaware of the desert oasis that’s blooming just northeast of Thomas Road in Scottsdale. A line of unassuming trees block the traffic from a lush and surprisingly quiet farm full of organic fruits and veges.
    Read More
  • Desert Sunset
    Odd ObservationsWeather Talk
    By Andrea Aker
    August 1, 2014
    4132
    1

    How Folks Kept Cool in Old Arizona

    People often ask, “How did you survive the hot summers in the Valley before air conditioning?” Best answer I can think of is we didn’t know what we were missing. Here are some ways people coped with our heat in the good ole' days.
    Read More
  • Boojum tree
    Natural Surroundings
    By Sam Lowe
    November 18, 2013
    3192
    2

    The Legacy of Boojum Trees

    People who have nightmares about being chased by giant parsnips should avoid contact with the boojum trees. Fortunately, boojums are quite rare and do not move over the landscape to frighten humans. Despite that, they are weird. They resemble huge parsnips or green carrots sticking upside down out of the earth.
    Read More
  • Organ Pipe Cactus
    Natural SurroundingsRecreationSouthern Arizona
    By Andrea Aker
    May 21, 2013
    1347
    0

    Southern Arizona’s Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument Declared “Hidden Gem”

    Arizona’s natural, diverse landscape has garnered international acclaims and attention, yet many scenic parks continue to fly under the mainstream radar. One such spot – the Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument near Ajo and Why – is getting a much-deserved shout out by Country.
    Read More
  • Natural Surroundings
    By Andrea Aker
    December 6, 2012
    1260
    1

    Can You Fall Through the Earth’s Desert Crust?

    ​Q: I say the desert is just sand and dirt and rocks and desert plants, but my husband claims he read somewhere that it is really covered with a hard crust that you can fall through. What’s he talking about? A: You people...
    Read More
  • Valley Canal System
    Natural SurroundingsValley of the SunWeather Talk
    By Andrea Aker
    July 18, 2011
    5906
    7

    Why Does the Valley Have a Canal System, and How Does it Work?

    Q: What are the canals for, and how do they work? A: Bibbity, bobbity boo. Next question, please. Oh, all right, we’ll tell you: Farms and gravity. Really. The miles and miles of canals maintained by the Salt River Project were put there to bring water to thirsty acres of alfalfa, cotton, citrus and dates. Although there are a ...
    Read More
  • Big Surf
    Dose of HistoryRecreationValley of the Sun
    By Andrea Aker
    May 21, 2011
    3219
    4

    World’s First Wave Pool Returns to its Roots

    Did you know the Valley is home to the world’s first wave pool? “Waikiki Beach” at Big Surf Waterpark in Tempe has welcomed desert beach bums for more than four decades. Today, it remains the third largest wave pool worldwide, containing some 2.5 million gallons of water. The wave pool is the brainchild of Phoenix construction ...
    Read More
  • Natural SurroundingsOdd ObservationsValley of the Sun
    By Andrea Aker
    March 3, 2011
    3013
    0

    Are Horny Toads Disappearing from Phoenix?

    Q: When I was a kid growing up in Phoenix there used to be horny toads everywhere. I even had a pet horny toad. Now I never see them. What happened to all the horny toads? A: You had a pet horny toad? That’s sad. Couldn’t you get your parents to buy you a dog or ...
    Read More
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Arizona Oddities Archive

Most Popular Posts

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This Week Past Years

2019

  • The Tucson Artifacts are the Southwest’s Greatest Hoax
  • Go for the Story, Stay for the Food: La Posada is a Must-See Along Rt. 66

2016

  • Clyde Flies to Pluto

2015

  • Leo, the Lost Lion near Tonto Creek

2014

  • Smoki Museum and Prescott's "White Tribe"

2013

  • Willcox Town Hall Now Housed in Old Railroad Depot
  • Old Highway Signs Make up Centennial Tribute in Downtown Phoenix

2012

  • Bell Tower Still Stands at Old Mission on Gila River Indian Reservation
  • "Naturalist" Greets Book Lovers in Quartzsite

2011

  • Who is Ol' Bill Williams... as in Williams, AZ?
  • Are There Opossums in Arizona?

2010

  • The Big, Bad Bulldog of Winslow
  • Why Do Sun City Folks Put Rocks On Mailboxes?
  • Arizona Place Names (Pt. 3): Surprising Towns Named After People
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  • Comments

  • Find a Famous Writer and Explorer's Mountain Retreat in Greer

    Find a Famous Writer and Explorer’s Historic Mountain Retreat in Greer

    By Taylor Haynes
    July 31, 2020
  • thousands of Mexican free tail bats make Phoenix tunnel their summer home

    Thousands of Mexican Free-Tail Bats Make Phoenix Tunnel Their Summer Home

    By Taylor Haynes
    July 17, 2020
  • How to Keep Scorpions Away from Your Home

    By Andrea Aker
    January 3, 2011
  • Javelina

    How to Keep Javelinas Away from Your Yard

    By Andrea Aker
    November 23, 2011
  • Carol
    on
    October 17, 2020

    The Tucson Artifacts are the Southwest’s Greatest Hoax

    lol ... these "clues" ...
  • Laurie Vitt
    on
    October 14, 2020

    How to Keep Javelinas Away from Your Yard

    They are not rodents. ...

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