At Home in the Desert
My 7 favorite ways to experience the Sonoran Desert
Presented by the Carefree Business Association
Carefree resident Phyllis Strupp is the author of The Richest of Fare: Seeking Spiritual Security in the Sonoran Desert, winner of the 2005 Independent Publishing award for best mind-body-spirit book. Written exclusively for the City Sun Times, Strupp shares her eight favorite ways to experience Carefree, where she resides with her husband Peter Strupp.
1. Sunrise and sunset
Ernest Hemingway said he never missed a sunrise or sunset. My record isn’t that good, but almost! To our west, New River Mesa lights up with the red glow of sunrise. Every now and then, the moon can also be seen setting in the west at daybreak. Our area enjoys some of the best sunsets in the world, and we have a special “sunset patio” from which to watch them, with a fire pit to keep us warm in the winter. A full moon rising behind a saguaro-studded mountain is another awe-inspiring sight.
2. Hummingbirds
My favorite desert critter is the hummingbird. They weigh less than an ounce, yet they are so fast, feisty and fearless! In spring and fall, migrating hummers pass through to spend summers as far north as Canada and winters in the tropics. Carefree is at the northern edge of hummers’ winter range, so we have Anna and Costa hummingbirds year round. We have plants that attract hummers outside every window in our home so we can watch them throughout the day. I also enjoy sitting on a bench in the Carefree Town Center and watching the hummingbirds sip nectar from flowering native plants.
3. Sears Kay Ruins
The Hohokam Native Americans mysteriously disappeared from this area centuries ago. Remains and petroglyphs attest to their former presence. The Sears Kay Ruins, located just east of Carefree, offer an easily accessible way to learn about the Hohokam way of life amidst breathtaking views of the entire Valley.
4. Outdoor dining
Peter and I love eating outdoors at a Carefree restaurant, enjoying mountain views and a romantic dinner. . . . and I don’t have to miss the sunset!
5. Labyrinth at Spirit in the Desert
Spirit in the Desert Retreat Center in the middle of Carefree has a wonderful labyrinth at the back of their property that is open to the public. This labyrinth sits right on the desert near Black Mountain…you can feel the ancient mountain’s presence as you walk the labyrinth.
6. Aromatherapy
No, I mean the outdoor kind! Desert plants have an astringent, clean smell in the prevailing sunny dry weather. When I smell a plant blooming on my daily walk, I look around to identify the source, as a way of staying in touch with the desert’s subtle seasons. But my favorite desert smell of all is that of the land after it rains. The smell of creosote in the humid air reboots my soul—it makes me feel fully alive from head to toe.
7. Stargazing
Thank goodness that the people of this community have so adamantly protected the dark skies. There are no streetlights in our neighborhood! I love looking up at the sky at night. The Milky Way can be seen all year round, along with an ever-changing cast of constellations and planets. Invariably I’ll see a shooting star. This is the best way I know to reconnect with the divine—to look up at the starry sky and remember that the universe is 14 billion years old.
