Desert Museum Family! We are launching a symbolic animal/plant adoption program this year and need your help! Our question to you: What animal or plant would you be interested in adopting? (It has to be at the Desert Museum). Some examples include: hummingbirds, the mountain lion, cactus, the otter, the Mexican gray wolf, or coatis. Your participation in this new initiative will help us provide the highest quality plant and animal care. Would You Be a Proud Parent?
Photo Credit: D.D. Bracy
Monarchs & Mimosas
Monarchs and mimosas and munchies, OH MY! Join us next Saturday (Sept. 17) to celebrate the opening of our newest art exhibit, "Departure and Return: The Monarch Butterfly as Metaphor." The artist, D.D. Bracy, will be at the reception and would love to speak with you. Light refreshments and a cash mimosa bar will be available. Afterwards, join us for an artist lecture with opening talk by Desert Museum Conservation Research Scientist, Sergio Avila, on monarchs in the Sonoran Desert. Mark Your Calendar!
ASDM Staff at AZA Conference
Stinking Niche: Vulture Culture
Did you know that black vultures will often urinate on their legs in order to increase evaporative cooling in the hot summer months? Pretty COOL! Vulture Culture, one of our newest exhibits, features this and other fun facts. Each year, zoo and aquarium professionals gather to share "best of the best" ideas. At this year's AZA conference, ASDM staff is presenting a poster on Vulture Culture highlighting the incorporation of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math) concepts in attention grabbing ways. View the Vultures!
Photo Credit: Buzz Hoffman
Flower Friday
Happy Flower Friday! The floss flower (Ageratum corymbosum) is a pollinator hot spot for our beautiful butterflies! Clusters of blue-purple flowers cover the plants from spring until first frost. Male Queen butterflies use an alkaloid in the flower as an aphrodisiac to attract females. Ooh la la! These bloomin' beauties can be found all over Desert Museum grounds. Come flutter with the butterflies this weekend! Plus, these purple pollinator plants will be available at our 19th Annual Plant Sale. Dig Deeper!
Sharon Solorzano (pictured)
Volunteer Viernes
School is back in session! We love being visited by bustling groups of eager learners. If you feel the same, consider signing up to help! We're looking for enthusiastic volunteers that want to inspire the next generation of desert conservationists. This is a wonderful opportunity for anyone looking for a flexible way to volunteer, while exploring the Museum's grounds. These volunteers enjoy being the gateway to a child's museum experience (many of them visiting for the first time). Volunteer Today!
What's Going Down in the Desert?
Sun Cooking & Passive Solar Design (September 10)
Annual Plant Sale 2016 (September 24 & 25)
Desert Museum Photo Walk (October 1)
Want more info on these awesome events?
Check it Out!
