Shanna Cooper, Assistant Innkeeper

Shanna Cooper, Assistant Innkeeper at Hacienda del Desierto Bed & Breakfast, has been providing guests with great service since 2002 when she moved here from Iowa.  She is the one who makes it possible for David and Rosemary Brown to take getaways from a single day to weeks at a time.  She is also the one who bakes the yummy cookies provided guests each day at the Hacienda.  Most days she provides guests with daily room service, consistently going beyond giving just basic service.  When she acts as an innsitter, she moves into the innkeeper quarters with her 16-year-old daughter so she can be at the inn both day and night.  Guests love her for her cheerfulness, willingness to help with daily activity planning, and providing help for special needs.

Non-agressive Gila Monster

Gila Monsters are now out of their burrows for the summer so, if you’re lucky, you’ll get to see one if  hiking in the desert.  They are poisonous but won’t bite unless handled incorrectly or unless you surprise them by putting your hand under a bush or rock where they are hiding.  Enjoy their beautiful colors and let them alone to find their mate and put on weight for their winter hibernation.  They were named for their early sightings along the Gila River and reminded some of monsters.  They are really slow moving gentle giants about 12-18 inches long who only yearn to be left alone to mind their own business.  This one lives on the 16 acre property of Hacienda del Desierto Bed & Breakfast and was photographed by a guest.

Arizona Opry

When we first arrived at the Arizona Opry as part of a tour to several other places, I expected this would be an evening of honky tonk western songs, not my favorite music genre.  What a pleasant surprise when I found a very professional group performing a wide variety of music on a wide variety of instruments.  They must have over 100 different instruments on the stage.  This happened to be their Christmas show so many numbers were Christmas oriented, but they didn’t limit their program to holiday selections.  The audience can sign up for the show only, but only a very small percentage did that.  Most elected to sign up for the full meal served at long picnic style tables before the show.  They switch their meals every other performance to encourage their audience to return, not only for a different meal but a different variety show as well.  I counted ten different shows offered to attract those with different tastes in music.  Arizona Opry is located at Apache Junction, east of Phoenix.

Tubac is worth a visit if you’re staying in the Tucson area.  It is one of the oldest settlements in Arizona.  Early inhabitants were the Pima and O’odham Indian tribes, and the first Spanish missionary arrived in 1691 to establish a mission and ranch.   During the 1800′s it was abandoned at times because of Apache raids but flourished at other times. It is now a thriving town of artists, artisans, and importers, a wonderful place to shop as well as visit the old Presidio.  Visit their website for information about festivals, art shows, and other local happenings.  Located about an hour south of Tucson, our Hacienda guests often shop there for Mexican imports.

Hummingbird Visits Backyard Garden

This Hummingbird is just one of the many visiting the blooming gardens at Hacienda del Desierto Bed & Breakfast in Tucson.  Three patios and courtyards offer tantalizing food options for these and other birds.  In the back patio is a cactus fountain, rose gardens, and many types of desert blooms.  Outside guestrooms on several of the porches and hanging in trees are other bird feeders.  The courtyard with an old Mexican fountain has more of the lush garden plants that require more water.  Bring your cameras and look for birds.

Dove on Tree feeder near House

Garden Facing Porch

Roses by Spa

Garden by Spa

In the back patios of our Hacienda, climbing white roses move up an outside porch opening providing shade and wind protection for those relaxing on porch couches, chairs, and swings.  Pink climbers spill out of a planter near a chaise lounge and table.  English hedge roses have just now bloomed in a long flower bed beside out jetted spa.  On the other side of the spa is another bed with mixed flowers and cacti.  The largest garden faces the outdoor living porch and is primarily desert plants with a few bloomers included.  Enjoy our display by visiting us soon.

Pink Cascading Roses

The courtyard gardens at Hacienda del Desierto Bed & Breakfast are flourishing this spring.  Potted plants in the Mexican courtyard are in bloom both against walls and around the cantera fountain.  Guests can enjoy the floral display by lounging on a comfortable chaise lounge,  from a shaded table or, if they’re lucky,  from a window of the Patio Suite guestroom.  Visit Tucson and see for yourself.

Courtyard West Flowers

Succulents Near Guestroom

Courtyard Garden Spot

Great Horned Owl

Two guests at our Hacienda are wildlife photographers and captured images of two Great Horned Owls in the palm trees in our back patio area  March 4th.  We, as well as our other guests, were captivated by their presence and great beauty. We all went out numerous times yesterday to watch them.  To see other pictures taken by Bruce and Tamy Leventhal, click on this link.  They also took pictures of our javelina which we’ll be adding to the gallery of our website.

Javelina