September, 2020
Courtesy GPPA/Friends of the Scenic Drive
This Scenic Drive exhibit provides information about animals that are native to the area.
North Scottsdale and the Desert Foothills abound with diverse and interesting wildlife, plants and trees. A safe and convenient way to learn about them is to visit the Desert Foothills Scenic Drive Exhibit Area. The area features monuments that provide information about local history, climate, flora, and fauna. In 1997, Artists Judy Conklin and Marg Nelssen contributed drawings of fauna and flora, respectively, that were used to create the exhibits.
In the future this article will be updated on a regular basis and publisher as a column. Each update will include drawings and information about the flora and fauna that are showcased in the exhibits. FYI. Some of the photos of plant exhibits were taken in the 1990s and it is interesting to see the difference in the landscape.
The outdoor exhibit area is on the east side of Scottsdale Road, 1/4 mile south of Jomax Road and 3/4 mile north of Happy Valley Road. The entrance to MacDonald’s Ranch is across the road on the west side of N. Scottsdale Road. Admission and parking are free.
Diamond Back Rattlesnake by Judy ConklinDesert Tortoise by Judy Conklin
Barrel Cactus by Marg Nelssen
Scenic Drive Exhibit Area, Just Off Scottsdale Road
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September 10, 2020
I am sure that I saw a map of the scenic drive that not only went up Scottsdale road but the north/south part of Cave Creek Rd. The map showed the location of each type of cactus. Now that it is “cooler”, I thought that it would be a good activity for my wife and I to go out and identify the various type of desert plants. Does such a map exist? Could you please email it to me?
Alan Gendler
September 10, 2020
You are right. There is such a map. It was developed in the late 1960s. Unfortunately the map is obsolete. The plant signs and the small Scenic Drive park that were on Cave Creek Road are gone. The original monument sign is still there but it is fenced in. The Scottsdale Road section of the Scenic Drive was restored by our organization and Scottsdale in the late 1990s. At that time an exhibit area was created that includes drawings and information about the types of plants found it the area. The plant signs along the road were also restored but unfortunately we do not have an up-to=date map of where they are located, as the area has developed it’s convenient, safe and surrounded by desert plants. I beIieve the map you saw is in the 1968 Maricopa County report that is included in the history section of this website. I will double check and post another response. Editor
September 11, 2020
Here is a link to the plant exhibit diagram that you probably saw. This one is from 1983. https://apeekatthepeak.org/scenic-drive-diagram-of-plant-sites/ Just cut and paste the link into your browser. The map is also listed in the Scenic Drive Directory. Editor