Rare and wild lilac bush
Ron and Vicki Sullivan
A 15 minute drive from Quail Creek, the Santa Rita Experimental Range (SRER) is one of the longest continuously active rangeland research facilities and one of the oldest biological field stations in the United States. The range, the first of its kind in the country, was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1902 to study recovery efforts on land that suffered from the devastating effects of overgrazing and drought.
SRER consists of over 52,000 acres and lies at the base of the northwestern edge of the Santa Rita Mountains. It’s literally in Quail Creek’s backyard. Although numerous studies have been conducted over the years, the most substantial work on the Range was done in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp. They were responsible for fencing the boundaries as well as various stream control efforts.
Headquarters of the Range is located about 12 miles east of Green Valley. Range manager and study group leader for OLLI-UA Green Valley campus Mark Heitlinger comments, “The headquarters is also called Florida Station, the oldest historic name, as well as Florida Work Center.” Look for a sign to the work center after you turn off White House Canyon Road onto Box Canyon Road.
Of special note, the Florida Station is located appropriately enough in Florida Canyon. It is not pronounced like the state. Instead it is flo-REE-duh, which is Spanish for flowered. Further up the canyon is the Florida Dam. It was also built in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corp.
A 15 minute car ride northwest from the Florida station is the Huerfano Butte (Spanish for orphan). The isolated cone-shaped butte holds many amazing geological stories along with archaeological treasures.
Quail Creek’s Pima County Master Gardener Edy Alderson has been studying a rare wild lilac bush on the Range, observing the bush’s seasonal flowering times and pollen shedding. It’s showing its spring blossoms.
The Florida Station is not open to the public except by special arrangement. However, there are walking trails located adjacent to the headquarters compound that provide panoramic views and offer a paradise for birding.
For more information on SRER, contact Mark Heitlinger at 520-940-4076 or 520-625-3243 or [email protected].