More Arizona Illustrated Nature and Environment Stories

Reclaimed Water

Ever wonder how sewage gets turned into clean water? Here is a behind the scenes peek at Tucson Water’s reclaimed water system and what that process looks like

Field Notes: Fungi

Arizona Illustrated producer David Fenster looks back on a 15 year love affair with mushrooms and shares excerpts from the many films he’s made on the subject.

Back to Nature

When a golf course closed in Oro Valley, residents fought to make it a nature preserve—so the wildlife could thrive.

The Masked Bobwhite

Join Hannah Pierce as she walks us through what it takes to save a species from extinction.

Desert Plants: Ironwood

The tree known in the U.S./Mexico borderlands as desert ironwood or palo fierro is one of many woody legumes found in washes and hillside drainages in the Sonoran Desert.

Lunar Tracker

Every year Weaver Younghands creates lunar trackers, beautiful planning tools, similar to calendars, that are rooted in desert ecology and organized by moon cycles.

Arizona Wines: The Edge of What’s Possible

Arizona isn’t your typical wine grape-growing region, and viticulture here sits right on the edge of what’s possible.

Robert McDonald: Photographer

We join renowned landscape photographer Robert McDonald and his 1977 Ford Bronco on a shoot in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff.

Desert Plants: Agave

Scientists have identified more than 250 types of agaves in North America, some of them grow right here in Arizona

Lizard Walk

The Sabino Canyon Volunteer Naturalists work to educate and inspire the public through talks, demonstrations, and desert walks.

Campus Arboretum

Take a walk around the University of Arizona's Campus Arboretum, and step back in time.

Pantano Bat Bridge

Every summer evening at sunset, thousands of Mexican Free-tail bats can be seen as a swirling dark cloud at the Pantano Wash before going out to feed.

Field Notes: Coral Beans

For most of the year Coral Beans look like dried up sticks, then in the spring, its brilliant red flowers bloom.

50 Years of Tucson Bonsai

Since the Tucson Bonsai Society was founded in 1972, it has inspired generations of people to delve into this ancient tradition right here in Arizona.

The Benefits of a Nestbox

Olya Weekley of the Tucson Audubon Society shares how we can help local birds by providing safe places to nest.

Field Notes: Gila Monsters

Gila Monsters can be elusive, but occasionally they turn up in strange places.

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