Mission Garden, in the birthplace of Tucson

March 5, 2025

44 days in the saddle

On a history ride two weeks ago we heard about Mission San Agustín del Tucson. The old mission stood at the foot of Sentinel Peak in an area known as the Birthplace of Tucson. Both Mission San Agustín del Tucson and Mission San Xavier del Bac, 10 miles south, were established by Father Eusebio Kino in 1692.

The San Agustín mission was abandoned in 1828 and the buildings destroyed, but its garden has been rebuilt as Mission Garden. In our last day in Tucson this season we'll connect the dots with a ride from Mission Garden to Mission San Xavier del Bac.

On the Santa Cruz Loop we ride north from Irvington Road along the Paseo de las Iglesias - the Path of the Churches between the two original missions.

Near the entrance at Mission Garden stands a ramada that is probably something like Father Kino's original mission here in 1692. The first chapel at Mission San Agustín del Bac wasn't built until 1751.

At Mission Garden, a copy of John Russell Bartlett´s 1853 painting shows Mission San Agustín del Tucson to the right.

Mission Garden is a living agricultural museum built in the style of a Spanish Colonial walled garden. The heritage crops and heirloom trees grown here represent people who have lived and farmed in the Sonoran desert. Different sections are devoted to crops grown by Native Americans, the Spanish, Mexicans, Chinese and other cultures.

Admission to the garden is free, and we get an introduction to its history by none other than Robert Fleming, president of the Board of the Friends of Tucson's Birthplace which manages the property. He describes how the springs in this area watered crops for 4500 years, making the Tucson Basin the longest known cultivated area in the U.S.

In the gift shop there are marmalades and jellies made by volunteers from the fruits grown here. Produce is distributed to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona as well as immigrant and refugee groups. Anything left is composted for use in the garden.

A volunteer harvests Valencia oranges. Mexican sweet limes, grapefruit, pomelo, and Meyer lemon are among the citrus trees grown at Mission Garden.

Spiky pink Penstemon flowers grow around pomegranate, fig and quince trees brought to this area from Spain

Irrigation channels are built above the remains of canals constructed by the Hohokam 2,000 years ago to water their corn, beans, squash, and cotton crops.

Gourds like those that the Tohono O'odham people cultivated for food and containers

“A” Mountain, or Sentinel Peak, rises above the arbor in the Mexican garden

This pithouse is a replica of an ancient dwelling excavated by archaeologists at the garden.

Chinese railroad workers settled in Tucson and planted gardens here. Jujube trees, melons, long beans, daikon, bok choy, garlic and chives grow in the Chinese garden.

I'm glad we made time to visit the garden and learn more of Tucson's history. After a stop in the gift shop for some Posole soup mix, we ride on south to Mission San Xavier del Bac. It's lunchtime and I could really go for some of the Indian Fry Bread made in the parking lot at the Mission.

This is the first time we've ridden this section of the Loop, on the east side of the Santa Cruz south to where the path ends at Valencia Road. Turning west on Valencia we could ride the bike lane for the mile and a half to Mission Road, but it's pretty busy so we stick to the sidewalk most of the way.

Crossing east over the Santa Cruz on the Cushing Street bridge, we pause under the shade fin honoring Father Kino and his missionary work in Tucson.

I don't know my moths from my butterflies, but I like this guy

Nice of this Roadrunner to pose for a pic

The Ajo Way underpass, from the east side for a change

This is a surprise; we haven't seen much water in the Santa Cruz. Tucson's city water department releases treated water from its Irvington Outfall plant south of downtown, fostering native vegetation and wildlife in the river bed.

On San Xavier Road, approaching Mission San Xavier del Bac

Ash Wednesday Mass is happening in the mission so we'll admire it from here. A banner with an image of the old facade hangs in front of the scaffolding for its renovation; it was added since we were here a month ago.

Yes! We're here in time to get some Fry Bread cooked up by someone who looks like she's been at this for awhile.

Pots of beans and chili bubble away on the old stove

Red beef chili on one, powdered sugar on the other. Delicious and plenty for the two of us to share.

Back at the car, we drive downtown to Fair Wheel Bikes to pick up Barry's recumbent. They finally got a new crank to replace the cracked one. Too bad he won't get to ride it again in Tucson this trip, but he's glad to have it back.

Tomorrow we'll depart Tucson to start the drive home, with a few days in Colorado Springs visiting our son Daniel. A chronic optimist, I drew up ride routes for the stops on the way. Unfortunately a big wind and dust storm is forecasted for tomorrow on I-10 east through Arizona and New Mexico. The next day we can expect snow in northern New Mexico and southern Colorado.

None of that sounds great for a ride, so today is the end of my longest ride streak of 44 days - every day since we arrived in January. I'm very happy with that.

Heart

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Today's ride: 22 miles (35 km)
Total: 943 miles (1,518 km)

Rate this entry's writing	Heart	3
Comment on this entry	Comment	8

Scott AndersonGreat post, Janice. Very informative.
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3 weeks ago

Janice BranhamTo Scott AndersonThanks Scott! Only took me three days to get this one done. Some days it's just a mental block.
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3 weeks ago

Karen PoretTo Janice BranhamGreat writing takes time! And well thought out, too :) Thanks for the nice lessons about AZ.
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3 weeks ago

Kelly IniguezThis post is a wonderful tribute to Tucson. Good work.

Your daily Tucson ride for 44 days is most impressive!

We shall see you next time.
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3 weeks ago

Janice BranhamTo Karen PoretThank you Karen. Always good to hear your take on things.
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2 weeks ago

Janice BranhamTo Kelly IniguezThanks Kelly. Tucson always has new things to teach us. I'm a fan of your idea for a Cycle Blaze meetup here next winter. Hope we can make that happen.
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2 weeks ago

Rich Frasier44 days in a row is amazing! Congratulations! All good things come to an end, I guess. Your streak, and eventually this journal too. You've made Tucson look very attractive. Expect more cyclists there next winter! :)
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2 weeks ago

Janice BranhamThanks Rich! Tucson has so much great riding and stuff to do. Every year we go home with a list of things we didn't get to for next time. We would love to see you in Tucson next year.
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2 weeks ago