Free & open to the public
Known as “The Tree of Wonders”, the agave has been celebrated in native cultures for centuries throughout the American Southwest and Mexico. That tradition continues today in Tucson’s Agave Heritage Festival. Narrated by local naturalist Dan Collins, The Amazing Agave presentation is an intriguing overview of “all things agave”.
In this enlightening 30-minute program, we’ll learn how the agave has been utilized by both indigenous and modern peoples to make over 40 products - from textiles to tequila. We will also explore today’s commercial enterprises and cultural influences, uncover the adaptations that enable this native succulent to thrive in the hot and harsh Sonoran Desert, and discover how a prized ornamental holds the promise of a sustainable crop.
About Dan Collins:
Dan Collins says that his fondest childhood memories are of the desert. He grew up in Southern California, where his family would escape the smog-clouded clamor of the LA basin to vacation under the clear skies and quiet of the Mojave Desert. There he and his sister would eagerly explore the desert environment, and excitedly share their discoveries when returning to the family campsite.
It was only natural that when he retired, Dan and his wife Sue would decide to return to the desert. But then, wanting to escape the maddening excess and expense of California, Tucson, Arizona would become their new home. Eager once again to explore this new environment, Dan received his initial certification as a Sonoran Desert Naturalist in 2011, and in 2018 he earned his designation as an Arizona Master Naturalist. He devotes most of his volunteer hours at Saguaro National Park - West, where he helps visitors plan their activities and presents interpretive programs on our native fauna and flora, including the agave.
