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Fat yellow caterpillars may descend into Ahwatukee and other parts of the Valley on August 26th. That is the day they crawled down South Mountain in 2021 and 2022. In 2023 and 2024, there were no monsoon rains, so their favorite food plants did not grow (spurge, senna, and spiderling) so they did not appear.
I go to Chandler Blvd. west of 17th Ave. as that is their main thoroughfare. Unfortunately, they end up as yellow splotches on the road as they are killed by cars trying to reach softer ground. I stand on the north side of the road and pick them up one by one with plastic gloves and put them into buckets. Then I take them to another location where they dig underground an inch or two, pupate for 2.5 weeks, and emerge as the White-Lined Sphinx Moth, AKA the Hummingbird Moth. They are important native pollinators. They look like Tinkerbell or tiny hummingbirds as they flit from flower to flower. If you'd like to be part of the team this year, please email me with your cell number so I can text you when/if they do start their journey. Many volunteers are needed! It is awesome to see how fast they move. They are harmless to people, pets, and most landscaping or gardening plants. MORE Details later. [email protected]
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8/21/2025 0 Comments Prickly Pear Festival The 14th Annual Prickly Pear Festival in Superior, AZ. August 22–24, 2025.
See the map below for directions to 165 Main St., Superior, Arizona. 1 hour east of Phoenix and 19 degrees cooler! The downtown will have traffic blocked off for the festival so we can walk about freely. —This year’s theme is “Going Back to the Roots,” Join us as we focus on indigenous food sources, Plant medicine, sustainability, activism, conservation, Permaculture, and food education. More than just a festival, this event is a hub for like-minded individuals and organizations to come together and share ideas, build partnerships, collaborations, friendships, and grow on these subjects and more. Friday, August 22 – Film and Panel Discussion: Kick off the festivities at 4:30 PM in the Town Hall Auditorium (199 Lobb Ave.) in partnership with Local First AZ and Good Food Finder. Enjoy a film screening and panel discussion, moderated by Edmond Williams, with Native American growers, foragers, and chefs including: Larold Pinal – White Mountain Apache Angel Martinez – Yavapai Apache John Slattery – Author and Forager Brett Vibber – Chef and Forager This evening includes FREE edible desert tapas by Aravaipa Condor, Sustainable Superior, Mrs. B’s Amazing Prickly Pear Cheesecakes and a food demo by Rodney Smith of Good Food Grow. (beverages are to be sold) Saturday, August 23 – Festival Day! 7:00 AM & 8:00 AM – Agroforest Tours at Boyce Thompson Arboretum’s Heartland Trail. Learn about desert-adapted agroforestry, traditional plant uses, water harvesting, and soil restoration, (Please call Mike Montiel at 480-272-3786 8:00 AM–11:00 AM – Pancake Breakfast at the Senior Center (360 Main Street), complete with prickly pear syrup $10. Per plate. (Comes with sausage, milk, or Coffee) 9:00 AM–5:00 PM – Farm to Fantastic Local Growers’ Market and vendors. After breakfast, enjoy Mrs. B’s famous fish tacos until 5 PM. (All this inside the Senior Center 360 Main St) On Main Street – Stroll the street fair with vendors, food trucks, and live music by DJ Suptown at Besich Park. Local restaurants will offer desert-inspired dishes and drinks! VFW– 405 Main Street Rummage sale Roses Cantina– 203 Main Street – Grand Opening! Prickly Pear Margaritas! Mead tasting. Bruzzi Vineyard – 14 N Magma Ave. Prickly Pear Spritzers Paloma Art Gallery – 20 N Magma Ave. Prickly Pear Art, Art 145 – 161 W Main Street. Kids’ crafts and pottery Diamonds in the Desert Beauty 17 Magma Ave. – Prickly Pear Skin Care Bella’s Café – 149 W Main. Too much P-Pear goodness to list! Random Boutique – 151 W Main. Apparels and styles. All things Desert – 201 W Main. Art, collectables and desert inspired items Rollin’ Rock Gallery- 160 W Main. Local arts and kids toys and games. Felicia’s Ice Cream – 329 W Main. World’s Best Prickly Pear Ice Cream! Silver King Smokehouse – 404 W Main. P-Pear smoked wings, pulled pork, Nopal Tacos! Picket Post Antiques – 400 W Main. Local antique Shop Save Money Market – 420 W Main. Grocery store with fresh, on the spot Roasted Hatch Green Chilies! Prickly Pear Beer. Porters Café – 695 Main. P-pear monte Cristo Sandwich, Wings, and Margaritas! On the U.S. 60 HW Buckboard City – 1107 W Hwy US 60. Indian inspired Prickly Pear dish and Dinner Event presented by Steam Corn Punk Culinary and mixology experience! Los Hermanos – 835 US 60 Hwy. Green Chilie and Nopales! Jalapenos – 649 US 60. Nopales with red or green sauce Edwardo’s Pizzeria - 701 Belmont – Delicious Pizza, subs, calzones, and more. El Barrio Sweet & Salty- US Hwy 60 – Sweet fruit and icy deserts! Gypsy Sisters Coffee shop- 599 US Hya 60. Prickly Pear Lemon bars, Pastries, lemonade, and teas, De Marcos Italian - 433 Hwy 60. – P-Pear Margs, and plenty of Italian dishes. 9:00 AM–5:00 PM – Guest Speakers at the Chamber of Commerce (165 Main Street) Presenters are: Kelly Athena (Mesquite milling), Nicole Cory (Natural Restorations) Jeffry Ferns (Pre-Colonial foods) Laraold Pinal (White Mnt. Apache Medicine Man) Angel Martinez, (Yavapai Apache) Tammy Gorsuch (Sustainable Superior) Rodney Smith (Good Food Grow) 6:00pm: Superior Dance Co. Folklorick Performance - Besich Park. 6:00–10:00 PM – Desert Edible Dinner Pairing at Buckboard City Cafe (1111 US 60 - home of the world's smallest museum) with mezcal, tequila, and whiskey pairings. Hosted by Steam corn punk — an intimate, ticketed event for 80 guests. Get tickets online at www.steamcornpunk.com Sunday, August 24th – Closing Brunch 10:00 AM–2:00 PM – Sunday Brunch at Silver King Smokehouse (404 Main Street). Sample desert-inspired dishes Prickly Pear inspired Breakfast and connect with fellow festivalgoers and growers. Plan Your Festival Weekend Whether you come for the indigenous foodways, Guest speakers, Local Food Trucks, the artisan market, or the unforgettable flavors of the desert, the Prickly Pear Festival is an inclusive, welcoming event for all ages and backgrounds. August 22–24, 2025 Historic Downtown Superior, AZ Pete – (520) 827-0692 [email protected] Follow on Facebook: Prickly Pear Festival #goodfoodfinder #ruralbychoice #superioraz #desertedible #azevents #arizonaevents #foodtruck #localbusiness #shoplocal #forage #ResolutionCopper #arizonawaterco #explorepinalcounty #ivanhoe #rebuildsuperiorinc #townofsuperior #adelantejuntossuperior |
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