Memorial Weekend

I am so excited to have a three day weekend. We are driving out to Palm Desert for a little getaway with friends. We will be doing some swimming in the pool, lounging out in the sun and barbecuing. We will also take a trip to the Living Desert Zoo and Gardens since some of our friends will be brining their kids. here's a spot of history on the Zoo and a few images. Have a fun and safe Memorial Weekend.

The Living Desert was established in 1970 by several trustees of the Palm Springs Desert Museum who foresaw the impact that resort development would have on their local desert ecosystem. This foresight led to an interpretive nature trail and preserve in Palm Desert. Among the trustees was Philip L. Boyd who also founded the Riverside campus of the University of California and the Deep Canyon Research Station in Palm Desert. Among his first tasks was to hire a resident naturalist. This person turned out to be a young woman with energy, intelligence and ambition, as well as experience as a zoo keeper and park ranger, plus graduate work in wildlife biology. Karen Sausman is now beginning her thirty-ninth year as President and CEO. Her vision and love of the desert, shared by Philip Boyd and by our members, volunteers, staff, trustees and friends, have built The Living Desert.

For almost four decades The Living Desert has been engaged in the important work of preserving, conserving and interpreting the desert and all its varied plant and animal life. Even as we take immense pride in our accomplishments over the last 38 years, we remain as dedicated as ever to the goals that initially inspired us when we first began operations in March of 1970.