Arizona Illustrated

Las Azaleas is a women-led mariachi group that highlights the voices and talent of female musicians. Founded in 2020 by Diana Olivares, they perform for both public and private events, with unforgettable vocals and instrumentation. Robert McDonald took up photography in the 90s after he retired from the Forest Service. Since then, his photos have been published in magazines, including Arizona Highways, and his entire archive is now part of the photo collection at the Arizona State Museum. We join Robert and his 1977 Ford Bronco on a shoot in the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. Along the way he tells us about his journey as a landscape photographer. Thanks to the University of Arizona’s Center for Innovation and Tech Launch Arizona, Tucson is rapidly becoming a hub for technology startups. One example of this thriving business environment is the burgeoning company CarbeniumTec, which was founded by UA Chemistry Professor Thomas Gianetti and his postdoc Jules Moutet. The company, which is developing a battery for long term energy storage for solar energy, is currently in the process of moving from their academic labs into a new base of operation at the UA Tech Park. Scientists have identified more than 250 types of agaves in North America, and some of them grow in different parts of Arizona. Experts say the plants are important for pollinators such as bats and bees, and may also be used by other species such as mammals. During certain times of the year, the inconspicuous plant may put on a dramatic and colorful display with its blooms on long stalks.