LETTERS & E-MAIL

Have You Slept in a Wigwam Lately?

Fitting in perfectly among the concrete dinosaurs, neon lights, Indian chief statues and other kitsch and clang of Old Route 66, Holbrook's Wigwam Motel captures the quirky nostalgia of America's mother road. Standing 32 feet tall and constructed of stucco on wood frames, the 15 wigwams cluster around a main office-souvenir shop-museum. Fake plaster "tent flaps" fold back around the doors, welcoming guests to the retro pink air-conditioned interior of their "home on the plains."

Opened in 1950, the Wigwam Motel appealed to a new generation of travelers looking for unique accommodations. Reopened in 1988 after closing down 14 years earlier, the motel at 811 W. Hopi Drive (Route 66) now finds itself on the National Register of Historic Places. But historic place or not, a sign outside attracts visitors with a simple promotion: "Sleep in a wigwam."

of travelers looking for unique accommodations. Reopened in 1988 after closing down 14 years earlier, the motel at 811 W. Hopi Drive (Route 66) now finds itself on the National Register of Historic Places. But historic place or not, a sign outside attracts visitors with a simple promotion: "Sleep in a wigwam."

Information: (928) 524-3048.

ADDITIONAL READING: Much of Arizona's story dwells in the unusual buildings that enliven the urban and rural landscape. A new Arizona Highways travel guide by Ann Patterson and Mark Vinson, Landmark Buildings: Arizona's Architectural Heritage, leads readers in discovering the history and appreciating the design of 45 of the state's most arresting edifices. To order the softcover book ($18.95 plus shipping and handling), call toll-free (800) 5435432 or visit our Web site at arizonahighways.com.

THIS MONTH IN ARIZONA

1888 Cattle from Sonora, Mexico, are declared diseased, and the federal government quarantines the border. Citizens believe it is a scheme to raise the price of Arizona beef.

1889 Casa Grande is visited by a swarm of so many crickets they can be grabbed by handfuls from the streets.

1890 A Tempe hailstorm knocks out window lights, drives holes through roofs and kills chickens in its fury.

1893 The fledgling University of Arizona places ads in papers offering "tuition free for both sexes."

In 1897 Five miles south of Bonelli Landing on Lake Mead, workmen digging a gravel claim discover a huge bone buried at a depth of 35 feet. The bone is 43 inches long and 8 inches in diameter and thought to be part of an ancient mammoth.

In 1908 A raging fire destroys Bisbee business and residential sections. Losses are estimated at $500,000.

Plants Have Slow Days, Too

Have you ever suspected your yucca of idling? Your bromeliad of slacking off? Or, gasp, has your xeriscape been exhibiting symptoms of torpor? If so, don't rush to the closest xeri-psychologist. It's probably just a routine case of CAM, an acronym for Crassulacean Acid Metabolism.

CAM-one of many secret weapons available to arid-zone flora warriors - is a variant of photosynthesis. Many succulents and semisucculents employ the process, which allows desert plants to use less water in photosynthesis than plants using the standard growth and energy process. When water gets especially scarce, CAM allows for plant metabolism to idle to save energy and withstand the drought condition. Sometimes CAM is so effective the plant may appear to be in state of dormancy.

Plants that dwell in arid climes have an arsenal of such adaptive behaviors that allow them to thrive. So, the next time your cactus garden gets a case of the doldrums, give it a little applause-and maybe a small They fly, sleep, recline, hold flowers or baskets, or simply raise their arms in joy. April Romo de Vivar makes her terra-cotta angels happy. Nationally known for her nativity scenes, this Tucson artist has been making angels for 15 years. She molds and paints each copper-winged angel herself, no two alike.

"Life is chaotic, so I reach for peace and serenity in the middle of it all," she says of her angels.

Starting at $12, they fly off the walls of Tucson gift shops including, appropriately, that of Mission San Xavier del Bac.

Information: (520) 325-7302; www.exlibrus.com/aprilromo.