DEAR EDITOR

Great Scots

We'd like to congratulate you on a fantastic magazine. We've been receiving Arizona Highways as a Christmas gift for the last two to three years, and we enjoy every page of it. We've been lucky enough to visit Arizona for the last few years-it's the best place for a holiday vacation.

Something Grand

I noticed that you and National Geographic Adventure both featured Grand Canyon National Park on your June 2007 covers. There really is something special about that grand place in Arizona. It was at Grandview Point during a summer vacation in 1975 where I met my wife. Among other hiking and camping visits to the Grand Canyon, we came back to that same lookout point on our 10th anniversary, and during our 25th anniversary we rafted down the Colorado River. After many years of reading your wonderful magazine, we'll be moving to Arizona just a couple weeks after our 30th anniversary-just hours away from the Canyon. So, when you feature something that's so special, we know what you mean. The Grand Canyon is a special place in our hearts.

I was surprised and pleased to see one of my favorite viewpoints in the Grand Canyon issue ("Viewfinder," June '07). My husband and I were married at Marble Viewpoint 24 years ago. I chose the spot for the fantastic "aisle" of aspens leading up to the point, and for its magnificent view and easy access. It's nice to know others think it's a great place too.

All About Eden

The May 2007 issue of Arizona Highways was as enjoyable as they always are. However, I thought I should comment on the photo of water clover on page 24 ("Wild Eden"). There are two species of Marsilea (M. mollis and M. vestita) in Arizona, and they're both native. Although there are introduced water clovers elsewhere in the U.S., the ones in Arizona are widespread but sporadic components of the flora. These aquatic ferns have amazingly complex reproductive structures and interesting life histories. Recent research at the University of Arizona by John Reeder, Kathryn Mauz and others is also uncovering some tiny weevils with life histories that are tied intimately to these ferns, including at least one species that is entirely new to science. Invasive exotic plants have become so ubiquitous in Arizona landscapes that your magazine is no longer troubled by printing beautiful landscape images with red brome and other non-native weeds interspersed with the native wildflowers. However, the water clovers are not part of this rogues' gallery of alien invaders!

I am both thankful for and amazed by the brilliant pictures and inspiring writing in "Wild Eden" (May '07). I hiked up to Atascosa Lookout in November 2006, and I knew right away that the Tumacacori Highlands are a special place. Jack Dykinga's photographs captured the natural beauty that I trust Congress will act to preserve. I look forward to taking my family to walk that wild ground and see that amazing place. For my friends who wink and nod at my tales of the splendor of southern Arizona, I now have "Wild Eden" as proof.

An Axle to Grind

I was amused by the story on the dumbest driver in the history of the Grand Canyon, L. Wing of Los Angeles, who drove to the bottom of the Canyon in 1914 ("Drive-thru Canyon," June '07). You say the roadster he used "negotiated the sand, steep grades and axel-hungry boulders." You omit the fact that Mr. Wing apparently was an ice skater. I can just imagine the axel-hungry boulders chewing up his beautiful jumps on the ice he encountered. Or was it his axles that the boulders were chomping on?

ARIZONA HIGHWAYS

Publisher WIN HOLDEN Editor ROBERT STIEVE Senior Editor RANDY SUMMERLIN Managing Editor SALLY BENFORD Book Division Editor BOB ALBANO Books Associate Editor EVELYN HOWELL Editorial Administrator NIKKI KIMBEL Editorial Assistant PAULY HELLER Director of Photography PETER ENSENBERGER Photography Editor JEFF KIDA Art Director BARBARA GLYNN DENNEY Deputy Art Director SONDA ANDERSSON PAPPAN Art Assistant DIANA BENZEL-RICE Map Designer KEVIN KIBSEY Production Director MICHAEL BIANCHI Promotions Art Director RONDA JOHNSON Webmaster VICKY SNOW

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highways on tv

Arizona Highways magazine has inspired an independent weekly television series, hosted by former Phoenix TV news anchor Robin Sewell. For channels and show times, log on to arizonahighways.com; click on "DISCOVER ARIZONA"; then click on the "Arizona Highways goes to television!" link on the right-hand side.