Jane Rau Donates Saguaro to Scenic Drive

By Les Conklin

Jane Rau has done something special! Jane has donated a saguaro (pictured on right) and other desert plants to the Scenic Drive in honor of Don Schoenau. [Read More] Companies, organizations and the City of Scottsdale have donated plants to enhance the Scenic Drive, Jane Rau is the first individual to ever do so (and it was her own idea). 

The saguaro, two staghorn chollas and a barrel cactus have been planted near the Scenic Drive Monument, located on the east side of Scottsdale Road, just south of Jomax. The plants along with a plaque will form a memorial to Don, who died last year. The monument is being sponsored by the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association and Friends of the Scenic Drive and will be formerly dedicated on Saturday, April 6.  

Jane selected the plants from her land near Dale Lane and Scottsdale Road. On January 28, a crew from Desert Aura Cactus, a local nursery that is also contributing time to the memorial effort, moved Jane’s plants to their new home. Barbara Copeland, president of GPPA, and Jane were on-hand to observe the transplantation effort.

Jane’s generous donation, which was her idea, is another important contribution in a long list of contributions to her community. Jane has worked and battled, day-in and day-out – in every way she can – to preserve the unique beauty of what has become north Scottsdale. In the 80s and early 90s, she repeatedly advised the Scottsdale City Council, City staffers and developers to "Please, WALK THE LAND so you can see what your are destroying." If there is a fight to save the desert and its wildlife, you can count on Jane being in the midst of the fray. Jane was not able to save all the land but she certainly helped save some of it.

Jane is one of the founders of the McDowell Sonoran Land Trust, the group that successfully pushed for the formation of the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. She currently serves on the McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, the body of Scottsdale residents that is working with the City to create the preserve. Jane has also served as president of the Greater Pinnacle Peak Association and a member of the committee that formulated Scottsdale’s Scenic Corridor guidelines.

Jane has been volunteering for Friends’ litter pickup efforts for years and helped restore the plant exhibits along Scottsdale Road. And what is most mpressive is that Jane is usually working hours before everybody else.

I’ve only skimmed the surface of Jane’s contributions to her community. What makes this donation to Don’s memorial so meaningful is that she’s donated something from her own property that she truly treasures - desert life - in the form of a magnificent, 18 foot saguaro. Soon, when tourists and residents "walk the land" near the Scenic Drive monument, they can visit Don’s memorial and enjoy Jane’s special gift.

Thank you Jane!

PS. The saguaro that Jane donated has replaced the "saguaro that disappeared." [Read More] The picture above shows the saguaro (foreground) in its new home.

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