A Special Daffodil, Jerome Arizona

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I love the little white tips on this daffodil.

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Arizona Hedgehog Cactus

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From the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Arizona.  The signage indicated that these are endangered, and that javelina's find them a tasty morsel to snack on.  These hedgehogs were "rescued" from a road improvement site and are being studied for 5 years to see if discoveries can be made as far as growing conditions, etc.

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Senita

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It Bees Good, and Smells Even Better

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Have no idea what this bush was, but, it smelled sweet and heavenly, and obviously, our little friend here, thought so too!.

Mescal Bean Flower

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Desert Star, Name Unknown

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Taken at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Arizona, I have not identified this petite white/pinkish yellow centered flower.

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Bishop's Cap

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This is also called Bishop's Hat and Bishop's Miter Cactus, or in fancy terms, astrophyum myriostigma.  I think Bishop's Cap is easier to remember, don't you??

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Cactus Rainbow

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That Bug, EWWWW

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Over at Reflections the other day I hinted at a photo of a bug, here is that bug, 4 views.  No, I have NO idea what it is, but, it did fly.  It was like Man and I walked into a small swarm of them on the back side of Silly Mountain.  Ewwwwwww!

EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!




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Mexican Honeysuckle

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Not the best photo, but those colors!
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A Barrel Full of Barrel Cactus

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Butterflies and the Mescal Bean Flower

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No attempts to identify the butterflies were made.

Another Look at the Saguaro, REAL Close

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I know, I know, I have done a LOT of posts on the Saguaro.  It is a magnificent plant, how can I not!

Here it is real real close up:

See, it is amazing!  Beautiful, picky, but beautiful.

Golden Columbine

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While at Montezuma Well near Camp Verde Arizona we were down by the irrigation canal area where a sign stated that the golden columbine grew nearby.  I spotted this beautiful specimen as we left the area.  I could only get a photo from the back/side.  The columbine was growing in an area that was off limits to human feet, and mmmm, it was growing at the top of a rather steep hill too!  So, I settled for this, thanks to Sony and it's zoom!

Photo was cropped, sharpened, and subjected to darkening and contrast enhancement.  No color changes were made.
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Rocks? With Hair? Nope, Chin Cactus

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Found at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum.  Was in the plants for sale area, for $2.95.  Maybe should have purchased it.  I love how it is hard to distinguish from the stones it is planted in.  Camouflage at it's best!

Maiden Hair Fern

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And, close up.

These photos were taken April 8, 2011 at the Montezuma Well near Camp Verde Arizona.  They grow in only one small spot at this site.  Prehistoric farmers dug a mile long irrigation canal that is about 3 feet deep that runs from the well to farm land they used.  The water coming through this canal is a constant 75 degrees, and that part of why the ferns grow here.

Here is the irrigation canal, the ferns, and walls of rock.

The photos don't do the scene justice, it was quiet, beautiful, almost spiritual.

Montezuma Well is in a desert area, amazing what a little warm water and some shade will grow.
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Saguaro, Home to Many

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The saguaro is abundant in the Sonoran Desert.  It has many uses, including furniture making.  It is also home to many of the desert's fauna.

Here are two photos of bird nests in one Saguaro I found while hiking on Silly Mountain, near Apache Junction Arizona.

These next photos are of a different Saguaro, same hike, same mountain.

Lets peak a little closer, a feather, and behind it, a nest?

I found this as I was taking a photo of this little guy, same saguaro.

And, a little bit closer:

Believe this is a cactus wren.  Sony was zoomed almost to the max, bird still a little out of focus.

Creosote Bush Flower

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Mr. G Goes Hiking, The EASY Way

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Our Mr. G, aka, Gallagher, was having an off day, and mom was reluctant to leave him in Tana, so, he got to go hiking with us that day.  Not a bad way to go hiking is it??

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