Getting My Green On!

So when it's hot, and boy does it get hot here in Tucson during the month of June, it's time to take a trip.  In fact, June and September are my most UNfavorite months to live here in the desert.  Unfortuneatly, I'm working in September to take a trip anywhere but I'm indoors with the A/C during the hot part of the day. 

So we escaped to green green green Wisconsin!!  In several days, I'll be taking you there for some fun visits to a couple gardens, parks and of course some historical insights from my childhood etc.  I'll be capturing a lot of desert monsoon action in the mean time that will hopefully be featured at the end of the month of July.  Today we take you to the gardens outside the House on the Rock. It's the only part of our visit that didn't scare me.  You'll see why next week.  This Japanese Zen garden is absolutely breathtaking.  On our first day there, we just sat absorbing the wonderful weather, sounds and views of this garden.  Swallows were flying around the ponds as were lots of other critters.

12 Spotted Skimmer(Libellual pulchella)

Dragonflies this year have been for me some of the most interesting insects to capture on camera.  Here is yet another variety of dragonfly with blue and black wings.  That's the fun about going to another place....new things to capture on film!!  I think I always have been a photographer at heart because my camera has gone with me everywhere....even before the I purchased the professional one.  But I will note.  This camera has allowed me to carefully observe behaviors in people or animals that I normally wouldn't have seen with my own eyes.....and I think that's where the camera has really made a difference in my own life.  Detail is everything. Birding has made me a better observer. 

And while in the garden, we couldn't help but notice this mature tadpole near the lily pads.

The mosquitos weren't bad and our hikes were wonderful.  Sometimes I forget about all the plants one can grow in the midwest.  I'm not jealous about this, but I did think about something as I was there.   There is so much forest and leaf coverage that it makes spotting wildlife difficult.   Then I think about my own desert home.  I have gotten really good at spotting desert wildlife all around me, but is it because I have been gone away from my birthstate so long that I've lost my ability to see things there?  I think I did okay, but I could have done better.  My ears were excellent at picking up noise but my eyes are terrible at times.  So I had my nephews and nieces to help me out.  But they had to be VERY VERY quiet....and they did excellent playing detective with me.

If you are new to the desert, it's not uncommon to desire a green space.  Most of us get our "green on" in June.  We head to San Diego, the tropics, or back home to visit loved ones.  It's all part of being a transplant to the desert.  The important part is that we all keep those green plants back home and not try them here in our water starved deserts.  So to fix this need, you have to travel and get your green on! Well that's my coping strategy for the nasty heat. I hope you enjoy this series of posts coming up.  There are more chuparosa challenges and property updates from El Presidio.  More tomorrow.....